World's deadliest creatures
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Graham Milledge, collection manager at the Australian Museum's Arachnology division, collects venom from the Sydney Funnel Web Spider for research. A dangerous task considering this particular arachnid is the world's deadliest of spiders. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/08/29/deadly-spider-venom-could-treat-ed-study-says/"><b>Related: Deadly spider venom could treat ED</b></a> (Reuters)
Marine biologist Anthony Chang observes this blue-ringed octopus in Singapore. This octopus, native to Australia and other islands in the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most venomous marine creatures in the world. Blue rings appear in the octopus when it is irritated or excited, so beware! If you don't believe us — just take this into consideration. A bite from this octopus can completely paralyze and a kill a human in a matter minutes. (Reuters)
It seems Australia is loaded with deadly creatures. This box jellyfish, also known as the sea wasp, can have up to 60 tentacles, each measuring 15 feet long. Every tentacle has 5,000 stinging cells and enough toxins to kill 60 humans, according to <a href="http://www.livescience.com/">livescience.com</a>. (Reuters)
You'll also find this creepy creature down under: The Inland Taipan is regarded as the most venomous land snake in the world — and for good reason. It's estimated that its bite has enough venom to kill 50 grown adults. (Reuters)
<br> King cobras can reach 18 feet in length, making them the longest of all venomous snakes, according to National Geographic. Their venom is not the most potent but the amount they can deliver in a single bite is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are very shy and will avoid humans as often as we avoid them. (Tim Vickers/Wikipedia)
This frog may look beautiful, but he's a real killer. Known as the poison dart frog, the blue color of this South American creature serves as a warning to would-be predators. Its skin is covered with glands that secrete alkaloid poisons capable of paralyzing and even killing predators. Since the destruction of its rainforest habitat, the blue poison frog has become one of the most threatened of all poison dart frogs. (Reuters)
This hazardous creature is known as the stonefish. Its venom causes such severe pain that victims have described it as "the worst pain known to man." Side effects include possible shock, paralysis and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours it can be fatal to humans.
<br> July 24, 2007: You definitely don't want to try this! U.S. photographer Jeff Barbee reaches out to stroke a puffer fish while swimming at Isle de Madelaine off Senegal's capital Dakar. Puffer fish are among the most poisonous vertebrate on earth. (Reuters)
<br> King cobras can reach 18 feet in length, making them the longest of all venomous snakes, according to National Geographic. Their venom is not the most potent but the amount they can deliver in a single bite is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are very shy and will avoid humans as often as we avoid them. (Tim Vickers/Wikipedia)
This frog may look beautiful, but he's a real killer. Known as the poison dart frog, the blue color of this South American creature serves as a warning to would-be predators. Its skin is covered with glands that secrete alkaloid poisons capable of paralyzing and even killing predators. Since the destruction of its rainforest habitat, the blue poison frog has become one of the most threatened of all poison dart frogs. (Reuters)
This hazardous creature is known as the stonefish. Its venom causes such severe pain that victims have described it as "the worst pain known to man." Side effects include possible shock, paralysis and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours it can be fatal to humans.
<br> July 24, 2007: You definitely don't want to try this! U.S. photographer Jeff Barbee reaches out to stroke a puffer fish while swimming at Isle de Madelaine off Senegal's capital Dakar. Puffer fish are among the most poisonous vertebrate on earth. (Reuters)