Most Poisonous Animals
Many animals naturally produce venoms, toxins, and poisons to defend themselves and incapacitate their prey, while others accumulate toxins from the food they eat. From jellyfish to snakes, poisonous creatures come in all different shapes, sizes, and colours. Below are 10 of the most poisonous animals in the world.
Asian tiger snake
Hooded pitohui
The hooded pitohui harbours a neurotoxin in its skin and feathers called homobatrachotoxin. This can cause slight numbness and tingling in humans upon contact but is much more harmful to smaller animals. It is thought that the poison originates from the bird’s diet of beetles.
Hawksbill sea turtles
Because hawksbill sea turtles consume a variety of prey, including toxic algae and sponges, and venomous cnidarians, their flesh can also become incredibly toxic. This means anyone who eats the meat of one these turtles is likely to suffer from marine turtle poisoning, complete with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other stomach complaints.
Cane toad
Cane toads have poison glands which produce bufotoxin, one of the most poisonous toxins in the world. The toxin in their skin is so potent it can kill a variety of animals and is particularly dangerous to dogs. Cane toad tadpoles are also highly toxic to most animals when eaten.
Poison dart frog
The poison dart frog is small and brightly patterned, warning predators that it is not fit to eat. Their poison is kept in their skin and affects anyone who touches or eats it.
Spanish fly
A Spanish fly is a type of blister beetle that produces a toxin called cantharidin to defend against predators. The toxin is absorbed by the skin on contact and causes terrible blistering and burning pain. If the beetle is eaten, the toxin causes ulcers, blistering, and bleeding throughout the digestive tract, and can even result in death.