The global family of trap-door spiders, relatives of tarantulas, are also fond of burrowing. They have a special row of teeth that are adapted to help them dig holes to make a home even in very dry soil and sturdy legs to assist with the excavation. They construct a tunnel, around 15cm (6in) in length, which […]
Tag: invertebrates
“The longer it stays latched onto your skin, the more toxin it pumps in until your legs start to give way and your face and breathing muscles begin to freeze…”
If you’re strolling through grasslands in Australia, South Africa and the US Rocky Mountains in spring and early summer it’s important to check that you haven’t picked up an unwelcome and dangerous hitchhiker. The paralysis tick is a blood-sucking insect, the adult female of which has a nasty added extra – a powerful neurotoxin in […]
“Its venom disrupts the blood-clotting system, causing haemorrhage and kidney failure. Without prompt treatment bites can be fatal…”
This little desert hunter may not look especially imposing, but its bite can be deadly, and in India it is one of the “Big Four” snakes thought to be jointly responsible for around 58,000 mortalities per year. Those that encounter the saw-scaled viper would do well to heed the rasping warning sound it emits before […]
“Within its beautiful softly fluttering fins are a dozen spines able to deliver a dose of powerful venom.” 10 prettiest, sparkliest sea animals on the planet…
The ocean is teeming with life and animals, many of which are so captivating and colourful they look like tiny, exquisite jewels. We take a closer look at this watery world and explore some of the smaller enchanting sea creatures that call the ocean their home. Prettiest sea creatures Japanese firefly squid Few scientific […]
“Its venom disrupts the blood-clotting system, causing haemorrhage and kidney failure. Without prompt treatment bites can be fatal…”
This little desert hunter may not look especially imposing, but its bite can be deadly, and in India it is one of the “Big Four” snakes thought to be jointly responsible for around 58,000 mortalities per year. Those that encounter the saw-scaled viper would do well to heed the rasping warning sound it emits before […]
“It can live for 30 years without food & survive temperatures from zero to boiling point.” 8 indestructible animals that are the ultimate survivors
In certain situations, there are animals that seem almost immortal as they not only survive but thrive in extreme circumstances, says Sheena Harvey. The world’s most indestructible animals on Earth The animal that can survive fire The trick the echidna, an Australian egg-laying mammal, employs to stay alive despite all around them being destroyed by a wildfire was only discovered in […]
“Swarms attack and dismember anything in their path, piece by piece…” 10 brutal and savage animals that can kill and devour prey twice their size
When it comes to survival in the animal kingdom, size isn’t always the determining factor. Some creatures possess such incredible strength, cunning or venom that they can take down prey twice their size. Here are 10 formidable animals that can overcome much larger adversaries, from the majestic tiger and remarkable Komodo dragon, to the bat-hunting giant centipede and even a beetle larva that […]
“Imagine a rainbow-coloured kitten, shrink it down to the size of your fingertip and add a few more legs.” It’s time to rethink these tiny and cute killers
If I asked you to imagine a spider, what would be your first thought? For most people, that imaginary creature would be solid, black and hairy, with long legs and piercing fangs, perhaps skittering about in the depths of a dark cave. I’d like to suggest an alternative to what the archetypal spider looks like. […]