Deadliest Creatures

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CWonristtueltnabnyt:DDer.reKkimHaBrrvyeayn
First American Edition, 2018
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CONTENTS

1 2

DEADLY CREATURES 08 VENOMOUS BITES 36

MUSCLES, JAWS, 10 Blue-ringed octopus 38
AND CLAWS Arrow worm 39
12 Yellow-legged giant centipede 40
Giant squid 13 Sydney funnel-web spider 42
Giant Pacific octopus 14 Brown recluse spider 43
Peacock mantis shrimp 16 Redback spider 44
Camel spider 17 Robber fly 45
Great white shark 18 Gila monster 46
Bull shark 19 Gaboon viper 47
Arapaima 20 Saw-scaled viper 48
Viperfish 21 Black mamba 49
Saltwater crocodile 22 Boomslang 50
Green anaconda 23 Inland taipan 51
Perentie 24 King cobra 52
Komodo dragon 26 Northern short-tailed shrew 54
Southern cassowary 27 Slow loris 55
Secretarybird 28
Osprey 29
Harpy eagle 30
Tasmanian devil 31
Siberian tiger 32
Clouded leopard 33
Wolverine 34
Leopard seal 35
Sperm whale

3 4

STINGS AND POISONS 56 TRAPPED! 86

Sea wasp 58 Predatory tunicate 88
Bearded fireworm 59 Brown-lined ribbon worm 89
Purple cone snail 60 Trapdoor spider 90
California sea hare 60 Darwin’s bark spider 91
Disco clam 62 Ogre-faced spider 92
Flamboyant cuttlefish 63 Antlion larva 94
Cyanide millipede 64 Glowing fungus gnat larva 94
Deathstalker 65 New Zealand velvet worm 96
Spanish fly 66 Humpback whale 97
Rattlebox moth caterpillar 67
Puss moth caterpillar 68 DANGER FACTOR
Giant silkworm moth caterpillar 69
Queen Alexandra’s birdwing 70 Our danger factor rates creatures from across a wide
Tarantula hawk 72 range of species and includes both those that are
Maricopa harvester ant 73 deadly in attack and those that are deadly in defense.
Bullet ant 74 The scale goes from a rating of 1 to 5.
Flower urchin 75
Blue-spotted ribbontail stingray 76 Creatures that are given a rating of 1 are
Striped eel catfish 77 the least deadly.
Web burrfish 78
Reef stonefish 80 Creatures that are given a rating of 5 are
Rough-skinned newt 81 the most deadly.
Fire salamander 82
Golden poison frog 83
Hooded pitohui 84
Platypus 85

DECEIVERS AND 5 DEADLY NUMBERS 6
TRICKSTERS
98 Blue shark 124
Flower crab spider Red-bellied piranha
Portia spider 100 Giant moray eel 126
Femme fatale lightning bug 101 Yellow-saddle goatfish 126
Orchid mantis 102 Social spider 128
Moth butterfly caterpillar 103 Western honeybee 129
Tasselled wobbegong 104 Asian giant hornet 130
Humpback anglerfish 105 African driver ant 131
Pirate perch 106 Tropical American army ant 132
South American leaf fish 108 Fossa 133
False cleanerfish 109 Harris’s hawk 134
Indian Ocean crocodile fish 110 South American coati 135
Alligator snapping turtle 111 Spotted hyena 136
Sidewinder 112 Gray wolf 138
Cantil 113 African wild dog 139
Puff adder 114 Lion 140
Tentacled snake 115 141
Black heron 116 142
Green-backed heron 117
Polar bear 118
Snow leopard 119
Margay 120
Orca 122
123

SKILLS, TACTICS, 7 DISEASE AND 8
AND CUNNING DESTRUCTION
144 166
Humboldt squid Rosy wolfsnail
Bolas spider 146 Chinese mitten crab 168
Red-veined darter 146 Anopheles mosquito 169
Electric eel 148 Australian paralysis tick 170
Texas horned lizard 150 Tsetse fly 171
Common lancehead 151 Oriental rat flea 172
Spitting cobra 152 Electric ant 173
Brown skua 153 Crown-of-thorns starfish 174
Barn owl 154 Snakehead 175
Golden eagle 155 Nile perch 176
Peregrine falcon 156 Red lionfish 177
Great grey shrike 158 Cane toad 178
Ghost bat 159 Brown tree snake 179
Stoat 160 Brown rat 180
Cheetah 161 Vampire bat 181
Bottlenose dolphin 162 Domestic cat 182
Chimpanzee 163 Red fox 184
164 Common hippopotamus 185
Moose 186
Cape buffalo 188
African savanna elephant 189
190

REFERENCE 192
GLOSSARY 204
INDEX 206
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 208

DEADLY CREATURES

Animals can be deadly for many different reasons—some in attack
and some in defense. But they vary a lot in the risk they pose to
other living things—including humans.

