These brightly colored amphibians from Central and South America are renowned for their toxic skin. The toxins, derived from their diet of ants and termites, can paralyze or kill potential predators. Indigenous people have historically used these frogs' poison to coat the tips of their blow darts.
Found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide. This potent poison is stored in their organs, and even a small amount can be lethal to predators, including humans.
Inhabiting the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region, the box jellyfish is infamous for its deadly venom. Its tentacles are covered in nematocysts, which release toxins that can cause heart failure, paralysis, and death within minutes.
This small, seemingly innocuous octopus can be found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Despite its size, its venom, which contains tetrodotoxin, is powerful enough to kill humans. The blue-ringed octopus uses its poison to deter predators and capture prey.
Camouflaged as a rock on the ocean floor, the stonefish is one of the most venomous fish in the world. Its dorsal fin spines contain venom that can cause excruciating pain, swelling, tissue death, and, in severe cases, death.
Also known as the "fierce snake," the inland taipan possesses the most toxic venom of any snake. Found in Australia, its venom is specifically adapted to quickly incapacitate its mammalian prey, making it an efficient self-defense mechanism against larger predators.
Often mistaken for a jellyfish, this marine hydrozoan is infamous for its long tentacles that deliver a painful sting. The venom can cause severe pain, fever, shock, and even interfere with heart and lung function in extreme cases.
The monarch caterpillar feeds on milkweed, which contains cardiac glycosides. These toxins are stored in the adult butterfly, making it poisonous to predators like birds. The bright orange and black coloration serves as a warning signal.
Unique to Australia, the male platypus has spurs on its hind legs that can deliver venom. While not lethal to humans, the venom can cause severe pain and swelling, deterring potential threats during the breeding season.