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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
10 Creatures You Didn't Know Were Poisonous
(found at Strange Cosmos) Someone once said, "What you don't know can't hurt you." Here's an argument against that: It is good to know if something is poisonous before you approach it (or it approaches you). We unearthed 10 unlikely poisonous creatures in order to give you a better chance next time you head into the wild kingdom.
1. Hooded Pitohui: The hooded pitohui* of New Guinea is the only documented example of a poisonous bird (yes, a bird). In 1992 researchers discovered that the feathers and skin of the hooded pitohui contain a powerful neurotoxin called homobatrachotoxin, which causes numbness and tingling skin in people who touched the birds. (This one is not completely accurate. Two cousins of the Hooded Pitohui, the Variable Pitohui and the Brown Pitohui, are also poisonous. Couldn't find a photo of any of them, though.)
2. Stonefish: The stonefish (which looks like--guess what?--a stone) is one of the most venomous vertebrates known. Its sharp dorsal spines contain enough poison to kill an adult human who is unfortunate enough to step on one.
3. Platypus: Will the oddness of this creature ever stop? Adult male platypuses have a poison gland in their hind legs. They can eject poison out of a hollow, horny spur on their ankle. (Ah, yes... the platypus... proof positive that God has an awesome sense of humor. "Evolution, eh? Hey, Darwin! Figure this one out!")
4. Browntail Moth: The browntail moth caterpillar is covered with white and brown hairs. The brown hairs are the ones you have to look out for: They are barbed and contain a poisonous substance, and are frequently carried by the wind after the caterpillars molt. These hairs can cause human respiratory problems and an irritating skin rash.
5. Centipede: One of a centipede's many pairs of legs have especially strong joints and end in a sharp claw into which a poison gland opens. These legs are used for seizing and killing prey. In some species, the bite is poisonous to humans.
6. Stingrays: Believe it or not, stingrays are the most common cause of severe fish stings. They have whip-like tails that have sharp, sometimes barbed spines at the base. Through the spines, they can inflict severe wounds, injecting venom from poison glands. Stingrays are bottom-dwellers usually found in warm, shallow waters, so watch where you walk in the water. (Uh... if they're poisonous, why in the world do people want to swim with them?)
7. Salamander: Some salamanders have poison-secreting glands in their skin. The ones equipped with poison-producing skin glands are often brightly colored with conspicuous markings. This warns predators to stay away. (So is THAT why they want us to leave the Barton Creek salamander alone? That's all they needed to tell us.)
8. Shrew: Some species of the small, shy shrew have poisonous saliva that they use to immobilize their prey. Humans don't have to worry too much, however. These venomous shrews usually eat fish, frogs, small mice, and newts--not people.
9. Catfish: The dorsal and pectoral fins of many species of catfish are edged with poisonous spines. The spines are used for defense and can inflict severe wounds. This fish is no pussycat. (Thus explaining why the only time I'm around catfish is when it's battered and fried.)
10. Poison Arrow Frog: OK, the name kind of gives it away, but the poison arrow frog is only one of several amphibious species that secrete toxins from glands in its skin. The poison arrow frog uses its poison to kill potential predators. Native people of Central and South America use the toxin to poison the tips of arrows.
There you go. Your biology lesson for today. Glad I could help.
1. Hooded Pitohui: The hooded pitohui* of New Guinea is the only documented example of a poisonous bird (yes, a bird). In 1992 researchers discovered that the feathers and skin of the hooded pitohui contain a powerful neurotoxin called homobatrachotoxin, which causes numbness and tingling skin in people who touched the birds. (This one is not completely accurate. Two cousins of the Hooded Pitohui, the Variable Pitohui and the Brown Pitohui, are also poisonous. Couldn't find a photo of any of them, though.)
2. Stonefish: The stonefish (which looks like--guess what?--a stone) is one of the most venomous vertebrates known. Its sharp dorsal spines contain enough poison to kill an adult human who is unfortunate enough to step on one.
3. Platypus: Will the oddness of this creature ever stop? Adult male platypuses have a poison gland in their hind legs. They can eject poison out of a hollow, horny spur on their ankle. (Ah, yes... the platypus... proof positive that God has an awesome sense of humor. "Evolution, eh? Hey, Darwin! Figure this one out!")
4. Browntail Moth: The browntail moth caterpillar is covered with white and brown hairs. The brown hairs are the ones you have to look out for: They are barbed and contain a poisonous substance, and are frequently carried by the wind after the caterpillars molt. These hairs can cause human respiratory problems and an irritating skin rash.
5. Centipede: One of a centipede's many pairs of legs have especially strong joints and end in a sharp claw into which a poison gland opens. These legs are used for seizing and killing prey. In some species, the bite is poisonous to humans.
6. Stingrays: Believe it or not, stingrays are the most common cause of severe fish stings. They have whip-like tails that have sharp, sometimes barbed spines at the base. Through the spines, they can inflict severe wounds, injecting venom from poison glands. Stingrays are bottom-dwellers usually found in warm, shallow waters, so watch where you walk in the water. (Uh... if they're poisonous, why in the world do people want to swim with them?)
7. Salamander: Some salamanders have poison-secreting glands in their skin. The ones equipped with poison-producing skin glands are often brightly colored with conspicuous markings. This warns predators to stay away. (So is THAT why they want us to leave the Barton Creek salamander alone? That's all they needed to tell us.)
8. Shrew: Some species of the small, shy shrew have poisonous saliva that they use to immobilize their prey. Humans don't have to worry too much, however. These venomous shrews usually eat fish, frogs, small mice, and newts--not people.
9. Catfish: The dorsal and pectoral fins of many species of catfish are edged with poisonous spines. The spines are used for defense and can inflict severe wounds. This fish is no pussycat. (Thus explaining why the only time I'm around catfish is when it's battered and fried.)
10. Poison Arrow Frog: OK, the name kind of gives it away, but the poison arrow frog is only one of several amphibious species that secrete toxins from glands in its skin. The poison arrow frog uses its poison to kill potential predators. Native people of Central and South America use the toxin to poison the tips of arrows.
There you go. Your biology lesson for today. Glad I could help.
