Poisonous Animals: Mammals and Insects

Poisonous Mammals

• Only a few mammals are poisonous, and they all belong to the order Afrosoricida
• Examples:
  • Solenodon (Cuban solenodon and Haitian solenodon)
  • Tenrecs (some species)
• These mammals have glands in their teeth, legs, or spines that produce toxic secretions
• The venom is used for defense and predation, and can be deadly to humans if ingested or injected

Deadly Insects

• Insects that can cause serious harm or death to humans:
  • Mosquitoes (malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus)
  • Tsetse flies (sleeping sickness)
  • Kissing bugs (Chagas disease)
  • Asian giant hornets (allergic reactions and anaphylaxis)
• Some insects can also cause painful stings or bites, such as:
  • Bullet ants (painful sting)
  • Tarantula hawks (painful sting)
  • Australian paralysis ticks (paralysis and respiratory failure)

Venomous Snakes

• Venomous snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica
• Most venomous snakes belong to the families:
  • Viperidae (vipers)
  • Elapidae (cobras, coral snakes, and taipans)
  • Hydrophiidae (sea snakes)
• Deadly venomous snakes include:
  • Inland taipan (world's most venomous snake)
  • Eastern brown snake
  • Black mamba
  • Blue krait
  • Cape cobra

Marine Animals

• Many marine animals can be dangerous to humans, including:
  • Jellyfish (box jellyfish, sea nettles)
  • Sea snakes (most venomous snakes in the sea)
  • Stingrays (barbed tails can cause serious injury)
  • Sharks (some species, like great whites and tiger sharks)
  • Octopuses (blue-ringed octopus, venomous saliva)

Wild Predators

• Large predators that can be deadly to humans:
  • Big cats (lions, tigers, leopards)
  • Bears (grizzly bears, polar bears)
  • Wolves (in rare cases, they can attack humans)
  • Crocodiles and alligators (can be deadly in close encounters)
  • Hippopotamuses (responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other large animal)

Poisonous Mammals

• Only a few mammals are poisonous, belonging to the order Afrosoricida.
• Solenodon (Cuban solenodon and Haitian solenodon) are examples of poisonous mammals.
• Tenrecs (some species) are also poisonous mammals.
• These mammals have glands in their teeth, legs, or spines that produce toxic secretions.
• The venom is used for defense and predation, and can be deadly to humans if ingested or injected.

Deadly Insects

• Mosquitoes can transmit malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus.
• Tsetse flies can transmit sleeping sickness.
• Kissing bugs can transmit Chagas disease.
• Asian giant hornets can cause allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.
• Bullet ants are known for their extremely painful sting.
• Tarantula hawks can inflict painful stings.
• Australian paralysis ticks can cause paralysis and respiratory failure.

Venomous Snakes

• Venomous snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica.
• Most venomous snakes belong to the Viperidae, Elapidae, and Hydrophiidae families.
• The inland taipan is considered the world's most venomous snake.
• The eastern brown snake, black mamba, blue krait, and cape cobra are also deadly venomous snakes.

Marine Animals

• Box jellyfish and sea nettles are examples of jellyfish that can be deadly to humans.
• Sea snakes are the most venomous snakes in the sea.
• Stingrays have barbed tails that can cause serious injury.
• Some shark species, such as great whites and tiger sharks, can be deadly to humans.
• The blue-ringed octopus has venomous saliva.

Wild Predators

• Big cats, including lions, tigers, and leopards, can be deadly to humans.
• Grizzly bears and polar bears are examples of bears that can be deadly to humans.
• In rare cases, wolves can attack humans.
• Crocodiles and alligators can be deadly in close encounters.
• Hippopotamuses are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other large animal.