The most poisonous animals in the world - description with photos. The most powerful poisons in nature and the most poisonous animals

It seems that our fears of animals revolve around two main themes: animals with big, pointy teeth that are just looking for an excuse to eat us alive, and animals that seem harmless at first glance, equipped with a secret weapon so deadly that it seems like half the world has a fear of them. They are venomous animals that can inject deadly toxins through their sting as a result of attack or defense.

Unlike many factors taken into account when compiling a ranking of the most dangerous animals for humans, the strength of the poison can be measured, which is what was done. It is characterized by the so-called LD50 (average lethal dose), which basically tells us how much poison it would take to kill the average person (or mouse). The most powerful of these natural toxins are nearly 1,000 times more lethal than poisons such as arsenic and cyanide.

Poisonous vs Toxic

Today there is a lot of confusion about which animals are venomous and which are toxic. Poisonous creatures are often called toxic and vice versa. Both types have toxins and both types can be considered dangerous, they differ in how they do this. The victim must ingest (eat) the toxin, or can absorb it through the skin when touched. However, the venom is injected into the victim through a bite or stinger.

Photo. dart frog

Thus, animals such as dart frogs and puffer fish, which have some of the deadliest toxins in nature, are not poisonous, they are toxic. Here we will look at venomous animals that actively inject their poisons through attack. However, for most people, pictures of puffer fish may seem funny, while at the same time, only a few people would consider a tarantula a funny animal...

Video. Terrible leaf climber, tree climber

Without further ado, let's take a look at some of the most poisonous animals on Earth.

Insects

At least in theory, there are no insects that can kill you with just one sting (unless you suffer from allergies), but there are a few insects that can sting you so painfully that you could possibly die! In large part, we have the work of Dr. Justin Schmidt to thank for helping us determine the degree of pain caused by even the smallest venomous creature. He voluntarily allowed himself to be stung by a number of insects and while he squirmed in pain on the floor, he also managed to record detailed description bite effect. At the same time, he managed to compose, which begins with 0 (absence of any pain) and ends with a painful 4 (“I want to die”). Just to give you an idea of ​​the sting of a common wasp and bee, on the scale this equates to about a 2.

Photo. Tarantula Hawk

To prove his fearlessness, Schmidt allowed the wasp to sting him like a tarantula hawk. Yes, this monster lives off spider meat and is not afraid to fight the biggest and hairiest of them. With a stinger measuring up to 8 mm (1/3 inch) long, it is one of the largest wasps on Earth.

Unsurprisingly, her sting was rated a 4 on the Schmidt Index, meaning the pain was "... very excruciating, which simply shuts down the ability to do anything, except perhaps scream...". He also described the stinger bite itself as “Dazzling, brutal, shockingly electrifying. It's like dropping a working hair dryer into your bathroom."

However, Schmidt did not describe the bullet ant bite. In all likelihood, it will be so painful that a new scale will need to be created. This large Central American ant's bite was generally rated as a 4+ on the scale. Apparently the pain was so severe that after he had endured the pain for a very short time, Schmidt rushed to find the nearest tavern and start drinking. 12 hours later he was still suffering from severe episodes of pain.

Spiders

The Brazilian wandering spider is considered the most dangerous spider on the planet. As its name suggests, it loves to roam and is well known for climbing into shoes, cars, and even clinging to people around the world from banana bunches.

Photo. Brazilian wandering spider

What makes this spider so dangerous? According to the Guinness Book of Records, its bite is the strongest of any spider. Its deadly neurotoxin is approximately 20 times stronger than that of the notorious black widow spider and is equal in potency to the venom of some deadly snakes. The consequences of a wandering spider bite begin with severe pain and this can lead to fatal consequences due to respiratory paralysis and asphyxia. A less serious but apparently painful symptom of this spider's bite can be an erection that lasts several hours!

Competing for first place is also the most dangerous spider, . This fearsome spider is notorious along the east coast of Australia due to its fearsome fangs and powerful atracotoxin. This spider's venom is admittedly twice as deadly as cyanide and it attacks nervous system, preventing nerve impulses from passing through. Symptoms of this spider bite may include breathing and circulation problems, muscle spasms, tears, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and possibly death.

Perhaps the most notorious of all spiders is the black widow (a close relative of the Australian redback spider), which is responsible for nai large quantity bites than any other spider. Up to 10,000 bites a year are reported in Australia and one of its favorite places is the bottom of outdoor toilet seats! The venom of these spiders is second only in strength to the Brazilian wandering spider and only small size black widows did not cause many deaths. The painful sting also leads to a secondary condition known as latrodectism, which can occur as a result of the sting. This potentially fatal condition causes symptoms such as swelling, abdominal cramps, nausea and sweating.

