Komodo Dragons

Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world, reaching lengths of 10 feet. They were discovered in 1910 and inhabit the island they are named after, as well as few other islands located in Central Indonesia.

Komodo dragons have only recently been found to be venomous. The venom causes rapid swelling, pain and disruption of blood clotting. The effects may last up to several hours and can contribute to the death of their victim. However, the main way in which Komodo dragons can kill a human being is by bacterial infection.

Komodo dragon’s mouth is a ideal place for bacteria to grow. Pieces of meat become stuck in their teeth and are left to rot and decompose. The dragon also bites through its own gums while chewing making them bleed into its mouth. All these factors combined make Komodo dragon’s mouth a dangerous place.

Komodo dragon’s saliva contains 4 types of toxic bacteria. The most dangerous strain is that of Pasteurella multocida.

The bite can cause gangrene and require amputation of the affected area, but the real problem is septicemia or blood poisoning. Septicemia causes a whole body inflammatory state which can cause multiple organ dysfunction and lead to death.

Box Jellyfish

Box jellyfish, or sea wasps as they’re sometimes called, live in the coastal waters of northern Australia. They are not true jellyfish, but rather a more advanced group of invertebrates called Cuboza. Their name comes from the shape of the bell which has four distinctive sides. They are transparent or pale blue in color, making the invisible in water. Up to 15 tentacles can grow out of each corner of the bell. Each tentacle contains about 5,000 stinging cells. The cells are activated not by touch, but by the presence of chemicals on the skin of their prey.

The venom of box jellyfish is among the deadliest in the world. The sting instantly affects the heart, nervous system and skin. Numerous times people who are stung go into shock from the excruciating pain and drown. If the victims do make it to shore, they can experience cardiac arrest within minutes. If a person does survive all of that, they experience significant pain for weeks and necrosis of the affected skin.

Poison Dart Frog

Poison dart frogs are little frogs measuring between half an inch up to 2 and a half inches in length. They inhabit the forests of central and south America. They display intricate patterns and bright colors on their skin to ward off predators. The name dart frog comes from the fact that the native people use the frogs to make poison arrows.

Poison dart frogs are said to be among the world’s most venomous creatures. A two inch frog possesses enough venom to kill 10 grown men. The skin of those frogs secretes batrachotoxin. Upon entering the bloodstream the venom causes the muscles to remain contracted which ultimately causes cardiac failure.

Lonomia

Lonomia are silk moths living in South America. These animals are cryptic. The moths camouflage themselves as leaves, while the caterpillars blend against tree bark.

The caterpillars posses a very powerful anticoagulant venom which they can inject through bristles growing all over their body. These bristles are really venom glands called urticating hair. The results of caterpillar injecting the venom lead to prevention of blood clotting, massive internal bleeding, kidney failure and destruction of blood cells.

Pufferfish

Pufferfish are found all over the world, in the shallow and warm seas of Pacific and Atlantic oceans. These fish are very iconic for their ability to inflate their stomachs with water or air until they are spherical. This serves as a defense against predators, fooling them into thinking they are facing a much bigger animal.

Pufferfish are a famous delicacy in Japan, where they are made into a soup or eaten raw. If the meat has been prepared incorrectly, meaning the cook has failed to completely cut out the parts containing the greatest amount of tetrodotoxin(usually the ovaries and liver), the meal can prove fatal.

Tetrodotoxin is a powerful neurotoxin. The ingestion of it causes numbness, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate and muscle paralysis. A person usually dies from suffocation as the diaphragm muscles become paralyzed.