Deadly in all sizes such as ocean plankton, while others are
Any animal that can kill another organism deadly on a much larger scale. Only a few
can be classed as deadly. Some are only are dangerous to humans.
deadly to tiny insects or minute animals

Small killers, small victims Small killers, big victims Big killers, big victims
The smallest animals are usually There are exceptions. This blue-ringed Animals that combine massive size;
deadly to other small animals. This octopus is not much bigger than your physical strength; and large weapons,
spider’s venom kills other spiders, but fist, but its venom is strong enough such as teeth, can sometimes be the
its bite cannot harm anything bigger. to kill a human. deadliest of them all.

Mosquito 50,000 725,000
Snake 10,000
Which animals are deadly to humans?
Tsetse fly 1,000 Some big predators, such as sharks, have the
Crocodile strength to kill humans, but such attacks are
Hippopotamus 500 very rare. The most dangerous killers of humans are
100 animals that spread disease, such as malaria-carrying
Lion 10 mosquitoes. And many animals, including venomous
Shark 100,000 snakes, are deadly in self-defense and will only attack
if they feel threatened.
0
200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000
8
Humans killed every year

What makes animals deadly? themselves in ways that can end up being
Very different behaviors have evolved to deadly. Other animals can be deadly because
make animals deadly, including methods of of completely different aspects of their
getting food and ways of escaping danger. behavior. For example, parasites feed on other
Those that get their nutrition by killing and living things without immediately killing them
eating other animals are called predators. but can spread deadly diseases when they bite.
The animals they target—their prey—defend

PREDATORS DEFENDERS

Muscles, jaws, and claws Muscles, jaws, and claws
Many predators use Strength and weaponry
brute strength and can sometimes turn a
weaponry to attack cornered defender into
and kill their prey. a deadly killer.

Venomous bites Stings and poisons
Venom-laced bites Painful stings and
have mainly evolved
to kill prey but are foul-tasting poisons
sometimes used in have evolved to

self-defense. keep predators away
but sometimes have
Traps
By setting a trap to deadly effects.
catch prey, predators
save energy in a chase Deadly numbers
or a fight. Strength in numbers is a
powerful defense—and
is sometimes used to
help overcome prey.

Deceivers and tricksters PARASITES
Some predators can
Disease and
pretend to be harmless destruction
objects and hide in Some animals carry
ambush, or imitate diseases that can kill,
food to attract prey. while other animals
may be destructive to
Skills, tactics, habitats when they
and cunning invade new regions.
Super senses, brain
power, and speed Deadly creatures
can all help a predator
catch its prey.

9

MUSCLES,
JAWS, AND
CLAWS

A Siberian tiger’s daggerlike
canine teeth—the longest of any
cat—are adapted to kill. When
animals clash, size and strength
can help them stay alive. Many
wield physical weapons, such
as teeth and claws, with lethal
effects—both in predatory
attacks and in self-defense.



Muscles, jaws, and clawsGIASNQT UID Esnemqnouaeryiwmmdhhoayeauv,llopssepiestdeh.yriiemtsss

Architeuthis dux DATA FILE
Found in the darkness of
the deep ocean, this lethal DANGER FACTOR
hunter is one of the biggest SIZE: Up to 59 ft (18 m) long
animals without a backbone. RANGE: Worldwide in the
Its eight muscular arms and deep ocean
two tentacles—the longest DIET: Fish and other squid
of any squid—have suckers
for catching prey. Once caught,
the prey is torn apart with the
squid’s hooked beak.