There is one good news for all arachnophobes: an effective antidote has been developed for all bites of these spiders.

Scorpios

There are about 1,500 species of scorpions and they all have venom, which they inject through a sting at the end of their tails. However, only about 20 species have venom that is potentially fatal to humans, and most of these are from the same family Buthidae. Unfortunately, these bad boys give all other Scorpios a bad name. IN North America scorpions are responsible for more deaths than snakes, and in Tunisia it is estimated that androctonus has historically caused up to 400 deaths annually.

Photo. Yellow tree scorpion

The above figures give a hint as to which is the most dangerous of all scorpions - Androctonus thick-tailed (lat. Androctonus). These scorpions live in the semi-desert regions of the Middle East and Africa and are so named because of their thick tails! Their scientific name gives the best clue to its nature, the name comes from the Greek word for "man killer". Measuring approximately 10cm (4in) in length, these deadly scorpions live up to their name.

The venom of fat-tailed scorpions is a powerful neurotoxin that can be compared in potency to the king cobra. A sting from one of these scorpions can certainly be fatal, but if you're lucky, you might just experience seizures and hypertension and black out.

With its frankly frightening name, the deadly hunter (lat. Leiurus quinquestriatus) also deserves special mention. For a small scorpion measuring less than 6.5 centimeters (3 inches), it is armed with a nasty stinger. Its deadly venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins, making this scorpion's sting truly excruciatingly painful. Typically, one stinger bite is not enough to kill a healthy adult. However, severe allergic reactions, and those who suffer from heart disease are at particular risk due to the bite of the deadly hunter (yellow scorpion).

In the absence of an effective antidote, the Indian red scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus) is usually cited as the most dangerous scorpion and statistics confirm this. Another reason for the deadly danger of this scorpion is its appearance in densely populated areas, which increases the number of contacts with people. Add the mortality rate, which is 8-40%, and then we can safely consider it one of the deadly scorpions with which it is very difficult to avoid contact.

Video. Indian red scorpion

The venom of the Indian red scorpion acts mainly on the heart and lungs. Along with sweating, vomiting, convulsions, abnormal heart rhythms and unconsciousness, the bite can lead to pulmonary edema and death. Fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing suffocation!

Sea creatures

While the means mass media and the entertainment industry has instilled an insane fear of sharks in us for years, the statistics don't really back it up.

The sea is home to many of the world's most poisonous creatures, and for good reason. First, it is a dangerous place to live, which is why small animals have evolved to develop deadly poisons as a defense. In addition, we should not forget that the ocean is the cradle of life, it was from here that life came to the land part of the earth and therefore all animals living in the ocean had more time to evolve and develop various methods protection and hunting. On the other hand, there are creatures here that use poison for hunting, they want to immobilize their prey as quickly as possible so that it does not swim away and, as a result, their poison becomes incredibly strong.

First of all, this applies to sea snakes, they are mentioned a little lower. In this section we will look at those who primarily use poison for defensive purposes.

Photo. Wartweed

Of all the variety of fish, there are only a few species that can be described as poisonous and most of them are not particularly dangerous. The main exception to this rule is the scorpionfish family. These include the beautiful lionfish and the ugly wart.

Wart (lat. Synanceia) is considered the most dangerous. She is armed with 13 sharp spines on her back and a powerful neurotoxin. The wart loves to swim near the coastline and it can seem like she's literally waiting for someone to step on her. And when it happens, they know it! The bite is considered so painful that victims have asked for their leg to be cut off. One person described the sting feeling as "like every joint, wrist, elbow and shoulder had been under a sledgehammer for about an hour."

If the bite site is not treated, death can occur. Fortunately, there is an effective antivenom, meaning that no one in Australia has died from its bite for almost 100 years.

Video. Why is the blue-ringed octopus dangerous?

The blue-ringed octopus is one of the ocean's most humble killers. These little octopuses with iridescent blue rings have a particularly dangerous toxin in their venom, tetrodotoxin. This is the same poison found in pufferfish and poison dart frogs and is more than 1,000 times stronger than cyanide. There is no known antidote to the venom of blue-ringed octopuses; their powerful neurotoxin can quickly paralyze respiratory system. In cases of severe intoxication, the only treatment is to place the victim on life support until the person can breathe on their own.

One of the most poisonous animals in the ocean is the cone snail. These rather small mollusks are armed with a hollow, spiny harpoon, which is capable of injecting powerful poison. It is estimated that one drop of this deadly conotoxin is enough to kill 20 adults. Unlike sea creatures larger than a cone, it uses its venom to hunt its prey. The good news is that the snail doesn't move very fast!

