Chironex Fleckeri – The Box Jellyfish

Native to the northern coasts of Australia, this basketball sized jellyfish has tentacles filled with thousands of microscopic darts that fire upon impact with a predator or prey. On top of being excruciatingly painful, it’s venom is so strong that an average sized specimen contains enough venom to kill sixty full grown adults. If left untreated, a sting from this species can be lethal in less than five minutes. With many victims dying of heart attack or drowning before they can even get back to the beach.

Hapalochlaena Lunalata – Blue Ringed Octopus

Photo By Stephen Child Via Flickr

Like many of the worlds most brightly colored species, this magnificent looking creature from the tropical waters of Australia and Asia is also very deadly. Though it is no larger than the size of a Kiwi, it has within it one of the most deadly toxins known to man. It also has the ability to change its colors to camouflage itself until it is ready to strike, making it hard to stop when swimming or wading through shallow waters. Due to its colorful body, it is also a popular addition to brave(or dumb) home aquarists.

Conus Marmoreus – The Marbled Cone Snail

This harmless looking snail fires a harpoon like stinger from the tip of its shell that releases a neurotoxin into it’s prey. This toxin is so powerful that a single drop is capable of killing 20 people with ease. Most instances of human contact with this species occur in shallow waters by either stepping on them, or by those crazy enough to pick them up. Which is fairly common due to the profitable trade in their shells.

Synanceia – The Stonefish

Photo By walknboston Via Flickr

A contender for worlds ugliest fish, it is also the most deadly fish known to man. When disturbed, it uses it’s needle shaped dorsal fin, which is coated with a toxin to immobilize and kill whatever unlucky creature came in contact with it. This species is especially dangerous for its ability to camouflage itself into the color and shape of a rock. Making it very easy to step on one not knowing what it is until its too late.

Phoneutria Nigriventer – The Brazilian Wandering Spider

Recently listed by Guinness as the worlds deadliest spider, the Brazilian Wandering spider is also one of the most aggressive and fearless creatures on this list. Native to South and Central America, they get their name due to their habit of wandering the jungle floors at night looking for prey. During the day, they will nest in warm dark places, and  are especially fond of going inside peoples homes which leads to most human bites and fatalities. They are also good hitchhikers and have been known to sneak into shipments of Bananas to other parts of the world on a fairly regular basis.

Oxyuranus Microlepidotus – The Inland Taipan

Photo By Jen 64 Via Flickr

Another Australia native, the Inland Taipan is the worlds most venomous snake. One bite releases enough venom to kill one hundred fully grown adults. Thankfully there has been zero recorded fatalities by this snake due to its shy and docile nature. Along with the creation of a very potent anti-venom.

Dendroaspis Polylepis – The Black Mamba

The black mamba while not having as potent a venom as the Inland Taipan is much more deadly due to its behavior and size.  Native to over half of Africa, these highly aggressive snake grows up to fourteen feet in length and is feared for its habit of striking its prey multiple times per attack. With each bite releasing more of its deadly venom. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it is also the fasted snake in the world, with an estimated top speed of twelve miles per hour.

Enhydrina Schistosa – Beaked Sea Snake

This sea snake which is found in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf is the deadliest of all sea snakes. It has a venom that is more potent than that of a king cobra, but much like the Inland Taipan is very docile in nature. In fact this sea snake so rarely bites humans that fishermen in India will grab them with their bare hands and release them from their fishing nets when they get caught.

Takifugu – Pufferfish

This Genus of Puffer fish, which contains 25 different species has a poison that is 1200 times more potent than cyanide. Though the fish itself is not what creates the poison, instead it is a bacteria that the fish eats that creates the neurotoxin. In japan, the fish is an expensive delicacy that is cooked by specially trained chefs. Even with these precautions multiple deaths are still attributed to eating this fish each year.

Phyllobates Terribilis- The Golden Poison Frog

Photo By Tambako the Jaguar Via Flickr

This cute little amphibian lays claim to being the most poisonous vertebrate in the world. A single gram of this toxin is capable of killing up to 15,000 humans. Like the Puffer fish, the frog itself is not what creates the poison, and in captivity these frogs are perfectly harmless.  Instead it is thought the toxin comes from an insect, most likely a beetle in Columbia which produces the toxin.

By Mark Johnson