Most Venomous Animals on Earth: A Guide to the Planet’s Deadliest Toxins
Ever think about the venomous side of wildlife? Get ready as we are going to take you on a shocking journey of the world of most venomous animals on earth! Some of them are enough deadly that a single drop of their venom is able to spell doom. Residing in different deep oceans and dense jungles, our planet is home to many of the most venomous animals. These animals are different from the poisonous animals as they deliver their venom directly (through their specialized body parts).
1. Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish is the most venomous marine creature as its single bite can cause death just in few minutes! This is a translucent predator which has bell diameter around 4–12 inches, total length of 10 feet and weight of just few ounces. It relies on small fish, plankton, and shrimp for food by making use of its stinging cells.
The venom of box jellyfish is present in its tentacles, which have nematocysts (capsules with small pointed hooks, full of poison). It stings with its tentacles with the LD50 value of 0.03 mg/kg. It gets most of its victims in tropical and subtropical waters, especially swimmers and divers. Once it stings, its victim suffers extreme pain, cardiac problems, shocks, paralysis, and in case of no treatment, death within few minutes.
2. Inland Taipan
Inland taipan is one of the most venomous land snakes, thus being a part of our list of top 10 most venomous animals on Earth. This is an Australian snake which can kill a human in just a single bite! Its single bite puts enough venom in the victim’s body that death results maximum within 45 minutes. This slim snake appears in various shades of brown (light and dark) with a very small touch of olive color.
It is around 5 feet in length and weighs around 4.5 kg, feeding on small mammals and lizards. Although, it is comparatively shy and encounters humans very rarely, yet it is extremely venomous with the LD50 value of 0.025 mg/kg. Its venom causes a harmful effect on the nervous system of victim as well as results in blood clotting. It is enough venomous that a single drop of its venom can result in the death of 100 people within just 45 minutes!
3. Blue-Ringed Octopus
Don’t get defeated by the small size of this venomous animal (equal to the size of a golf ball) as blue-ringed octopus is capable to kill 26 individuals at once! It has extremely toxic venom that immediately causes paralysis and respiratory failure in victim’s body, just in 10 minutes. It is only 1.2-2 inches in length and weighs around 0.5 – 1 ounce along with very vibrant appearance.
It has mostly yellow or brown colored skin, which is decorated with happy blue-colored rings. Typically, they prey on small crabs, shrimp, or hermit crabs. It transfers its venom through its beak as it has negligible bite force. Its salivary glands produce tetrodotoxin (TTX), which is very neurotoxic and blocks the spread of nerve impulses, preventing muscles from contraction, thus leading to death.
4. Cone Snail
Cone snails are mostly resident on the sea bed, where they can hunt fish through the venom-filled harpoon. Their powerful punch provides them a special position in the list of top 10 most venomous animals on Earth. Being around 1-2 inch in length and weight around 1 ounce, they appear in attractive color patterns with spiral shells (mostly brown, yellow, orange, and white).
The most distinguishing feature of this marine snail is its harpoon-like tooth, which helps it to inject venom into the body of prey. Its venom is enough potent that it can kill 20 adults in one shot. Very mild effects include paralysis and death in very short time (LD50=0.1 mg/kg).
5. Stonefish
Stonefish is considered as one of the most venomous fish as its sting is extremely deadly to humans. It appears in a greenish-brown color with spots on its skin (stone-like additions). Such an appearance provides it complete protection and camouflage with respect to its environment. It measures 12 – 18 inches in length, 1 – 2 kg in weight with 13 dorsal spines.
The venomous spine of a stonefish can deliver a powerful toxin with LD50 values of 1 mg/kg. It stings from one of its needle-like defensive dorsal fin spines, which delivers very powerful neurotoxin, causing severe pain and perhaps death within only 6 hours. Surprisingly, stonefish is also used for food after the removal of its venomous spines. Are you truly going to consume it?
6. Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
Sydney funnel-web spider has very shiny appearance in dark colors ranging from dark brown to black with finger-like appendages at the abdomen’s tip (for spinning silk), yet it is among most venomous animals on Earth. They are commonly found in the moist habitats like forests and woodlands, often residing in burrows lined with silk. The lethality can be estimated with the LD50 value of their venom, which is 0.16 mg/kg.
Ever hear about cyanide? Sydney funnel-web spider is even beyond it because its venom is 2 times lethal as compared to cyanide! Its venom poses severe effects on its victim, including immediate hypertension, heart issues, coma and death. You can imagine its venom potency by considering the fact that it can kill a person within only 15 minutes!
7. Indian Red Scorpion
This scorpion species has very small size, measuring around 2-3.5 inches and weight around 1 ounce, reddish-brown to orange body, bright red tipped pincers and black body shell. While feeding on the insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, they live up to 5-8 years.
Indian red scorpion is inhabitant of India, eastern Pakistan, and Sri Lanka (dry and rocky areas) where it is considered as one of the aggressive scorpion species because its venom is extremely toxic. Its single bite can lead to death after severe pain, muscle spasms and respiratory problems. Its venom has an LD50 value of 0.45 mg/kg which needs immediate medical attention.
8. Coastal Taipan
Coastal taipan is closely related to the Inland Taipan, thus being a part of our list of top 10 most venomous animals on earth. It measures around 1.8-2.4 m in length and appears light to dark brown with yellowish-creamy belly and a long and slim body. It is commonly seen in the habitats like monsoon forests and open woodlands, hunting on small mammals.
It has very low LD50 value around 0.04 mg/kg , which shows how much it is lethal. This Australian snake is extremely venomous that its bite can cause rapid paralysis, nervous breakdown, blood coagulation and finally death.
9. Irukandji Jellyfish
Irukandji jellyfish is not only one of the most venomous animals on Earth but also smallest and rarest type of jellyfish which is mostly found in the tropical and subtropical waters in Australia. Being just equal to the fingertip of a human, it has an average bell diameter of 5-25 mm. It has 4 long, thin tentacles (1 meter in length) with halo-like rings around and a transparent body.
Although its size is very small, yet stands among the list of top 10 most venomous creatures on Earth due to its potent venom. Its venom is enough potent (LD50 value=0.02 mg/kg) that it causes Irukandji syndrome, which include severe muscle pain, back and chest pain, brain hemorrhage, and heart failure.
10. Gila Monster
Gila monster (a venomous lizard) completes the search of top 10 deadliest and most venomous animals on Earth with its most painful bite. It is commonly found in the United States with the body length around 22 inches and weight around 2.3 kg. It has large head, bead-like scales on body (black, pink, orange and cream patterns), bumpy armor, small but bright eyes and a short fat tail.
As compared to other venomous animals, Gila monster is considered relatively weak predator (LD50=10 mg/kg), yet its single attack can result in swelling, pain, nausea, dropped blood pressure and hemorrhaging.
Decoding the Rankings
There are several factors which contribute to rank the above mentioned venomous animals on their respective positions in our list of the top 10 most venomous animals on Earth. For example, potency of their venom, speed of its effects, lethality and LD50 value are very important for ranking. Box Jellyfish, Inland Taipan, and Blue-Ringed Octopus hold the top positions because of their extremely potent venom and high fatality rate. However, stonefish, Irukandji Jellyfish and Gila monster are less venomous because of their slower-acting venom. Thus, this list discloses the true venomous side of these most dangerous animals according to their threat and harm to humans.