Video. Box jellyfish - Sea wasp

One more sea ​​creature One that is equally good at using its venom for hunting and defense is the box jellyfish. There are actually quite a few species of box jellyfish, but they are all armed with thousands of tiny stinging cells and powerful venom. Of all the species, the most dangerous species is considered to be the Australian sea wasp (lat. Chironex fleckeri). Not only is she large in size, she has the second most powerful poison of any creature on Earth! One individual has enough venom to kill 60 adults. While many of the creatures on this list are theoretically dangerous to humans, the sea wasp has killed many people over the years, as well as stung painfully countless times.

Mammals

Most people, myself included until recently, had no idea that there was such a thing as venomous mammals. There are actually quite a lot of them. Some of them simply use plant poisons, while others actually produce their own poison.

Photo. Platypus

Considering the many other strange features of this animal, it is not at all surprising that this creature is part bird; platypuses are also capable of stinging, like bees! Male platypus are armed with a set of horn-shaped "spurs" located on hind legs. They have channels through which poison from special glands flows to a sharp tip, which is used to inject the toxin.

The platypus is thought to use its stinger primarily against competing males, and the toxin peptide is known to be more concentrated during the breeding season. However, over the years, enough people have been stung by these animals to have had some experience with these animals. Although they are cute, platypuses are best avoided.

Its venom is not considered fatal to humans, but is reported to cause pain excruciating enough to immobilize the victim. The pain is not only resistant to the effects of morphine, but can last for several weeks. One of the victims, Keith Payne, a former soldier who received England's highest award, the Victoria Cross, described the pain as worse than being hit by shrapnel.

Video. Platypuses are poisonous and dangerous

Another group of venomous mammals are several members of the shrew family. How and why these little mouse-like creatures became so venomous is a topic of some debate, but what may really surprise you is that shrews are actually partially carnivorous. They actually eat mice, fish, frogs and other small vertebrates.

It is assumed that the shrew's venom helps it hunt larger animals, and some facts indicate this. Delivered venom through its elongated incisors, one American short-tailed shrew can kill 200 mice.

Perhaps the cutest animal on this list is the slow loris (Nycticebus coucang). Found in the forests of Southeast Asia, these small primates are unusual in many ways, and not just because they are possibly venomous and toxic. The slow loris secretes a kind of toxin from a gland near the armpit, an alkaloid. It is used for two purposes: firstly, they lick their young with this secretion, which makes them toxic to predators. The toxin can also be transmitted through poisonous bite. The loris is known for not letting anyone get close to it, as it will bite, presumably to maximize the transfer of the toxin. Little is known about the nature of this toxin. Some studies report that it is possible that the loris acquires it from the ants and centipedes that are part of its diet and that it becomes fully activated when mixed with saliva.

Lizards

Just for variety, we'll exclude Australia, which doesn't appear to have dangerous venomous lizards. There are very few truly venomous lizards, which is surprising given the number of venomous snakes. A few years ago it was believed that there were only two poisonous species of lizards, but recent studies have shown that there are more of them, they are just not dangerous to humans.

Photo. Komodo dragon (dragon)

Perhaps the last thing you would want when you see this large and greedy lizard is the Komodo dragon (Komodo dragon). Until 2009, no one really knew that . Earlier researchers It was believed that the giant lizard's preferred method of killing its prey was through bacteria transmitted through an infected bite. The Komodo dragon would then stalk the victim, following it like the shadow of death until it crashed to the ground a few days later.

However, Australian biologist Brian Fry has found evidence that the Komodo dragon does have poison, which it secretes from glands in its mouth. The venom contains some compounds similar to those of the inland taipan, which cause a rapid decrease in blood pressure and shock. While the delivery mechanism may not be as efficient as that of a snake, this is why a Komodo dragon's bite is likely to inject a sufficient amount of venom.

In the past, Komodo dragons were thought to be lethal, but in reality the venom is much less effective on humans than on their normal prey.

Video. How does a Komodo dragon hunt?

Perhaps the most poisonous lizard for humans is the Arizona gila monster, which lives in Mexico and the deserts of the United States. Again, the Arizona venom does not have subcutaneous fangs like a snake's, but instead relies on grooves in its teeth to inject venom. Considering that its neurotoxin is as strong as that of deadly coral snakes, it's not the best thing that can happen to you.

Immediate symptoms of a bite: severe pain and a feeling of weakness due to a drop in blood pressure. Further consequences may include protrusion of the eyes and internal hemorrhage. Fortunately, there have been no recent reports of fatal bites.

