Venom is one of the nature's mechanisms used by certain animals for defense and hunting. These animals have special in-built glands that produce the venoms. Though venoms can be harmful, they can be used for medicinal purposes too. But, in this article, we hope to only highlight five most venomous animals in the world and their consequences on the organisms in their immediate surroundings.
1. Blue-Ringed Octopus
It dwells in coastal waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
It is identified by its vibrant blue rings that appear when provoked.
Blue-ringed octopus has venom called tetrodotoxin.
This is one of the most deadliest types of venom found in the ocean.
Despite its small size and vibrant patterns, the blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill more than 20 adult humans in few hours. A bite from this creature causes paralysis and respiratory failure within minutes due to the presence of this venom, tetrodotoxin.
2. Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish, named for its body shape, is predominantly found in Coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific and Northern Australia. It has tentacles covered in nematocysts(a biological term for tiny darts loaded with poison) for delivering millions of venomous stings.
Victims to be injected with such poison suffer from cardiac arrest, nervous system malfunction, and damage in skin cells, or death within few minutes. Its sting is very painful that it often leads human victims into shock, or drowning before they can seek medical help.
3. Inland Taipan
Also called fierce snake. This animal has its habitat in Semi-arid areas of central and eastern Australia.
This is the snake with the highest venom potency, capable of killing its preys with a single bite.
It has the following deadly qualities;
Neurotoxins which affects nervous systems,
Hemotoxins (procoagulants) – affecting the blood,
Myotoxins – affecting the muscles,
Nephrotoxins – affecting the kidneys,
Haemorrhagins – affecting the blood vessels (endothelium),
Hyaluronidase enzyme – increases the rate of absorption of venom.
Its venom causes paralysis and blood clotting, but fortunately, this snake rarely attacks humans.
4. Komodo Dragon
It is located in Indonesian islands (Rinca, Flores, and the island of Komodo).
This is one of the animals that involves the use of venom for hunting.
Komodo dragon venom is a mixture of proteins and enzymes that work as anticoagulants, preventing blood clotting and causing rapid blood loss. It also triggers a sudden drop in blood pressure, making prey too weak to escape. Additionally, their saliva contains antibacterial properties, allowing them to consume decaying flesh without the risk of infection.
Before consuming its preys, it uses the venom to disable them. As the venom spreads, the prey becomes weaker, eventually collapsing due to blood loss or shock. This process can take several hours, but Komodo dragons are patient hunters.
5. king Cobra
King Cobra, which is commonly found in Southeast Asia and India, is the world's longest venomous snake. The name king Cobra emerges from the male snake's ability to mainly feed on other snakes.
At the front of the mouth of this reptile are short fangs which have enclosed groove, which produces the venom.
The snake’s venom contains neurotoxins which act against the nervous system of any prey.
One single bite from this serpent delivers a strong, large amounts of venom which can kill a human within few minutes, and elephant in just a few hours.
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