# Are there any poisonous animals besides snakes, jellyfishes, and scorpions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991 "2010-05-02T01:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/21 "2010-05-02T06:44:24Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Wait. The duck-billed platypus? It’s poisonous?! Holy shit. This is Earth-shattering to me. The platypus is natures biggest WTF ever.. I mean are their even other animals in its section of evolutionary tree other than those little hedgehog looking things. They lay eggs, have venom in its feet, can sense the electrochemical signals from living things WTF how did this thing evolve. The Aussies has some strange animals. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/22 "2010-05-02T06:44:25Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > You haven’t been listening, it’s venomous, not poisonous. Excuse me. Venomous. My shock remains. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/23 "2010-05-02T07:02:51Z")
Many species of butterflies are poisonous. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/24 "2010-05-02T07:33:57Z")
I must tell you of my near death experience with a platypus at some stage. However, like the story of the Giant Rat of Sumatra this board is not ready for that yet. [The blue ringed octopus.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ringed_octopus) Australia again- quote: The blue-ringed octopus is currently one of the most dangerous known sea creatures and, despite its small size, carries enough venom to kill 26 adult humans within minutes. Furthermore, their bites are tiny and often painless, with many victims not realizing they have been envenomated until respiratory depression and paralysis and sets in. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/25 "2010-05-02T07:37:18Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > …other than those little hedgehog looking things. Echidnas are adorable. They waddle along like the cutest things! ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/26 "2010-05-02T11:11:48Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Other people have alluded to the difference but not explained it - things are poisonous if you eat it and you die. They’re venomous if they poison you by biting or finning or stabbing you. This factoid is one of my pet peeves. It simply isn’t true according to any dictionary I’ve ever seen and it doesn’t even make sense. A creature is poisonous if it is capable of causing poisoning. The manner of application doesn’t matter one whit. There is a very slim basis for the claim that a venomous creature is one that envenomates, rather than poisoning by ingestion. However even there the case is so slim that you certainly couldn’t justifiably correct someone else for using the term more broadly. How precisely did this erroneous factoid become so widespread. It also seems to be unique to the US AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![notsoheavyd3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@notsoheavyd3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsoheavyd3)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/27 "2010-05-02T12:46:19Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Many species of butterflies are poisonous. Related to this I’ve heard there’s a caterpiller in Mexico who’s hairs are poisonous enough to kill a human. (Can’t remember the name.) Also I think pretty much all octopuses are venomous, it’s just the blue ring is about the only one venomous enough to kill you. Oh, doodlebugs are also venomous. (But not enough to hurt you.) ---
**Author:** ![notsoheavyd3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@notsoheavyd3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsoheavyd3)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/28 "2010-05-02T13:13:27Z")
Wow I’m off by thousands of miles. It’s not Mexico, it’s Brazil. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonomia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonomia) ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/29 "2010-05-02T13:32:55Z")
Yes, I meant venomous, not poisonous. Thanks for making that distinction. Next question, why aren’t some of these animals, like the platypus and blue ringed octopus, aren’t well known for being venomous? For the longest, I only thought snakes and spiders were venomous. This is what I have been taught at school and in girl scouts. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/30 "2010-05-02T13:38:55Z")
As Mhendo has pointed out, in Australia the platypus and blue ringed octopus are well known for being venomous. Guess it depends where you live. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/31 "2010-05-02T18:36:27Z")
> [@vinylmatt](#): > > A komodo dragon in the wild will kill you with a bite due to a mouth full of nasty pathogens. Dunno if this makes him poisonous. They do seem to have bacteria, and it is not sure if there is any function. However, recently (2009), it was discovered that they are indeed venomous. It is unknown whether they actually use this venom or whether is an evolutionary vestigiality. One everybody forgets is the Mexican Beaded Lizard, a lesser known cousin of the Gila Monster. Their species names are respectively horridum and suspectum. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/32 "2010-05-02T19:01:54Z")
“Get stung by a stone fish, the pain alone will kill you. People drown themselves just to stop the pain”. Douglas Adams recalling a conversation with an Australian specialist on venom. [video link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZG8HBuDjgc#t=18m00s). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/33 "2010-05-02T19:10:29Z")
Some poison dart frogs can kill you just by touching them. [http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/1998/frog.html](http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/1998/frog.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/34 "2010-05-02T20:59:09Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > They do seem to have bacteria, and it is not sure if there is any function. However, recently (2009), it was discovered that they are indeed venomous. It is unknown whether they actually use this venom or whether is an evolutionary vestigiality. Not sure if [this](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/090518-komodo-dragon-venom.html)is the research you’re talking about - but it seems to be considerably less than uncertain on the venom, and negative toward the pathogens ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/35 "2010-05-02T21:00:28Z")
If certain human beings infected with certain viruses bite you, can you not die of the infection caused? We need test volunteers! ---
**Author:** ![madjac74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@madjac74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madjac74)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/36 "2010-05-02T21:26:29Z")
Many politicians are poisonous and I have an ex who is quite venomous. Haha jk. seriously this topic has been very fascinating. This may seem like a silly question but would anything that causes irritation or sickness be considered a venom? What is the difference between a spider bite that causes inflammation on the skin (even if its not deadly) and a mosquito bite that causes an itchy bump? I wouldnt think of a mosquito as venomous however. Just curious ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/37 "2010-05-02T21:31:11Z")
Here’s an interesting bit of trivia about poison dart frogs. They are only toxic in their native environment. It is believed they do not synthesize their poison, but instead sequester it from their prey, which consists of such creatures as ants and centipedes. Poison arrow frogs which are kept in captivity lose most of their toxicity. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/38 "2010-05-02T22:15:30Z")
There was a National Geographic article with a great picture of a frog scientist licking one of them. That’s how she can tell how poisonous her (lab-reared, less poisonous) frogs are. It does have a lot of value to have two different words for the different concepts, **Blake**. Many venomous animals are quite safe to eat (the rattlesnake, for example.) Poisonous animals are generally no danger to people and animals who don’t try to eat them. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/39 "2010-05-02T23:54:53Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > It does have a lot of value to have two different words for the different concepts, **Blake**. Many venomous animals are quite safe to eat (the rattlesnake, for example.) Poisonous animals are generally no danger to people and animals who don’t try to eat them. Whatever the value might be, as **Blake** says the distinction about poisonous is not supported by the dictionary. (However, “venomous,” for animals that inject their toxins, is valid as a subset of poisonous according to the dictionary.) From Merriam-Webster: > [@](#): > > Main Entry: poi·son·ous > Pronunciation: \ˈpȯiz-nəs, ˈpȯi-zən-əs > Function: adjective > Date: 1565 > 1 : destructive, harmful > 2 : having the properties or effects of poison : venomous > 3 : spiteful, malicious > [@](#): > > Main Entry: ven·om·ous > Pronunciation: \ˈve-nə-məs > Function: adjective > Date: 14th century > 1 : full of venom: as a : poisonous, envenomed b : noxious, pernicious \ c : spiteful, malevolent \ > 2 : having a venom-producing gland and able to inflict a poisoned wound \ Poisonous and venomous are not distinct categories. However, venomous can be regarded as a subset of poisonous. Rattlesnakes are both poisonous and venomous; poison-dart frogs are merely poisonous. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991/40 "2010-05-03T00:50:17Z")
[Box jellyfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_jellyfish) (which were called Sea Wasps where I lived) made it impossible to swim in the ocean 6 months of every year where I grew up. Their venom is really nasty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-animals-besides-snakes-jellyfishes-and-scorpions/537991.md?page=3)