Snakes

Of all the animals on Earth, snakes are the ones most closely associated with venom. There is a good reason for this, snakes not only have the most powerful venom, but they also have the most advanced delivery system. This deadly combination is incredibly effective on any animal species. One study reports that 50,000 to 100,000 people are killed by snakes each year worldwide.

Photo. Coastal taipan

While this article is about the most venomous animals on the planet, it is interesting to note that the snake, with by far the strongest venom of them all, is responsible for very few deaths. Also known as a fierce snake due to its formidable venom, the inland taipan is very fast, accurate and almost always delivers venom with a bite. We are probably lucky that this snake is an inhabitant of the scorched desert of central Australia. The average inland taipan has enough venom to kill 100 people, with a bite potentially causing death within 45 minutes. In the absence of proper antivenom treatment, the mortality rate is 80%. Not only is the venom a potent neurotoxin, it also contains myotoxin, a tissue destroyer and anticoagulant that causes internal hemorrhage.

The same is true for many sea snakes. They have incredibly powerful venom, but rarely bite people. Of all these snakes, the Dubois sea snake (lat. Aipysurus duboisii) has the most deadly venom, but it is still not as strong as that of the inland taipan.

Much more dangerous snake, which is considered a close relative of the fierce snake, is the coastal taipan. Although this snake's venom is significantly weaker than that of the inland taipan, it is much more aggressive and is capable of injecting much more venom in a single bite. One source claims that one bite contains enough venom to kill 59 men and if left untreated the mortality rate is 100%.

Statistically, the most dangerous snake in the world would have to be one of the "Big Four", the four species of Indian snakes that are responsible for the most deaths. These are the Indian cobra, Indian krait, Russell's viper and sand epha.

Powerful fangs, sharp teeth, good physical strength are the main features of many animals. Some of them use their poison in attack or defense.

The TOP 10 most poisonous animals on the planet include:

Box jellyfish

This animal got its name due to its cubic shape. Over the past 60 years, box jellyfish have claimed up to 6 thousand lives. Its poison is considered the most deadly in the world. Toxins quickly affect the heart and nervous system, including the skin.

In this case, the victim experiences severe pain, falling into a state of shock. The victim dies or drowns, the heart stops. If you immediately treat the wound with vinegar or acetic acid, the victim will have a chance to survive. Box jellyfish lives in sea ​​waters Australia and Asia.

2. King Cobra

Cobra is the longest and poisonous snake in the world. Its length reaches 5.6 m in length. Literally, Ophiophagus translates as “snake eater,” as it eats other snakes. One bite can be fatal to humans. She can kill an adult asian elephant for 3 hours, if the bite was made in a vulnerable area, for example in the trunk. Among the representatives of snakes, there are also more poisonous ones. But the king cobra produces the most venom. It lives in the dense mountain forests of South and Southeast Asia.

3. African Leurus quincestriatus

Many species of scorpions are safe for people, since their bites affect not only locally, causing pain and anemia. Leiruses, unlike other scorpions, are considered dangerous scorpions as their venom is said to be a potent cocktail of neurotoxins that causes intense and severe pain, including fever, coma, paralysis and death. Leiruses are common in North Africa and the Middle East.

4. Taipan

One taipan bite contains enough poison to kill 100 adults or an army of 250 thousand mice. This neurotoxic venom is 200-400 times more poisonous than the venom of a common cobra.

An adult is pronounced dead within 45 minutes of being bitten. But there is an antidote. At the same time, the snake is timid and quickly crawls away in case of any danger. She lives in Australia.

5. Poison frog

It lives in the rain forests of South and Central America. You can't touch her, although she is beautiful. The frog is rich in poison and can kill 10 adults. Previously, local tribes used this poison to lubricate the tips of their arrows.

6. Ringed Octopus

The octopus is small in size, but very poisonous. It lives in coastal waters near Australia and further north, closer to Japan. The blue-ringed octopus is light in color. It is classified as a member of the dark brown octopus group.

If it is disturbed by taking it out of the water, it will darken. The rings will become shiny, taking on an electric blue color. This feature gave rise to the octopus shade.

Its poison is very strong. It can kill more than one person - up to 26 adults in a few minutes. If left untreated, the patient experiences numbness, speech and vision difficulties.

7. Beware of the Brazilian Wandering Spider

This spider was included in the Guinness Book of Records because it was able to kill more people who were bitten by spiders. But the Brazilian Spider is dangerous not only for its poison, but also for its behavior: it does not sit in one place.

He moves quickly on the ground, hiding in a building, a shoe, a car. This increases the risk of being bitten.

8. Fish Ball

This fish is considered the second most poisonous vertebrate animal on earth. Fugu fish meat is considered a delicacy for the Japanese and Koreans, but the problem is that the surface of this fish and some of its organs are poisonous. The venom causes paralysis and suffocation, including lack of oxygen. Therefore, this fish is prepared only by licensed chefs.

