Planet Earth is filled with billions of creatures. Some cute, some nice, some strange looking, and some deadly. Some of these animals kill hundreds of people every year. Others have powerful venom that can kill within a few hours. Still others have such a painful sting/bite that you may wish that you were dead. Here are 6 of the most poisonous animals in the world (in no particular order).
1.) Poison Dart Frog
This little guy may be cute, but he’s a killer. At only 2 inches long, poison dart frogs are among the most poisonous species on Earth. In fact, one particular species, the Golden Poison Dart Frog, is considered to be the most poisonous vertebrae in the world. The frog secretes their poison, which makes them have a slimy look. One frog can produce enough poison to kill 10-20 human adults or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of dart frog poison is needed to kill a person. Amerindians would use this poison collected from the frog and poison the tips of their darts and arrow. This is how the species got their name.
2.) Blue-Ring Octopus
The beautiful blue-ring octopus is best looked upon from a distance. The three species of blue-ringed octopus live in the Pacific Ocean and feast on crab and shrimp. The golf ball sized octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 human adults within minutes. There is also no antivenom for blue-ringed octopus bites. They are deadly because their bites are harmless and victims rarely feel it until it is too late. The respiratory system is disabled within minutes and the body becomes completely paralyzed. Just imagine being unable to call for help as you can’t breathe. This makes the Blue-Ringed Octopus one of the most venomous animals in the world.
3.) Stonefish
The stonefish may never win a beauty contest, but it is officially the world’s most venomous fish. The stonefish usually roams the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Stonefish keeps it venom in its spiky dorsal fins that stick up whenever the creature feels threatened. Many divers end up getting those fins stuck on their feet because they couldn’t recognize the fish and stepped on them. The venom injected by the Stonefish is so painful that some victims have requested that the afflicted area be amputated immediately. It has been called the worst pain in the world. The venom causes shock, paralysis, tissue death and it can be fatal if not treated right away. The best way to treat the sting is by pouring water that is over 113°F on the affected area.
4.) Inland Taipan
Forget rattlesnakes. Forget cobras. Forget vipers. The Inland Taipan is the most venomous land snake in the world and resides in Australia. The average injection of venom from the Inland Taipan contains 44 mg. The maximum amount ever taken from a taipan was 110 mg. While 44 mg may not seem much, take into account that the median amount needed for a fatality is 0.03 mg. It only takes 45 minutes for death to occur. However, the Inland Taipan is a naturally shy animal, and will only bite if threatened, preferring to escape without confrontation. There have been no known fatalities from an Inland Taipan bite, and all bites have been on herpetologists handling the snakes and were treated with antivenom.
5.) Box Jellyfish
The Box Jellyfish is considered by some to be the most dangerous animal in the world. It has been responsible for over 5,500 deaths since the mid-1850s. Each tentacle on the creature has thousands of needles that inject venom. The venom completely shuts down the body, attacking the heart and nervous system. Some victims are unable to even reach the shore before the body starts shutting down. The pain from the sting can last for weeks sometimes in the most serious of cases.
6.) Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian Wandering Spider is the most venomous spider in the world. It can have a leg span of up to 4-5 inches and a length of almost 2 inches. What makes the Brazilian Wandering Spider so dangerous is that, true to its name, it wanders around in highly populated areas. It prefers dark areas, so closets, corners, attics and other areas are ideal for it. The amount of venom needed to kill a mouse is 6 micrograms, while the amount needed for a Black Widow to do the same is 110 micrograms. Another side effect of a Wandering Spider bite is priapism. What’s priapism? It causes erections that can last for hours and can eventually lead to impotence.
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