You know it’s best to stay away from the lion and the great white shark, but it might also help to learn what else is out there – like the Australian death adder and the poison dart frog.  Meet a few deadly creatures from a safe distance.

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Image via Wikipedia

BLACK MAMBA SNAKE

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The black mamba is the largest venomous snake in Africa, and the second most venomous snake in the world.  It delivers its poison  through a pair of hollow fangs that are fixed, rather than retractable.  It has excellent eyesight, and is always ready to strike.  A single bite can kill up to 40 men.

SCORPION

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All scorpions have venom and for most, this venom contains neurotoxins, meaning it paralyzes its victim before eating it. For most people, the scorpion sting is harmless, but that’s not the case with Leiurus quinquestriatus, aka “the deathstalker”. The deathstalker’s venom contains a mix of neurotoxins, which causes a change in the firing patterns of nerve cells, leading to convulsions, coma and even death.

Portuguese Man o’ War

The Portuguese Man o’ War has a purple, jelly-like bubble on top, and a mass of tentacles underneath.  A clump of purple tentacles are used for reproduction; another mass of blue tentacles are used for eating.  Then there are its weapons, a thick mass of long blue spiral tentacles that hang three feet down into the water.  Each tentacle has millions of stinging cells.  Each cell is made of a capsule with a coiled up poisonous thread inside.  When the Man o’ War stings, the cap opens up and the thread pops out, then is injected into the victims’ skin.

King Cobra

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

The king cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world, reaching almost 20 feet in length.  Its venom is produced in salivary glands located behind the snake’s eyes; though it is not the most poisonous snake, it is capable of releasing more poison than most, causing extreme pain, paralysis, drowsiness and even death.  Despite these weapons, the king cobra is known as a reclusive animal.

LION FISH

A tall plume of spines fans out on top of the lion fish’s head, and its spines spread out like whiskers. These spines contain a potent venom that can seriously wound a person, and the lion fish is not afraid to stab anything that gets near – even people. Though the lion fish’s poison isn’t deadly, you will feel great pain, headaches and vomiting if you are wounded. 

AUSTRALIAN DEATH ADDER

A venomous snake from the cobra family, the Australian Death Adder nevertheless looks more like a viper – though its venom is much more deadly.  It has long, frightening fangs in front, and its poison is stored in the back of its head.  It has been classed as the fifth most venomous snake in the world, and is one of the fastest when it comes to striking a victim.

FUNNEL WEB SPIDER

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This spider belongs to a group of family better known as tarantulas.  And like tarantulas, they have enormous fangs that point downwards.  The sharp, knife-like edges crush and break the skin, and can even penetrate a fingernail or shoe.  The venom glands are located within the mouth, and there are several different toxins with the venom. 

POLAR BEAR

With a swat from its shovel-sized paw and a slash from its sharp-hooked claws, the polar bear can do some serious damage.  It’s also camouflaged, surprisingly, by its translucent fur.  The polar bear’s fur only looks white because it picks up the glare from its snowy surroundings.  This helps it blend … and surprise.