12

GIAONCTTPOACPIFUICS DATA FILE

Enteroctopus dofleini DANGER FACTOR

Found in cold ocean waters, this creature SIZE: Arm span up to 31.5 ft
has the biggest arm span compared to (9.6 m) long
other octopus species. It combines brain RANGE: Coastlines of the
and brawn to grab anything tasty that North Pacific Ocean
comes within its massive reach. A trash DIET: Crabs, lobsters,
pile next to its underwater lair contains shrimp, clams, and fish
the remains of its victims. It eats animals
up to the size of small sharks and even
the occasional seabird.

This octopus can squeeze through
a hole the size of its beak—the
only hard part of its body.

Muscles, jaws, and claws

13

Muscles, jaws, and clawsPEMACAOCNKTIS SHRIMP

Odontodactylus scyllarus

This colorful crustacean
hides at the bottom of
coral reefs and packs a
deadly punch. The peacock
mantis shrimp holds a pair
of solid clubs under the
front of its body. When
a crab wanders close, the
shrimp swings the clubs
with the speed of a bullet
to hammer its victim’s
shell to pieces. It has the
strength to smash the
glass of an aquarium.

Prey-smashing clubs
are carried on the

second pair of legs.

Peacock mantis shrimp, front view
14

shPterbhiameactnoptechhkrauvmvmiesaaineontvnsies.n DATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: 2–7 in (5–17 cm) long

RANGE: Eastern Africa
to Japan, Australia, and
southwestern Pacific
DIET: Crabs, snails, and fish

Mantis shrimp threaten
rivals and enemies by
flashing colorful paddles
on their antennae.

Like other crustaceans, Muscles, jaws, and claws
the mantis shrimp
is covered in a hard
armorlike exoskeleton.

15

CASMPELIDER DATA FILE

Solifugae DANGER FACTOR

This eight-legged desert hunter is SIZE: 0.4–2.8 in (1–7 cm)
not venomous, but it makes up for long, with leg span up to
this by having enormous jaws. After 4.7 in (12 cm)
chasing down or ambushing prey, RANGE: Tropical, dry
a camel spider uses its jaws like habitats in Africa, Asia,
pincers to rip the victim apart while and Americas
it is still struggling—even snapping DIET: Invertebrates, small
through tiny bones. reptiles, and rodents

Muscles, jaws, and claws scApaenc(ea1mdm6ooekvflme1sp/0aihtdm)te.hpreh

16

GRSEHATAWRHKITE DATA FILE

Carcharodon carcharias DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: 11–20 ft
(3.5–6 m) long
RANGE: Oceans worldwide,
except cold polar waters
DIET: Fish, marine mammals,
seabirds, squid, and
crustaceans

Great white shark, side view Sawlike teeth and Muscles, jaws, and claws
powerful jaws
One of the ocean’s biggest top predators, help this shark
the great white shark has the power to carve through
kill mammals the size of elephant seals bone and blubber.
and baby whales. This shark disables its
biggest prey with a huge bite, then it 17
may wait for the victim to bleed to death
before devouring it.

BUSLLHARK DATA FILE

Carcharhinus leucas DANGER FACTOR

Unusually for sharks, this underwater SIZE: Up to 11.2 ft
predator can survive in fresh water and (3.4 m) long
occasionally wanders up the rivers, far from
the salty ocean. Here it continues to hunt, RANGE: Coastal waters
even when close to the riverbank and near of tropics worldwide;
people. This behavior, along with its massive sometimes in rivers
jaws and big appetite, makes it a potentially DIET: Other fish,
dangerous shark. invertebrates, and carrion

The bull shark has tiny Bull shark, side view
eyes and poor eyesight,
so it mainly relies on its

other senses—such as
smell—to locate prey.

Muscles, jaws, and claws

18

ARAPAIMA rTaihmniseenaasedriseattspihnyaooitmluheneasg
river bed.
Arapaima

The predatory arapaima is one of the
biggest of all freshwater fish. It is found in
the murky flooded waters of the Amazon
river and uses a special lung to breathe air.
Every 10 minutes, it rises to the surface to
take a gulp or, if it is hungry, to grab an
unsuspecting bird.

