http://digg.com/environment/The_most_venomous_animals_living_on_the_Earth
Number 7: Heloderma Suspectum (Gila Monster) The Gila monster is the largest of the lizards found in the United
States. It received its name from the Gila River Basin where it was
first found. Unique in appearance and habits it is well adapted to its
preferred habitats of desert lowlands and foothills. It is venomous
with toxicity similar to that of the diamondback rattlesnake, but
because of limited ability to inject its venom, it is not as dangerous
and its bite is not considered lethal. Populations are declining and
the species is protected in all areas of its distribution.
Number 6: Sydney Funnel The Sydney funnel
web spider is a bulky, ugly-looking and relatively large (6-7 cm) spider
much feared by the people in Australia. It can rear up on its hind legs
when annoyed, aggressively exposing its massive fangs- they are strong
enough to penetrate even a finger-nail. The spider attacks in a very specific
manner: it grips its victim tightly and inflicts a series of painful
bites. It is only found in a radius of 160 km from Sydney and has caused
several human deaths in that area since 1920.
Number 5: Death Stalker Although it's only
a medium-sized scorpion, the Death Stalker is one of the most deadly
scorpions on Earth. Its very potent venom helps it compensate for its
smaller size and narrow, weak pincers; this scorpion's sting injects
extremely toxic venom (a neurotoxin) that can cause extreme pain,
fever, convulsions, paralysis, and often coma or death in humans (by
heart or respiratory failure). The Death Stalker Scorpion is found in
North Africa and the Middle East. It prefers a dry climate, and makes
its home in natural burrows or under stones.
Number 4: Inland Taipan Although
the Inland Taipan has the most potent venom of any land snake on
earth. It is usually quite shy in nature. Taipan
venom is overwhelmingly neurotoxic and thus nervous system is severely affected.
Symptoms include vomiting, flaccid paralysis, and eventual respiratory
paralysis.The back, sides and tail may be buff-grey to greyish brown,
buff-brown, brown or reddish dark brown.
The round-Snouted head and neck are usually darker than he
body (glossy black in winter, dark brown in summer). The eye is of
average size with a blackish brown iris.The Inland Taipan shelters in rat burrows (probably having eaten the
original owners), in deep soil cracks and sink holes, and sometimes in
rock crevices and deep fissures. It feeds on small to medium-sized
mammals. The extremely potent venom acts so quickly that the snake can
hold the prey until it succumbs without itself suffering injury. In
times of plenty, the Inland Taipan can become quite fat; during
prolonged drought, it can starve and become remarkably thin.It is usually most active on the surface in the early half of the
morning when it bask. In cooler weather, it is also active in the afternoon; in hot
weather it becomes nocturnal.
Number 3: Box Jelly Fish Box Jellyfish are
pale blue and transparent and bell or cubed shaped
with four distinct sides, therefore the name box jellyfish.Measuring up to 20
cm along each side of the cube or bell, the Box
Jellyfish has up to as many as 15 tentacles on
each corner which can be 3 metres in length with up
to 5,000 nematocysts (stinging cells).The Box Jellyfish
shoots itself along up to speeds of 4 knots in a
jet-like motion.They
are more numerous after local rain, especially near river and creek
outlets and are usually absent when seas are rough. Marine stingers are
not usually found over coral, in deep water, or around extensive
seagrass or weed beds.
Number 2: Blue ringed octopus It starts life the size of a pea
and is fully grown at about the size of a golf ball.They have a life span of approx.
2 years.Carry enough poison to kill 26
adults within minutes. The
only dangerous octopus in the world cruises the waters of Australia.Fully grown these marine animals are smaller than your hand, 10-20 cm in diameter with tentacles extended and a yellow/brown
colour, perhaps with brown bands.When angry brilliant blue rings appear on its body, though that
may be too late to warn you or your children.It's often found near the shoreline or in rocky pools, hunting
crabs.If it's picked up or trodden on it'll bite with a little beak
in the mid-underside of its body. The bite may not be noticed immediately, but pain followed by
severe breathing difficulties, nausea and paralysis will clarify
matters soon enough.Death is rare but not unknown.The Blue-Ringed Octopus also releases venom into the water surrounding
it.
Number 1: Phyllobates Terribilis (Golden poison frog)
Phyllobates terribilis is found in
lowland rainforest (100-200 meters elevation) of pacific coastal
Colombia. It occurs in rough, hilly landscapes at the western foot of a
northerly inclined spur of the Cordillera Occidental. The humid forest
is believed to receive at least 5 meters of rainfall per year and the
forest is broken as a result of stream dissection. The forest tends to
be open on gravel slopes that are usually wet due to seepage; slopes
tend to be steep and hillside soils are often covered in gravel. Leaf
litter is reported to be sparse. The main ground vegetation is composed
of saplings and treelets, small palms, herbaceous plants and ferns
The Phyllobates terribilis are
collected from the upper Rio Saija drainage in the vicinity of Quebrada
Guangui and at La Brea. The morphology and toxicity of these frogs are
uniform except for a microgeographic color variation which ranges from
golden-yellow to deep orange to a metallic silver-green. The metallic
silver green morph is generally found in the locality of La Brea in
forest on the riverfront. Learning the true extent of their range has
been hindered by the risks of surveying land owned by drug cartels of
Colombia.
