Poison Perils
Here’s a jarring thought: there are thousands of different poisonous animals out there. These creatures have a toxin in their glands or skin that can kill or sicken any animal that tries to nibble, sniff, or touch them. The poison attacks the nervous system or stops the heart and lungs from working. Poisonous animals are often brightly colored, so take the hint and stay away.
Hooded pitohui
This family of strikingly colorful orange and black birds from New Guinea feeds on toxic beetles. As a result, neurotoxins build up in their skin and feathers. If a snake or bird of prey pounces, the toxin-laced feathers instantly repel it, causing numbness and tingling.
Flamboyant cuttlefish
These odd-looking fish found in the seas of Australia and Indonesia stroll along the ocean floor with their arms, looking for dinner. Cuttlefish can change color in an instant to camouflage themselves when stalking their prey. To keep themselves safe from other predators, their muscle tissue contains a sickeningly strong poison.
Stonefish
Lying on the seabed, stonefish are armed with spines on their backs to protect themselves from predators, such as sharks and rays. Should a predator pounce, they shoot out poison, causing paralysing pain. Stone me!
Cane Toad
Sensing danger, the cane toad begins to “cry,” oozing out a white fluid from glands near its eyes and along its back. Contact with this milky poison causes twitching, limb collapse, breathing problems, then cardiac arrest. So don’t kiss a tearful toad to make it feel better or you will feel much, much worse.
Monarch Butterfly
As larvae (an early stage of growth), these beautiful butterflies feed on the milkweed plant, from which they extract a supply of heart-stopping poison called glycoside. Come snacktime, birds that take a nibble of a monarch will soon learn that it is poisonous when they vomit it up. But this won’t stop some birds, such as black-beaked orioles, which have a greater tolerance to the monarch’s chemical defenses.
Puss moth caterpillar
The puss moth larva is covered in long, lush locks of hairlike fur that conceal a nasty surprise: underneath, there are hollow, quill-like spines connected to sacs of pure poison. Any contact with the caterpillar releases the toxin, causing searing pain, itching, and headaches.
Sea cucumber
When in danger, the sea cucumber expels a special organ loaded with toxins from its posterior. In the water, the organ splits into sticky toxic tubes that attach to the attacker, weakening its muscles and making it helpless. The poison can also cause permanent blindness if it gets into the eyes. Not to be used in salads!
Poison-arrow frog
One of the world’s most poisonous animals, the poison-arrow frog can kill a human with an amount of toxin equal to only two or three grains of table salt. Native to Central and South America, it secretes the poison through its skin. This terrifying toxin paralyses muscles and lungs, causing death.
Fire salamander
When a predator gets ahold of it, this colorful newt releases a milky toxin from pores around its head and along both sides of its spine. The poison causes muscle convulsions and attacks the heart and lungs. Newt good.