DATA FILE Muscles, jaws, and claws

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 14.7 ft
(4.5 m) long
RANGE: Rivers of the
Amazon basin
DIET: Wide variety
of animals

19

VIPERFISH DATA FILE

Chauliodus DANGER FACTOR

The viperfish has the longest teeth in proportion SIZE: 5.9–13.7 in
to its head than any other fish. In its dark (15–35 cm) long,
ocean habitat, this ferocious predator uses its depending on species
impressive teeth to ensure that its prey doesn’t RANGE: Deep ocean
escape. The long fangs close around a struggling worldwide
target like a cage, trapping the victim before
it is swallowed whole. DIET: Other fish, crustaceans,
and arrow worms

The viperfish hasMuscles, jaws, and clawssroTewhfaiaecthlsvleobipswoe6dr3pyfirpsleheeynrctcgahetnanhtt.
light-producing
organs, possibly
to help attract prey.

20

SACLTRWOATCEOR DILE DATA FILE

Crocodylus porosus DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 20.3 ft (6.2 m)
long, from head to tail

RANGE: Asia, northern
Australia, and western
Pacific Islands
DIET: Crustaceans, fish,
reptiles, birds, and mammals

No other reptile grows as big as the tchTathenhes(awe1bnceit2groiog,gn2cheno0semd0t)io.ollbefrseMuscles, jaws, and claws
saltwater crocodile. It lives along
coastlines, and unlike other crocodiles, 21
regularly swims out to sea. Victims are
ambushed at the water’s edge, then
dragged beneath the surface and
drowned as the reptile spins around
and around in a so-called “death roll.”
This large predator then feasts on the
victim, tearing up large chunks.

Muscles, jaws, and clawsGRAEENNACONDA

Eunectes murinus

Weighing up to 154 lb (70 kg), the green
anaconda is the world’s heaviest snake. It is
slow and cumbersome on land but more agile
in water, where it watches for prey with its
eyes just above the surface. This formidable
predator kills by constriction, tightening
its coils around its victim and squeezing
so hard that it stops its prey’s heart from

pumping blood.

DATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 17.3 ft
(5.3 m) long
RANGE: Swamps of tropical
South America
DIET: Animals up to the
size of deer

22

PERENTIE Perentie, side view

Varanus giganteus A threatened
perentie opens
Australia’s largest lizard has a tail its mouth wide to
that is longer than the length of its ward off attackers.
head and body. The perentie uses
its tail to swipe at an attacker—with a
force that is said to be strong enough
to break a dog’s leg. Although it prefers
smaller prey, it can overpower anything
up to the size of a small kangaroo
using its sharp teeth and claws.

DATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 6.5 ft (2 m) long,
head to tail
RANGE: Deserts of western
and central Australia
DIET: Animals, eggs,
and carrion

23

KODMRODAOGON Komodo dragons can
smell the oils from
Varanus komodoensis
decomposing carcasses
The world’s biggest lizard, the Komodo over long distances.
dragon is at the top of its food chain
on the tropical island of Komodo,
Indonesia. An adult dragon ambushes
prey as big as deer. It attacks with a
slashing bite and sharp claws that
leave prey badly wounded. Most
victims die quickly from shock or
blood loss. The reptile then gorges
on meat and bones, and later
regurgitates the indigestible hair
and horns in a slimy pellet.

Muscles, jaws, and clawsKomodo dragon, side viewThe saliva is laced
24 with small amounts

of venom.

KosoonTmmhsomeedtbaiomilgldeegrrsaeopgsntroeenyss.

DATA FILE Muscles, jaws, and claws

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 9.8 ft (3 m) long,
from head to tail
RANGE: Komodo, and other
nearby islands in Indonesia
DIET: Deer, reptiles, pigs,
rodents, monkeys, eggs,
insects, and carrion

25

SOCUATHSESRNOWARY Southern cassowary, side view

Casuarius casuarius

Found in rainforests, this flightless
bird weighs up to 128 lb (58 kg)
and is one of the largest birds in
the world. It prefers to stay hidden
in the undergrowth, but if cornered
the southern cassowary can kick
out with both feet at once, and
its long, sharp claws (on its
inner toes) can rip open an
attacker’s belly.

DATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: 39–67 in
(100–170 cm) tall

RANGE: New Guinea and
northeastern Australia

DIET: Mainly fallen fruit;
also fungi, small animals,
and sometimes carrion

The cassowary’sMuscles, jaws, and claws
daggerlike claws
are lethal.

