List of poisonous animals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of poisonous animals, which are animals that passively deliver toxins (called poison) to their victims upon contact such as through inhalation, absorption through the skin, or after being ingested.[1][2] They are often distinguished from venomous animals, which actively inject their toxins (called venom) into their victims through a venom apparatus such as fangs or a stinger.[1][2] The only difference between poisonous animals and venomous animals is how they deliver the toxins.[3][2] This list deals exclusively with poisonous animals.
Poisonous animals
This list is a partial list of animals that are poisonous to humans and other animals in that their flesh is toxic if consumed, or in some cases if they are touched:
Frogs and toads
Frogs
- Northern corroboree frog
- Southern corroboree frog
- Mantella
- Poison dart frog (diet dependent)
The bright colors of poison dart frogs warn predators of their toxicity.
Toads
Some of these toads are "milked" for their bufotoxins.
Mammals
- Slow loris (usually thought of as venomous, but they also lick their fur, making it toxic)[4]
Birds
Snakes
- Rhabdophis keelback snakes
- Garter snake (diet-dependent, when feeding on Pacific newts)[6]
Salamanders
- Pacific newts or Western newts[7]
Fish
- Tetraodontidae (Blowfish, Pufferfish)
- Greenland shark
- Barracuda (age and diet dependent)
Cephalopods
Insects
- Blister beetle
- Diamphidia
- Cinnabar moth
- Certain tiger moths (Erebidae)
- Birdwings
- Milkweed butterflies (include Monarch butterfly)
- Battus (butterfly)
Crustaceans
- Gorilla crabs (Xanthidae)
Cnidarians
Echinoderms
- It is common for sea cucumbers like Pearsonothuria graeffei to protect itself with toxins[10]
- Actinopyga agassizii a toxic sea cucumber
- Some starfish, like Plectaster decanus, are poisonous
Annelids
- The polychaete worm Hediste diversicolor[11]
- Halla parthenopeia[12]
Nemerteans
- Antarctonemertes valida is one of several nemerteans which make use of defensive toxic secretions[13]
Flatworms
- Bipalium kewense, the hammerhead flatworm, is coated in toxic mucus[14]
Sponges
- Negombata magnifica, the toxic finger-sponge, is one of many toxic species of sponges
Placozoans
- Trichoplax use large specialized cells to release antipredatory toxins[15]