Author Topic: What Spider had the Deadliest Venom? (Read 1986 times)

SunTracker · « **Reply #30 on:** April 20, 2004, 08:15:54 AM »

The most poisonous creature on earth is the blue-ringed octopus. Its a tiny, colorful octopus that occasionally shows up in the aquarium trade. Unfortunately it will kill you if it bites you.

Angus · « **Reply #31 on:** April 20, 2004, 08:24:43 AM »

"BTW anyone ever hear of an African spider that injects an aneasthetic and eats your flesh while you cant feel it?"
That's pretty much the same as a mosquito does, hence it's bite is rather "dirty". It stings, spits and then sucks.

deSelys · « **Reply #32 on:** April 20, 2004, 08:35:21 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SunTracker
The most poisonous creature on earth is the blue-ringed octopus. Its a tiny, colorful octopus that occasionally shows up in the aquarium trade. Unfortunately it will kill you if it bites you.

According to a BBC show, the most poisonous creature on earth is an innocuous looking jellyfish living off the coasts of Australia (btw Australia seems to hold the record of having the most poisonous fauna...). If you are stung by this jellyfish, you'll die in seconds.

The man presenting the show was seriously ballsy because, while coached by an australian oceanologist, he grabbed one of those and lifted it out of the water.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #33 on:** April 20, 2004, 08:52:13 AM »

No. The deadliest venom is that of a Cone Fish.

Sort of like a clam in a cone shell. It's off the coast of australia and normally doesn't come in contact with humans.

It's toxin kills you within a second. If you're lucky.

deSelys · « **Reply #34 on:** April 20, 2004, 09:08:04 AM »

According to this site (which is used by snopes as a reference), the box jellyfish is much more poisonous than the cone shell (you'll find a link for this one as well on the same page): 70 reported fatalities for the 1st between november and april!! while for the cone shell, there have been 30 recorded cases of human envenomation by fish-eating cone shells, in some cases fatal.
I'll try to find some data from an university.

Found that from Berkeley. Although this jellyfish IS deadly, true figures are somewhat less spectacular than what I've stated.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #35 on:** April 20, 2004, 09:17:43 AM »

I love spiders! We have these things called "Pumpkin Spiders" that get really big in the fall, and their abdomens look like pumpkins. They weave nice webs between the pyrmidela's and I'll catch flies, stun hornets and throw them in the webs, the kids get a kick out of it and we watch the spider do its thing on the live food. It also helps quell fear of spiders with the kids.

Spiders rock!

Pic of pumpkin spider on top, left of this PDF file:
http://www.bugpeople.org/taxa/Arachnida/Araneus_trifolium/CP-PumpkinSpider.pdf

Edit: My oldest son and I want a pet Tarantula, but wife flack shot us down.

deSelys · « **Reply #36 on:** April 20, 2004, 09:24:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
...Edit: My oldest son and I want a pet Tarantula, but wife flack shot us down.

Surprise her and buy a young one for her too

Ripsnort · « **Reply #37 on:** April 20, 2004, 09:29:27 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
Surprise her and buy a young one for her too

I ENJOY sex, deselys. I'd like to keep it around, thank you.

Udie · « **Reply #38 on:** April 20, 2004, 09:30:33 AM »

I think I got bit by a spider the other day! I've got some kind of bug bite on my side and it has a HUGE welp and hurts like a son-of-a-biatch! I thought it was a zit at first and tried to pop it!

Now it hurts more!

deSelys · « **Reply #39 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:01:38 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
I ENJOY sex, deselys. I'd like to keep it around, thank you.

You're right, sex* and spiders seem to be mutually exclusive...

* with women anyway...

ravells · « **Reply #40 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:08:37 AM »

Particularly if you are the male spider and the female bites your head off during intercourse.

Ravs

muckmaw · « **Reply #41 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:31:46 AM »

Ever been walking around at night, maybe taking out the trash and walk through an spider web you did not see....

And you feel it on your face and your head...and you just pray to god the spider was not home at the time...

Geez, I'm all itchy!!

VOR · « **Reply #42 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:44:09 AM »

I would like to know just exactly how many spiders an average person comes into contact with each day. It's probably a much higher number than we think. Little buggers are everywhere.

I don't have a phobia of spiders per se, but when it comes to pets I'll stick to less exotic animals.

muckmaw · « **Reply #43 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:52:12 AM »

I remember reading a stat somewhere that the average human will swallow 4 spiders while sleeping, over their lifetime.

Steve · « **Reply #44 on:** April 20, 2004, 12:27:10 PM »

Some sources list the black widow as the most poisonous. They are quite common here in AZ. From spring til late fall I routinely have several around the outside of the house. I don't bother them because they eat crickets. There are crickets everywhere here and I don't like the little bastards. Since black widows are orb weavers, they stay put in their web so if you are paying attention you won't run into one. I get them in the house once in a while, those I get rid of quickly.