In Chinese e-commerce sites, the blue-ringed octopus, which is considered one of the world’s most venomous marine animals, is priced between RMB180 to RMB1,999 (USD28 – 308) for anyone interested to buy.

Blue-ringed octopus lives in tidal regions ranging from Australia to Japan and is frequently encountered by people wading in tide pools. If provoked or stepped on, it will bite. The poison spilled from this marine animal has no anti-venom and can kill an adult human within minutes.

China has no rules or regulations on selling and transporting venomous animals. The blue-ringed octopus is not enlisted “endangered” in China and thus there’s no legal restriction on transporting and selling it. Some sellers even specify in product description box that the octopus they sell "is one of world's most venomous marine animals, and we guarantee it will be delivered alive".