Photo by Rickard Zerpe. There is no Wanderluster in the world that does not fear the possibility of encountering, during one of his travels, particular species that are not exactly welcoming : poisonous animals.
In this article, here is a small guide on the most poisonous animals in the world . A small vademecum (without any scientific pretense) to put in the bag, next to the passport, to know its typical poisonous habitats, effects and timing … and above all to keep away from it promptly.
11 – Indian Red Scorpion (India and South Asia)
Photo by Dinesh Valke. There are many species of scorpions existing in the world, and many are the poisonous ones, including the Indian Red Scorpion:one of the most poisonous and lethal , especially for children and the elderly.
It has a color between orange and brown, measures 60 to 90 mm and has a very large sting. It lives in flat or rocky areas, especially if there are mango or eucalyptus crops. In case of puncture, you will feel a very strong pain in the affected area , cyanosis, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia, convulsions and even death.
10 – Banana Spider (South and Central America)
Photo by Joao P. Burini. One of the largest spiders in the world(it can measure up to 15 cm), it moves mainly at night in search of food, during the day it remains hidden among rocks, trunks and often among bunches of bananas (hence the name), as well as inside homes, wet corners , clothes, shoes or garbage.
It has a brown to brownish color and the body is covered with hair. Its poison is very powerful and causes acute pain , tachycardia, vomiting, diarrhea and often anaphylactic shock. A particular consequence for men could be an erection that could last for several hours, which often leads to subsequent impotence.
9 – Stonefish (Pacific Area)
The Stonefish is the second most poisonous fish in the worldand was classified as the ugliest of all. It lives in shallow waters (about 40 cm), near the coral reefs.
Its color varies from red-pink to orange-brown and dark blue, but the fish nevertheless has the ability to blend in with coral, rocks, sand and mud.
It is equipped with 13 poisonous spikes, which if stepped on could be lethal.
8 – Interior Taipan (Australia)
Rather reluctant to the presence of man, the Interior Taipan is nevertheless one of the most poisonous snakes in the world : one bite of it could contain enough venom to kill one hundred adult men.
Its habitat is the arid alluvial plain: the absence of rain typical of this type of landscape causes cracks in the clayey soil, and it is precisely here that this snake creeps and lives. It can measure up to two and a half meters, has a whip tail and is covered with very shiny scales. Its bite causes nausea, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, up to paralysis or suffocation.
7 – King Cobra (South East Asia)
Photo by Marathekedar93. Classified as the largest and longest poisonous snake , the King Cobra with a single bite could kill up to twenty adult humans. It lives in jungles, forests, woodlands, savannas and mangrove swamps and usually keeps away from humans, however it is very dangerous if it feels its habitat threatened.
It measures up to six meters, has a tapered body and pointed tail, a flattened head and two occipital scales on the nape. Before biting, the king cobra emits a hiss : in this case it is advisable to move away promptly but with not too fast or nervous movements. The bite is particularly painful and its venom attacks the nervous system.
6 – Puffer fish (Tropical seas)
One of the most poisonous animals in the world, which however does not attack humans, unlike the others known up to now. Containing tetrodotoxin, a substance that is lethal to humans, the puffer fish could kill as many as thirty men. There are several species, from larger to smaller, all however united by an oval body, a dorsal and anal fin that allows them to move and four very sharp front teeth. Some have the body covered with quills and generally all change color depending on the environmental context in which they are found.
Puffer fish is considered a delicacy in the field of Japanese cuisine , however if not prepared by extremely expert and qualified hands, eating it could be very dangerous. The effects of its poison range from paralysis to death.
5 – Tunnel spider (Australia)
Widespread in Australia, where it is not difficult to find it even inside homes, this type of spider has two large fangs that cause severe pain during the bite and is considered one of the most poisonous animals in the world.
However, it is good to remember that in 1981 a powerful antidote to its poison was created, which put an end to the many deaths due to its bite.
4 – Blue-ringed octopus (Australian and Southeast Asian coasts)
Similar in size to a golf ball, this type of octopus also lives in shallow water and is very dangerous: it is much more poisonous than the cobra.
It has eight tentacles and usually a color tending to brown-golden and when it feels threatened by foreign presences it shows off the blue rings that completely cover its body. The bite is usually painless, but causes nausea, blurred vision, paralysis, asphyxia and cardiac arrest in no time. There is currently no antidote.
3 – Poison Dart Frog (South and Central America)
Very poisonous, this type of frog has enough venom to kill ten men in a very short time.
They exist in different ranges of colors and usually live in the rainforest in South America. The most poisonous species is the Golden poison. They are really very small, so it is often difficult to even realize their presence.
2 – Marbled Cone Snail (Tropical Pacific Area)
Considered one of the most poisonous animals in the world, this snail contains a venom ten thousand times more powerful than morphine which is now used as an anesthetic. It usually lives in shallow water and has the appearance very similar to that of a snail: its shell is decorated with brown spiral motifs and has an elongated shape.
It bites by means of harpoon teeth over a centimeter long, and its bite causes blurred vision, dizziness, respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
1 – Cubomedusa Chironex fleckeri (Tropical Pacific Area)
Photo by Rickard Zerpe. The Cubomedusas are a particular class of jellyfish characterized by a cubic shape. Within this we find the Chironex fleckeri, considered the most poisonous jellyfish in the world.
Very dangerous, this type of jellyfish can get to have tentacles up to three meters long . Most encounters with Chironex fleckeri are not fatal, thanks to the contact area which is very limited, but its streak, as well as being very painful, causes a necrosis against which there are still no effective remedies.
