It is
really hard to tell which animal is the most poisonous in the world. The
one that has the most toxic chemicals? The one that kills the biggest
amount of people a year? Or maybe the one with the biggest amount of
poison? First of all, I have to admit that the title is a bit incorrect,
because there is a difference between poisonous and venomous animals. A
poisonous animal carries harmful chemicals called toxins primarily used
for self defense. Therefore venomous animals deliver their toxins by
stinging, stabbing, or biting. So poisonous animals are passive killers,
while venomous animals are active killers. Nevertheless, theory aside,
they are all really dangerous. So look really closely at each photo,
cause next time you meet them can be the last thing you ever see.
# 10 Puffer Fish
Puffer
Fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate on earth (the first one is
golden dart Frog). The meat of some species is a delicacy in both Japan
(as fugu) and Korea (as bok-uh) but the problem is that the skin and
certain organs of many puffer fish are very poisonous to humans. This
puffy fish produce rapid and violent death..Puffer’s poisoning causes
deadening of the tongue and lips, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate,
difficulty breathing, and muscle paralysis. Victims die from
suffocation as diaphragm muscles are paralyzed. Most of the victims die
after four to 24 hours. There is no known antidote, Most deaths from
fugu happen when untrained people catch and prepare the fish. Statistics
show that there were 20 to 44 incidents of fugu poisoning per year
between 1996 and 2006 in all of Japan and up to six incidents per year
led to death. Since Fugu’s poison can cause near instantaneous death,
only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it.
# 9 Poison Dart Frog
If you
ever happen to be running through the rain forests somewhere in Central
or South America, do not ever pick up beautiful and colorful frogs – it
can be the Poison Dart Frog. This frog is probably the most poisonous
animal on earth.The 2 inch long (5cm) golden poison dart frog has enough
venom to kill 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this
lethal toxin (the amount that fits on the head of a pin) is capable of
killing a human or other large mammal. They are called “dart frogs”
because indigenous Amerindians’ use of their toxic secretions to poison
the tips of their blow-darts. Poison dart frogs keep their poison in
their skins and will sicken or kill anybody who touches or eats it.
# 8 Inland Taipan
The prize
for “The World’s Most Venomous Snake” goes to the Inland Taipan of
Australia. Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to
kill 100 human adults or an army of 250,000 mice. Its venom is at least
200 – 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. The Inland Taiwan’s
extremely neurotoxic venom can kill an adult human in as little as 45
minutes. Fortunately this snake is very shy and there have been no
documented human fatalities (all known bites were treated with
antivenin).
# 7 The Brazilian wandering spider
The
Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the
Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is
the spider responsible for most human deaths. This spider is believed to
have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only
0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so
dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during
daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and
cars. Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the
spider can also cause priapism – uncomfortable erections lasting for
many hours that lead to impotence.
# 6 Stonefish
Maybe
Stonefish would never win a beauty contest, but it would definitely win
the top prize for being “The World Most Venomous Fish”. Its venom causes
such a severe pain that the victims of its sting want the affected limb
to be amputated. It is described as the worst pain known to man. It is
accompanied with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death. If not
given medical attention within a couple of hours It can be fatal to
humans. Stonefish stores its toxins in gruesome-looking spines that are
designed to hurt would-be predators. Stonefish mostly live above the
tropic of Capricorn, often found in the shallow tropical marine waters
of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the
Queensland Great Barrier Reef.
# 5 Death Stalker Scorpion
Contrarily
to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to
humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or
swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous
species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which
causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma,
convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this
scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy,
adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition)
are at the biggest risk. Death stalker scorpions are spread in North
Africa and Middle East.
# 4 Blue-Ringed Octopus
The
Blue-Ringed Octopus is very small, only the size of a golf ball, but its
venom is so powerful that can kill a human. Actually it carries enough
poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes, and there is no antidote.
They are currently recognized as one of the world’s most venomous
animals. Its painless bite may seem harmless, but the deadly neurotoxins
begin working immediately resulting in muscular weakness, numbness,
followed by a cessation and breathing and ultimately death. They can be
found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.
# 3 Marbled Cone Snail
This
little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any
other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it
can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt
water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, don’t
even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom
is to catch its prey. Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start
immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense
pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle
paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom.
However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail
envenomation.
# 2 King Cobra
The King
Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake –
growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means
“snake-eater” as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly
snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a
full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten
in a vulnerable area such as the trunk. It’s venom is not as toxic as
other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times
more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times
faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging
across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.
# 1 Box Jellyfish
The top
prize for “The World Most Venomous Animal,” would go to the Box
Jellyfish. It has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954.
Their venom is among the most deadly in the world. It’s toxins attack
the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. And the worst part of it is
that jelly box venom is so overpoweringly painful, that human victims go
in shock, drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore.
Survivors experience pain weeks after the contact with box jellies. You
have virtually no chance to survive the venomous sting, unless treated
immediately. After a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of
30 seconds. Vinegar has acetic acid, which disables the box jelly’s
nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it
will not alleviate the pain). Wearing panty hose while swimming is also
a good prevention measure since it can prevent jellies from being able
to harm your legs.Jelly box can be found in the waters around Asia and
Australia.
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