26

SECRETARYBIRD Muscles, jaws, and claws

Sagittarius serpentarius

The secretarybird gets its name
from the crest of black feathers
on its head, which resemble
the quill pens that secretaries
once used. This long-legged
relative of hawks and eagles
kills its prey by stamping on
them with its thick feet.
Anything small enough is
then swallowed whole, while
larger prey is held down by
the toes and torn apart with
its hooked bill.

By kicking with its feet,
the secretarybird can even
overcome venomous snakes,
such as adders and cobras.

DATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 47 in
(120 cm) tall

RANGE: Grasslands in Africa,
south of the Sahara desert

DIET: Grasshoppers and
beetles; also frogs, reptiles,
and small mammals

27

OSPREY DATA FILE

Pandion haliaetus DANGER FACTOR

Fish can be slippery prey, but the osprey SIZE: 21.6–22.8 in
is superbly adapted for catching them. It (55–58 cm) long
plunges into the water from heights of RANGE: Nearly worldwide;
98 ft (30 m) and uses its long, bare legs to found near shallow water
reach below the surface. Spiny pads on its DIET: Fish
feet and its long talons help it to grip a fish.

Muscles, jaws, and claws Thedtvoueaornslsivtptnoeergspreiycanwl’gsodasniitvteeoserse
nostrils.

28

HAERAPYGLE The harpy is Muscles, jaws, and claws
one of several
Harpia harpyja kinds of eagles
with a head crest.
The harpy eagle is one
of the largest raptors in 29
the world. Up to one-third
of prey taken by this
huge rainforest eagle are
slow-moving sloths—but
it can also catch speedy
monkeys. Most sloth prey are
caught when they climb into
treetops—this hunter easily
spots them and makes its
swooping attack.

DATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: 35–41.3 in
(89–105 cm) long

RANGE: Tropical forests of
Central and South America

DIET: Sloths, monkeys,
reptiles, and other
large animals

TADSMEAVNIIALN hTFaaossrbmtihittaesenssioiatzfrneoa,dnnteghyveeislt
mammal.
Sarcophilus harrisii

This marsupial can be easily When agitated, the
identified by its eerie screeches Tasmanian devil’s ears
late at night. Despite its short
legs, the Tasmanian devil can can turn bright red.
roam up to 6 miles (9 km) to
eat. It relishes a carcass as
much as fresh meat. A large
group of devils will squabble
noisily over a dead animal,
crunching its bones with
amazingly strong jaws.

Muscles, jaws, and clawsDATA FILE

DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: Up to 36 in
(91 cm) long, head to tail
RANGE: Forests
and grassy woodlands
of Tasmania
DIET: Possums,
wombats, and carrion

30

SIBTEIRGIAENR

Panthera tigris altaica

The biggest kinds of living cats DATA FILE Muscles, jaws, and claws
are tigers that live in the cold, snowy
forests of Asia. The Siberian tiger DANGER FACTOR
is an expert at creeping close to
its prey before swiping the victim SIZE: Up to 157 in
to the ground with its sharp claws. (399 cm) long, head to tail
The biggest deer are strangled RANGE: Russian Far East
with a bite to the throat. and northeastern China
DIET: Mainly deer
and wild pigs

31

CLOLEUDOEPDARD

Neofelis

Muscles, jaws, and clawsThis predator has the longest canine Clouded leopard, side view
teeth, in proportion to its head, of any
living cat—making the clouded leopard DATA FILE
something like a modern version of a
prehistoric saber-toothed cat. The massive DANGER FACTOR
muscles in its mouth stretch right over
the back of its skull, helping this deadly SIZE: Up to 76 in
predator clamp down on prey with a (192 cm) long, from
formidable killing bite. head to tail
RANGE: Tropical forests
32 of Southeast Asia

DIET: Porcupines, pigs,
small deer, primates, birds,
and fish

WOLVERINE

Gulo gulo

A wolverine kills Wolverine, side view Muscles, jaws, and claws
with a bite to the
head or neck. DATA FILE

The wolverine looks like a small bear DANGER FACTOR
but is really the biggest member of
the weasel family. Although it usually SIZE: 26–41 in (65–105 cm)
eats from carcasses left by speedier long, head and body
wolves, when animals are hindered by
thick snow, it can bring down prey as RANGE: Coniferous forests
big as reindeer. and tundra around the
Northern Hemisphere
DIET: Carrion, rodents,
rabbits, deer, birds,
and eggs

