Funadvice Logo
Explore Join
More Pets and Animals Questions

Most venomous and poisonous

What is the most venomous or poisonous creature on earth and where on earth does it live!

Become an Expert →
Answer #1

Venom is a toxin that is injected and directly affects the nervous system.

That would be a neurotoxic venom. There are also hemotoxins, and cytotoxins or necrotoxins.

Answer #2

…hmmm… the Irukandji jellyfish? Or maybe Chironex fleckeri (box jellyfish)?

How are we to base the rating? On the lethality of the venom by volume? By dose? By documented deaths?

Answer #3

I didn’t want to copy the entire Wiki page. I think occasionally, bereft answers serve scientific questions far better than expansive ones.

Answer #4

Remember, kids, poison is a toxin that you ingest that causes a harmful chemical reaction within the body. Venom is a toxin that is injected and directly affects the nervous system. So plants are poisonous, animals are venomous (actually, there is one bird that secrets poison but is not venomous, but forget about him).

Most lists will rank the box jellyfish, which lives in the coastal waters of Australia, as the most venomous creature on earth. One description reads thusly: “Its venom is so painful that there are several reports of people who passed out from the pain but kept screaming long after losing consciousness. (environmentalgraffiti.com)”

Since records started being kept, it has killed over 5500 people.

Answer #5

…well… then, ‘’poison is ingested, venom is injected’’ would’ve worked.

More Like This
Advisor

Pets and Animals

Pet Care, Animal Behavior, Veterinary Medicine