{"id":39727,"date":"2024-07-02T14:56:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T12:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/8740510f-eb31-48b5-b983-1365eca23c18"},"modified":"2024-07-02T16:27:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T14:27:33","slug":"10-most-venomous-animals-there-may-be-a-few-deadly-creatures-you-werent-expecting","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/10-most-venomous-animals-there-may-be-a-few-deadly-creatures-you-werent-expecting\/","title":{"rendered":"10 most venomous animals: there may be a few deadly creatures you weren’t expecting…"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s not just particular snakes and spiders you have to watch out for! Here are our top ten venomous animals, from surprising sea creatures to primates. <\/p>

By Leoma Williams\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 02 July 2024 at 12:56 PM<\/p>

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In the battleground of nature, many animals have evolved mechanisms to both eat and avoid being eaten. This includes the production of chemical toxins,<\/a> which may be used to incapacitate prey and make it easier to catch and eat, or to defend themselves from would-be predators.<\/strong><\/p>

There is an important distinction between animals who are poisonous and those who are venomous.<\/a> Poisonous creatures merely secrete these toxins, whereas venomous animals deliver their venom directly using specialised bodyparts. This may be through a bite, a sting, or, as in one case on our list, via specialised ankle spurs!<\/p>

Here is our expert guide to the most venomous animals, including how dangerous they are, and even what potential good uses their toxins might be put to.<\/p>

10 most venomous animals<\/h2>

Box jellyfish (including Chironex fleckeri<\/em>)<\/h3>
Box jellyfish, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. \u00a9 wildestanimal\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Some consider box jellyfish<\/a> to be among the most deadly of animals. They have been attributed to many mysterious deaths of swimmers in many parts of the world. <\/p>

This is because some species produce incredibly strong and overpowering toxins that strike at the heart, nervous system and even skin cells<\/a>. Death can result very quickly, with some swimmers going into shock and drowning, or dying of heart failure before they can reach the shore.<\/p>

We named the box jellyfish of the most dangerous animals in the sea<\/a><\/p>

More related content:<\/p>

  • Jellyfish are more beneficial to marine life than previously thought<\/a><\/li>
  • 10 Pok\u00e9mon characters inspired by real wild animals<\/a><\/li>
  • Animals and plants named after Sir David Attenborough<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>

    Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum<\/em>)<\/h3>
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    The world’s most venomous lizard, the gila monster. \u00a9 Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    From the deadliest to perhaps the most painful. The bite of the gila monster<\/a>, a venomous lizard native to the USA and Mexico, is considered to be the most excruciating of any vertebrate. <\/p>

    One unfortunate journalist who got too close described it as \u201clike hot lava coursing through your veins\u201d. However, despite the pain, no bite has been known to result in a human death. The venom, a fairly mild neurotoxin, is produced in the lizards\u2019 salivary glands. Fascinatingly, scientists have found a hormone in this toxic saliva that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans.<\/p>

    Sydney funnel web spider (Atrax robustus<\/em>)<\/h3>
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    Image credit: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    The gila monster is not the only animal whose venom has medicinal potential in humans. The funnel web spider – one of the world’s deadliest spiders <\/a>– produces a potent venom that is extremely toxic to humans and other primates, but interestingly harmless to many other animals. <\/p>

    This is because these animals produce antibodies that bind to and neutralise the toxins that, unfortunately, primates<\/a> cannot. This often deadly venom<\/a> could however be lifesaving, too. Scientists have discovered that one particular molecule found in the venom could be used as a time-buying heart attack treatment, blocking the \u2018cell death message\u2019 and preventing further damage.<\/p>

    Cone snail (including Conus magnus<\/em>)<\/h3>
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    Cone snail (Conus striatus), hunting blueband goby (Valenciennea strigata). Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. \u00a9 Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    Looking at sea snail shells washed up on the beach, you wouldn’t think a marine snail could be deadly. But cone snails do more than just slither over rocks. One of the most dangerous animals in the sea<\/a>, they live on the sea bed and hunt fish by sending out a hollow, venom-filled ‘harpoon’, thus immobilising any curious passers-by. The snail then opens up its mouth and sucks its helpless quarry inside, alive and paralysed. Brace yourself:<\/p>

    Please note that this video may include external ads.<\/em><\/p>