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Venom Facts

The box jellyfish has 60 tentacles each up to 10 feet long. One tentacle can deliver enough venom to kill a human in minutes. Almost invisible in the water you never know what hits you. Touch a tentacle and millions of microscopic stinging cells blast coiled harpoons deep into your skin. This is one of the worlds fastest strikes 10 times quicker than an air bag inflates in a car crash. The harpoons are hollow pumping venom that targets the skin, the heart, and nervous system. Agony is instantaneous. Theres enough venom in a single box jelly to kill 60 people. In the last century the jellyfishs venom has killed more Australians than the regions sharks and crocodiles - combined.

The box jellyfish has 60 tentacles – each up to 10 feet long.  One tentacle can deliver enough venom to kill a human in minutes.  Almost invisible in the water – you never know what hits you.  Touch a tentacle and millions of microscopic stinging cells blast coiled harpoons deep into your skin.  This is one of the world’s fastest strikes –10 times quicker than an air bag inflates in a car crash.  The harpoons are hollow – pumping venom that targets the skin, the heart, and nervous system.  Agony is instantaneous.  There’s enough venom in a single box jelly to kill 60 people.  In the last century the jellyfish’s venom has killed more Australians than the region’s sharks and crocodiles - combined. (View larger version)

Photograph by Getty Images

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  • Just a small amount of shrew venom causes paralysis. Because of this, shrews can tackle prey much larger than themselves.

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  • The bite of fire ants can be potent: in some scenarios, limbs need amputation.

  • The venom of fire ants is unique among insects, because it contains just 5% protein. The rest of its venom is piperdeine alkaloid.

  • Usually stingrays are not aggressive, swimming away from a threat rather than attack.

  • It’s been said that the strong muscular tail of a stingray can send its spine through the side of a wooden boat.

  • The bite of a Brazilian wandering spider is not just painful; it can paralyze a person, cause breathing problems, and even kill them.

  • Giant centipedes sometimes predate on bats.

  • Blue-ringed octopus are the most active after dark. They spend much of their day hidden in their nests.

  • Box jellyfish are pale blue and their color is transparent. Their tentacles can reach 10 feet long.

  • The bite of a Taipen can kill about a hundred adult males. Its venom is considered the most toxic venom of any snake.

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