9. Snail – Cone

The snail looks beautiful and cute, but it is deadly. A drop of its poison can kill 20 people. Signs of a bite: pain, swelling and numbness. Paralysis and respiratory failure often occur. There is no antidote. A total of 30 cases of human deaths from the poison of this snail have been recorded.

10. Fish – Stone

This is the most poisonous fish. Its venom causes severe pain, which can lead to amputation of a limb. When pain occurs, shock occurs and tissues die. In the absence of medical assistance, death is declared. There are many toxins in fish. It lives in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, in the Red Sea.

Many inquisitive people have most likely wondered what the most poisonous creature on earth is. Interestingly, for a long time it was generally accepted that these were snakes and spiders. But research by scientists has painted a different picture for us. And now we will look at what, in their opinion, is the most poisonous creature in the world. The top 10 offered below may be extremely surprising to some nature lovers.

First place - box jellyfish

The box jellyfish has another name - “sea wasp”, because after it stings, the victim experiences unbearable pain. Many would agree that this is the most poisonous creature in the world. The Guinness Book of Records also shares this point of view. This jellyfish is reported to kill a person in a short time, from 1 to 3 minutes. But this is not the only thing that makes her a terrible enemy. The deadly tentacles can simultaneously affect up to 60 people if they are within a radius of 8 meters. Extremely fast and irreversible. Toxins attack the heart muscle and nervous system, causing hellish pain. If the touch of the tentacles was superficial, severe burns remain.

There is an antidote. If you immediately treat the bite with a solution acetic acid, there is a chance to survive, but usually this is not possible. Jellyfish victims drowned because they went into shock or died from cardiac arrest. Every year, about 6,000 vacationers die from sea wasp venom. Only a few people survived the bite, and they were still in pain weeks later.

This most poisonous creature in the world (photo shown above) lives in the waters of Northern Australia, but sometimes the “wasp” is found near South Asia. At the same time, it is quite difficult to see the object in the water, since the jellyfish merges. But there is a creature that is not afraid of the box jellyfish - the sea turtle.

Second place - king cobra

Some are ready to dispute that the most poisonous creature on earth is that there are snakes with more toxic poison. But in the Guinness book it takes an honorable second place due to how much poison it sprays at a time. It reaches a length of 4 meters, but since these cobras grow throughout their lives (and they can live 30 years), some individuals reach 6 meters.

The amount of venom injected depends on the size of the victim, but the dose is usually slightly larger than necessary to be lethal.

There was a recorded case where an Indian elephant died within three hours because it was struck by a king cobra. With a large amount of poison, a person dies within 15 minutes from paralysis and respiratory arrest. But even scarier is the fact that the cobra is capable of rising up to a third of its height. If its length is 5 meters, then it extends to 1.6 meters. But the good news is that they do not attack first (unless disturbed).

Its habitat is the forests of South Asia, but since active deforestation is underway, cobras are forced to move closer to human habitat.

Third place - Scorpio Leyurus

Another most poisonous creature in the world is the Leyurus scorpion, which is found in North Africa, as well as in the Middle East. Although these scorpions are not aggressive and will not attack unless they sense danger, their venom can kill a person. Although there are many dangerous scorpions in nature, this subspecies is the most deadly. Leiruses carry a “cocktail” of neuroleptics; if it enters the bloodstream, the victim will die.

Initially, the stung area swells and the person feels incredible pain, after which a fever sets in, developing into convulsions. Finally, paralysis and death occur. It is interesting that before committing a deadly attack, the “baby” begins to move, as if dancing, and this warns of his intention.

Fourth place - taipan

Among the world's creatures is the taipan. The danger lies in the huge amount of poison that is released during the attack. This land snake is capable of killing 100 people. Its poisonous mixture is approximately 400 times more toxic than the venom of an ordinary cobra. After being bitten by an adult, death occurs on average within 45 minutes. About 90% of attacks on humans are fatal, even though an antidote exists and many people know about it.

This snake is very aggressive and can attack suddenly at a speed of 4 m/sec. But at the same time, taipans are quite timid and, sensing danger, can crawl away. This creature lives in Australia on arid plains, but often crawls towards water.

Fifth place - dart frog

Some believe that the most poisonous creature on the planet is the dart frog because of its deceptive appearance. She looks very attractive and completely defenseless, but this is a deception. Her skin of bright, rich color is covered with poison (batrachotoxin), which, when it comes into contact with a person through microscopic damage, easily penetrates the body. A gram of its poison can kill 10 people. This toxic substance consists of hundreds of components that have a nerve-paralytic effect. The scary thing is that the antidote has not yet been created and it is practically impossible to escape from the effects of the poison that gets on the skin.

