They may send shivers down the spine of arachnophobes, but not all spiders are the stuff of nightmares. From dazzling dancers no bigger than a grain of rice, to velvet-coated rarities that look more like toys than terrors, these eight-legged wonders prove that beauty comes in the most unexpected forms. Here are some of the […]
Tag: venom
“They’re powerful enough to break human skin – and contain venom.” 7 longest (and deadliest) fangs on the planet
In the animal kingdom, teeth come in all shapes and sizes. Some are anchored in the jaw for chewing or seizing prey, while others – known as fangs – are elongated teeth (often hollow or grooved), specially adapted for piercing flesh and injecting venom. A walrus‘s tusks, for example, are enormous canine teeth that can […]
“It can fit in the palm of your hand, could kill you in minutes with a venom a thousand times stronger than cyanide – and there’s no antidote”
These cute cephalopods that fit in the palm of your hand could kill you in minutes with a venom a thousand times stronger than cyanide, says Melissa Hobson. What are blue-ringed octopuses? Blue-ringed octopus are a genus of octopus known for their iridescent blue markings. These iconic patterns only reveal themselves when the little octopus – which are smaller than a […]
“Its bristles are like thousands of tiny, hollow needles poking out of every inch of skin, ready to inject you with neurotoxin that burns like fire for several hours…”
These ocean predators might look soft and fuzzy but don’t be tempted to stroke their bristles – they’re full of a potent neurotoxin that can be seriously painful if you get stung. Apart from the burning pain, you might feel a bit dizzy or sick but the symptoms aren’t typically any worse and no-one is […]
She’s equipped with deadly hooked claws that’s used to pin down her prey, which only dies once all its vital organs have been eaten, left until last…
Neither an arachnid nor a bird, this large wasp (there are over 130 known species) gets its confusing name from a fearsome habit of preying on tarantulas and other large spiders. What are tarantula hawk wasps? Tarantula hawks are part of the spider wasp family, and measuring from around 5cm to 11cm long, it’s found all over the […]
“When they use these spines, they puncture them really deeply into their attacker. They can deliver venom into the wound”
In a new study, researchers compared the features of 30 different stingray spines to find out why some break off while others remain sturdy Scientists have gained a fascinating insight into how stingrays‘ iconic spines differ across species and the trade-off between different features. “Stingray spines are highly modified scales,” says Emily Poulin, a PhD candidate […]
“It has incredibly potent venom, causing catastrophic internal bleeding and horrifying consequences – with the body coming apart from within.”
Long, arboreal and often dazzlingly green, the boomslang looks more like a vine with eyes than a killer. Yet this member of the Colubrid snake family carries an incredibly potent venom, capable of causing catastrophic internal bleeding. It is shy and much less likely to bite than some other more aggressive venomous snakes, such as the saw-scaled […]
“An attack can be fatal, due to their venom and bacteria…” The 3 deadliest, most lethal lizards the planet
When we think of dangerous animals, lizards might not seem as though they’d be top of the list – but a few scaly species prove that reptiles can be just as lethal as big cats or venomous snakes. From venom that has been transformed into trailblazing diabetes treatment to toxins that inhibit blood clotting, lizards have some of the most […]