33

LESOPEAARDL

Hydrurga leptonyx

Leopard seal, side view

Muscles, jaws, and clawsIn freezing Antarctica, carnivorousDATA FILE
leopard seals hunt anything they can
overpower—including other seals. Their DANGER FACTOR
tactics change through the seasons. When
penguins are breeding during the summer, SIZE: 7.8–11.1 ft
the seals lurk between the ice floes to (2.4–3.4 m) long
catch and devour the birds that are fishing RANGE: Icepacks around
to feed their chicks. Antarctica
DIET: Fish, penguins, squid,
34 and other ocean animals

SPWERMHALE

Physeter macrocephalus

All the sperm whale’s
teeth are in the narrow

lower jaw.

Many giant whales feed by straining DATA FILE Muscles, jaws, and claws
small ocean plankton, but the sperm
whale prefers meatier prey. It is the DANGER FACTOR
biggest living animal with teeth, used
for biting larger prey. This deep-sea SIZE: 34.1–63 ft
hunter dives down to 1.2 miles (2 km) (10.4–19.2 m) long
below the ocean surface, holding its RANGE: Oceans worldwide
breath for more than an hour, in search
of its favorite food—deep-sea squid. DIET: Squid and fish

35



VENOMOUS
BITES

Strong bites can inflict serious
injury, but bites that carry venom
can be especially dangerous. Each
venom is a cocktail of harmful
substances. Some venoms can
cripple the muscles, while others
can shut down vital organs, but
all are effective in overpowering
prey or driving away enemies.

BLOUEC-RTIONGPEUD S DATA FILE

Hapalochlaena DANGER FACTOR

Many kinds of octopus in the SIZE: 4.7–8.6 in
ocean rely on size and brute (12–22 cm) long,
strength, but this small octopus depending on species
relies on particularly strong RANGE: Tropical Asia, Japan,
venom for defense and to kill New Guinea, and Australia
prey. Before it bites, the
bright blue rings on its DIET: Crabs, shrimp, and
body intensify as a other crustaceans
warning. It can be
found on coastlines
and coral reefs. One
octopus carries
enough venom to
kill 26 people.

Venomous bites

38

ARWROOWRM DATA FILE

Chaetognatha DANGER FACTOR

Arrow worms live among the tiny animals SIZE: 0.07–4.7 in
that drift in ocean water. They dart through (2–120 mm) long,
the water like little arrows and feed by depending on species
gulping particles in the seawater. Armed with RANGE: Worldwide, from
clawlike jaws, they sometimes grab bigger shallows to deep sea
prey—and even paralyze it with venom.
DIET: Microscopic food
particles; also crustaceans
and tiny fish

Venomous bites

39

Venomous bitesYEGLLIOAWN-LTEGCGEEDNTIPEDE

Scolopendra gigantea

Its3ab0mitseoeuccoasenndiknsi.ll

This deadly predator dwells in tropical forests. It
is the world’s largest centipede and can grow to
the length of a small snake. Its long antennae help
it detect prey through touch and scent. Like all
centipedes, it has venomous fangs that are used
to kill prey, but this giant can use them to kill
much larger prey, such as mice and birds. It can
even hunt bats on the ceilings of caves, using
its strong legs to crawl up the walls and attack
with a deadly bite.

40

DATA FILE Venomous bites

DANGER FACTOR
SIZE: Up to 11 in
(28 cm) long
RANGE: Colombia, northern
Venezuela, and Trinidad
DIET: Invertebrates,
frogs, lizards, small birds,
and mammals

41

SYSDPNEIYDFEURNNEL-WEB DATA FILE

Atrax robustus DANGER FACTOR

Found mainly in forests, SIZE: 0.5–1.3 in (1.5–3.5 cm)
the funnel-web spider is long, head and body
so-called because it lurks in RANGE: Southeastern
funnel-like burrows to wait Australia
for passing prey. Triplines DIET: Insects, cockroaches,
of silk extend from the small lizards, and
burrow’s entrance, so that other small animals
when prey stumble across
them, the spider is alerted.
The Sydney funnel-web found
in Australia is the deadliest of
the bunch, and its venom is
strong enough to kill a human.

An aggressive male
funnel-web rears up when
it is threatened to expose
its enormous fangs.