Scientists know of 179 species of these “deceptive” creatures. They are divided into nocturnal (harmless) and daytime (toxic).

These poisonous amphibians can grow up to 8 cm. But the smallest ones (1.5 - 2.5 cm) are considered the most poisonous. They can be found in Central and South America in the rain forests. They are also called "dart frogs" because in the past, Aboriginal people used their poison to lubricate arrowheads.

It is noteworthy that these creatures do not produce poison on their own; they get it from poisonous insects.

Sixth place - blue-ringed octopus

This ring-shaped octopus has also earned a place in the ranking of "the most poisonous creature on the planet." Although this creature is small in size, no larger than a baseball (weight 100 grams), it has a toxic and dangerous poison. One portion that the octopus releases at a time is enough to poison 25 people. Death can occur in a few minutes. During this time, the victim will begin to experience problems with vision and speech, and numbness will occur. Next, the person will have difficulty breathing. The next disastrous symptom is complete paralysis. Lack of oxygen and cardiac arrest will lead to death. It is impossible to neutralize the effect of the poison, since no antidote has been created.

This “cute” creature lives near the Australian and South Asian coasts. It is widespread and prefers shallow depths. But fortunately he leads nightlife, so it’s not easy to stumble across it. In addition, the creature has a calm disposition and attacks only if it is “pissed off.” Its ability to change color sometimes leads to incidents, because the octopus is confused with other harmless coastal inhabitants.

Seventh place - wandering spider

Another most poisonous creature in the world, which is feared without even knowing about its toxicity, is the wandering spider. He has a rather aggressive disposition. In addition, it is terrifying because it is the largest of all spiders in the world.

It can be found in Central and South America in tropical areas, especially in banana plantations, but sometimes this creature gets into houses. It does not spin webs and travels on its own to find food, which is what makes it very dangerous. He can stop to rest in a residential building, hide in a car or clothes. As a result, the percentage of spider attacks is very high. This arthropod is not shy and is immediately ready to attack, so if you happen to encounter it, do not try to scare it, as it will not retreat; it is better for you to run.

The spider's venom causes lung spasms and loss of muscle control. The person may experience suffocation. Toxins also affect the lymphatic system and cardiac arrest can occur. The still living victim feels his body gradually becoming numb. The poison is 20 times more toxic than the black widow.

Interestingly, in the Guinness book this is the most poisonous creature in the world among spiders. It was also noted that more deaths occurred due to its fault than from other arthropods.

Eighth place - fugu

Of the vertebrates, this is the most poisonous creature in the world. Many people know it as ball fish. The entire surface of the fish is considered poisonous, and some organs of the fugu are also considered dangerous. A set of toxins causes paralysis and suffocation in the affected person, which in turn leads to death from insufficient oxygen. But despite this, in Korea and Japan this fish is a first-class delicacy. Given its dangerous composition, fugu can only be prepared by professionals who have received a special license.

Ninth place - cone snail

Some people, seeing this marbled snail, do not understand that it belongs to dangerous creatures, because the appearance is very attractive. But you can’t judge by appearance, since she is just as dangerous as the rest of the representatives on this list. Just one drop of poison can kill 20 people. After the snail stings, the victim begins to experience excruciating pain, followed by numbness and inflammation of the bite site. The next stage is paralysis and suffocation. There is no cure for such poisoning.

But if you look at the statistics, only 30 deaths were recorded due to the fault of this snail.

Tenth place - stone fish

This unsightly creature takes last place rating "the most poisonous creature in the world." The bite of this underwater inhabitant provokes the most acute pain, known to man. The sensations are so strong that in search of relief the victim is ready to commit suicide or amputation of the bitten area. Such pain causes shock, then paralysis inevitably sets in, and the tissues at the site of the lesion begin to die; without medical assistance, the person faces death.

This dangerous “beast” is found in the waters of the Red Sea and in the tropical regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Immense physical strength, powerful fangs and razor-sharp teeth are not the only weapons used in the animal kingdom. Thousands of animals use highly toxic poisons for attack or defense.

We present to your attention the ten most poisonous creatures in the world.

(Total 14 photos)

1. Box jellyfish

The main prize of our top goes to the Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), which received this name because of its cubic shape. Over the past 60 years, this handsome man has claimed about 6 thousand lives. Its venom is considered the deadliest in the world, with toxins affecting the heart, nervous system and skin cells.

And, even worse, all this is accompanied by such hellish pain that the victims go into a state of shock and either drown or die from cardiac arrest. If you immediately treat the wound with vinegar or a solution of acetic acid, the victim has a chance, but, as a rule, vinegar cannot be found in water 😉

Box jellyfish can be found in the sea waters of Asia and Australia.

2. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world, reaching 5.6 meters in length. Ophiophagus literally translates to "snake eater" because it eats other snakes. A single bite from this deadly snake can easily kill a person. It can kill even an adult Asian elephant within 3 hours if the animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

Among the representatives of snakes there are also more poisonous ones than the King Cobra, but it is capable of releasing much more poison than others. For example, 5 times more than the Black Mamba.
The king cobra is widespread in the dense mountain forests of South and Southeast Asia.

3. Scorpio Leius quincestriatus

Contrary to popular belief, most scorpions are relatively safe for humans, since the stings only cause local effects (pain, anemia, swelling). However, Leiruses are very dangerous look scorpions because their venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins that causes intense and unbearable pain, followed by fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death.
Leiruses are common in North Africa and the Middle East.

4. Taipan or Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)

Just one taipan bite contains enough venom to kill 100 adult humans or an army of 250,000 mice. Its extremely neurotoxic venom is at least 200-400 times more poisonous than that of a common cobra. In just 45 minutes after a bite, an adult can die. But fortunately, there is an antidote, and besides, this snake is very timid and immediately crawls away at the slightest danger.
Lives in Australia.

5. Darter frogs or poisonous frogs

If you ever visit the rainforests of Central and South America, never touch the beautiful little frogs - they can be extremely poisonous. For example, the size of the Golden Dart frog is only 5 cm, and the poison in it is enough to kill 10 adults.
In the old days, local tribes used the poison of these frogs to lubricate the tips of their arrows.

6. Blue Ringed Octopus (Australian Octopus)

The Blue Ringed Octopus is a small, golf ball-sized, but extremely venomous creature found in the coastal waters around Australia and slightly further north towards Japan. The blue-ringed octopus is usually light in color, with dark brown bands along its eight legs and body, with blue circles added on top of these dark brown bands. When an octopus is disturbed or taken out of the water, it darkens and the rings become shiny and electric blue, and it is this color change that gives the animal its name.

Its poison is strong enough to kill a person. In fact, the octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within a couple of minutes, and there is no antidote. If measures are not taken and treatment is not started, the person begins to feel numbness, difficulty speaking, seeing, breathing problems arise, then complete paralysis and death occurs due to cardiac arrest and lack of oxygen.

7. Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider

This abomination was included in the Guinness Book of Records in 2007 for being responsible for the largest number of human deaths caused by spider bites. What is important is that these spiders are dangerous not only for their poison, but also for their behavior: they do not sit still and do not weave webs, they wander the earth, hiding in buildings, clothes, shoes, cars, anywhere; which significantly increases the risk of unexpectedly meeting them and being bitten.

8. Ball Fish or Puffer

Ball fish is the second most poisonous vertebrate animal on earth (the first is the Golden Dart frog from point 5). The meat of some subspecies, for example Fugu, is a delicacy in Japan and Korea, but the problem is that the surface of the fish and certain of its organs are very poisonous. The venom of fugu causes paralysis, resulting in suffocation and death from lack of oxygen.
Therefore, only licensed chefs are allowed to cook such fish in Japan.

9. Marbled Cone Snail

The marbled cone snail looks beautiful and very cute, but it can be just as deadly as any other animal on this list. A drop of its poison can kill 20 people. Signs of a bite: severe pain, swelling, numbness, and in serious cases, paralysis and respiratory failure. There is no antidote.

However, over the entire period, about 30 cases of human deaths from the poison of this snail have been recorded, which is not very much compared to other representatives of our list.

10. Stone fish

The stonefish may never win a beauty contest, but it will definitely win the Most Poisonous Fish award. The poison causes such unbearable pain that, in search of salvation from suffering, victims wish to amputate the affected area. The bite of a stonefish is believed to cause the greatest pain known to man. The pain is accompanied by shock, paralysis, and tissue death.

If you don't get an ambulance medical care, the outcome can be fatal.

Stonefish store their toxins in hideous dorsal ridges, which are designed to protect them from predators.
It is widespread in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from the Red Sea to the Great Barrier Reef.

Some animals have the amazing ability to kill using toxic chemicals, or poison. This method is considered one of the most cowardly, insidious and effective. In this article, you will discover 11 poisonous animals in the world that can easily kill an adult.

There are "passively" venomous animals (which transmit their venom by being eaten or attacked by other animals) and "actively" venomous (they inject venom into their victims using stingers, fangs or other devices.

The most poisonous amphibian: The terrible leaf climber

Lives only in rainwater tropical forests western part of Colombia. The poison of one frog can kill from 10 to 20 people. (Only one type of snake Liophis epinephelus, is resistant to the poison of the terrible leaf climber, but upon exposure it is quite large quantity toxin, the reptile may die).

Interestingly, the terrible leaf climber produces its poison from its diet of native ants and beetles; specimens kept in captivity and feeding on fruit flies and other common insects are completely harmless.

Most poisonous spider: Brazilian wandering spider

If you suffer from arachnophobia (fear of spiders), there is good and bad news for you about the Brazilian wandering spider. The good news is that these spiders live in tropical South America, and do not always inject a full dose of poison during a bite, and also rarely attack people; The even better news is that an effective antidote (if administered quickly) can prevent death. The bad news is that the spider's venom contains powerful neurotoxins that slowly paralyze and suffocate its victims, even in microscopic doses.

Men bitten by Brazilian wandering spiders often experience painful erections.

Most Poisonous Snake: McCoy's Taipan

The venom of this Australian snake is the most powerful among land snakes. Toxic substances contained in one individual can kill hundreds of adults. (Its venom consists of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, mycotoxins, and nephrotoxins. This means it can dissolve your blood, brain, muscles, and kidneys before you hit the ground.) Fortunately, this venomous snake rarely comes into contact with humans. and even when this happens (if you know how to interact with her), she becomes quite meek and easily tamed.

The most poisonous fish: Wart

This fish lives in shallow waters in the South Pacific Ocean. It looks ominously like a rock or piece of coral (the camouflage is meant to ward off predators) and if stepped on, the wart injects a powerful dose of toxins into the person's foot.

Australian authorities are actively replenishing supplies of antidotes, so there is a high probability of saving lives (provided that the antidote is administered in a timely manner).

Most Poisonous Insect: Maricopa Ant

Maricopa Ants ( Pogonomyrmex maricopa) quite dangerous insects. About 300 bites of these ants can cause death in an adult. Their venom is much stronger than that of hornets and honey bees. One bite of such an ant causes acute pain that lasts about 4 hours.

Fortunately, it is virtually impossible to accidentally step on a Maricopa ant colony and end up getting stung by hundreds; These insects are known to build nests with a diameter of about 9 m and a height of up to 2 m!

The most poisonous jellyfish: Sea wasp

Box jellyfish (jellyfish characterized by a rectangular bell shape) are by far the most dangerous invertebrate animals in the world, and the sea wasp ( Chironex fleckeri) is considered the most poisonous looking jellyfish on the planet. The tentacles of the sea wasp are covered with nematocytes - stinging cells, which, upon contact, cause burns.

Most people who come into contact with a sea wasp's tentacles experience excruciating pain, but a close encounter with this species can kill you in five minutes.

Most poisonous mammal: Platypus

Of course, platypus venom will not cause death to a person, but it will cause severe pain and swelling. Its poison is capable of killing small animals. On the hind limbs of males there are spurs (about 15 mm long) that contain poison. Most often, males use these spurs to fight each other during the breeding season.

Others poisonous mammals are: 3 species from the shrew family and the Cuban slittooth ( Solenodon cubanus).

The most poisonous mollusk: Marble cone

If you've never used the phrase "predatory sea snail," then you clearly don't know enough about the sea creatures that can kill you with a single bite. This mollusk is capable of paralyzing its prey (including other snails of the genus Conus) using a toxic poison that can easily kill an unwary person.

Unfortunately, no one has ever calculated how much poison can harm an adult.

Most poisonous bird: Bicolored blackbird flycatcher

The bicolored blackbird flycatcher from New Guinea contains a powerful poison called batrachotoxin. It is found in the skin and feathers of birds and can cause human lung numbness and tingling, but much more dangerous for small animals. (Apparently, thrush flycatchers synthesize poison from beetles that are part of their diet (these beetles are also part of the diet of dart frogs).

Another well-known poisonous bird is the common quail, the meat of which (if the bird has consumed a plant of a certain species) can lead to a non-fatal disease for humans called coturnism.

Most poisonous octopus: Blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed octopuses live in Indian and Pacific Oceans and have rather modest sizes (the largest individuals rarely exceed 20 cm). Their bite is almost painless, but the venom causes paralysis and can kill an adult within just a few minutes.

There is currently no antidote for blue-ringed octopus bites.

Most poisonous turtle: Hawksbill

Unlike some of the other animals on this list, the hawksbill turtle is not miniature: adults weigh about 80 kg, about the same as the average person. These turtles are distributed throughout the world, and individuals from Southeast Asia that eat toxic algae have poisonous meat that can cause poisoning in humans (symptoms of poisoning: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other intestinal ailments).

These turtles are endangered and protected by law.