Venomous bitesFsusfwnuanrilwmlveiilhnvm-ewetoirnfeeoggbtrahsphreodooyfeoutnelrssn,.

42

BRSOPWINDREERCLUSE

Loxosceles reclusa

Living near humans provides DATA FILE Venomous bites
this spider with its perfect
home—the nooks and crannies DANGER FACTOR
in a shed, garage, or house.
The recluse spider goes SIZE: 0.2–0.7 in (0.5–2 cm)
wandering at night in search long, head and body
of insect prey. When it bites in RANGE: Various habitats
self-defense, it can produce a in southern US
wound that sometimes turns DIET: Insects
into a big open sore.
43

RESDPBAICDKER

Latrodectus hasselti

Fsdeepumairdtaientlhregsermuemsdauatbailanellcgsyk.

Females have a red
stripe on their back
and a red hourglass
shape underneath.

Venomous bitesNative to dry forests and deserts, this DATA FILE
infamous spider likes to build its tangled
web in the shelter of buildings. It uses its DANGER FACTOR
venom to paralyze small prey, but also
attacks in self-defense if a careless hand SIZE: Male body 0.11–0.15 in
gets too close. Bigger females inject (3–4 mm) long, female body
more venom than the males. Their up to 0.4 in (10 mm)
painful bites can cause sickness and RANGE: Australia,
headaches in humans. introduced to Asia

44 DIET: Mainly insects;
also woodlice, other
spiders, and lizards

ROFBLBYER DATA FILE

Asilidae DANGER FACTOR

SIZE: 0.1–2.3 in (0.5–6 cm)
long, wingspan up to
3.1 in (8 cm)
RANGE: Worldwide, except
for Hawaii and Antarctica

DIET: Other flies, wasps,
beetles, and butterflies

The falcon of the insect world, Most robber flies have a Venomous bites
this fly scans for flying insects long, tapering abdomen,
from a perch and then attacks. but in some species it is
Found in grasslands and deserts,
it grabs a target, such as a short and squat to
grasshopper, in midair with its mimic bees.
strong bristly legs. The robber
fly then stabs into its prey’s neck, 45
eyes, or other soft parts using
its pointed mouthparts.

GILMA ONSTER DATA FILE

Heloderma suspectum DANGER FACTOR
SIZE: 13.7–22.1 in
Unlike venomous snakes, which bite (35–56 cm) long,
quickly and wait for their poison to take head to tail
effect, the gila monster—one of only RANGE: Desert in southern
two kinds of venomous lizard—likes to US and northern Mexico
make sure its poison will work. It keeps DIET: Small mammals,
a tight hold on its victim and keeps birds, frogs, others lizards,
chewing so that even more venom and carrion
seeps into the wound.
Gila monster, top view

The gila monster, theVenomous bites
largest lizard in the US,
has tiny beadlike scales

on its body.

46

GAVBIOPOEN R DATA FILE

Bitis gabonica DANGER FACTOR

The viper’s eyes can move SIZE: Up to 5.9 ft
more than those of other (1.8 m) long
snakes, helping it to scan RANGE: Rainforests and
its surroundings. open woodlands in Africa
DIET: Rodents, rabbits, other
small mammals, and birds

The gaboon viper’s body
pattern gives it perfect
camouflage against the
leaf litter of a forest floor.

Fangs can grow up to Venomous bites
1.9 in (5 cm) long

This big snake breaks all the records. It
is the world’s heaviest venomous snake,
has the longest fangs, and produces the
most venom. Although less aggressive
than other kinds of vipers, it doesn’t let
go when it bites and has the strength to
overpower a small deer.

47

SAVWI-PSCEARLED inTvtnhoipeetesrstrealceiwnasng-tsocbclaiairlmtdetdsab.ck

Echis carinatus

Venomous bitesBy living in close proximity to people, DATA FILE
the saw-scaled viper may be responsible
for more human fatalities than any DANGER FACTOR
other reptile. Its venom is not particularly
strong, but an earth-colored body and SIZE: 20–29 in
nocturnal habits mean it is not easily (50–73 cm) long
seen—until it bites.
RANGE: Deserts and dry
48 shrubland in the Middle
East and India
DIET: Rodents, lizards,
frogs, invertebrates,
and nestling birds