Killer Creatures

Pit vipers (Crotalids) are the rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. They have triangular heads, elliptical pupils, heat-sensing pits on their faces, and rattles. A bite by a pit viper is painful. There is always a puncture wound. The victim develops a metallic taste in their mouth within minutes. The venom is a mixture of enzymes, lipids, amino acids, and metals. Significant swelling occurs after a pit viper bite, so the victim should remove all constrictive clothing, especially jewelry. People are treated with fluids and supportive care. There is an antidote in case of emergency - Crotalidae polyvalent immune FAB (FabAV) - that is produced from sheep.

Coral snakes (Elapidae) are slender with a round head and black snout. They have several rows of short fixed fangs. A coral snake has bands of yellow, red, and black around its body. The similar looking non-venomous Scarlet King Snake brought about the rhyme: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow; Red on black, venom lack." Coral snakes are often found chewing on the victim. They leave rows of teeth marks with oozing blood. The venom causes paralyzing effects, so people may require physical therapy after a bite. The antivenin, Micrurus fulvius fulvius, is derived from horses and used for all coral snake bites. Millions of people suffer from arachnophobia, but most spiders are harmless. Two that can be troublesome are the brown recluse and the black widow.

The brown recluse is brownish in color. It has a violin-shaped marking, which is why it is sometimes called the fiddleback. It only has 3 pairs of eyes versus the typical 4 pairs seen in spiders. The brown recluse is nocturnal and tends to avoid active areas. It prefers secluded areas that are dry and warm. A brown recluse bite presents as a purple or black bleb. A scab forms and it falls off. Few people realize that they have been bitten. Treatment is generally not required. Cool compresses should be used to help relieve pain.

The black widow is black with with a red hour glass on it. It likes any dark, hidden place, such as stone walls, woodpiles, and clothes. Unlike the brown recluse, a black widow bite is associated with a pinprick sensation. A halo-shaped lesion appears, but fades within 12 hours. The victim may feel muscle cramping, pain, or sweat for up to 3 days. For very serious bites, there is an antivenin available that is made from horse serum. The bright colors of frogs in the rainforests serve as a warning of their poison. The toxicity of most poison dart frogs is due to the insects the frogs consume. Members of the Phyllobates genus are the most poisonous.

The golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is beautiful and fits in the palm of the hand. However, you definitely don't want this frog in your hand. The poison in one frog's skin secretions is enough to kill 10 to 20 people. It contains batrachotoxin, which blocks nerve impulses. This causes muscles to contract and eventually leads to heart failure. The Colombian natives use the poison of the golden poison frog on arrow tips. They have found that the poison stays lethal for two years.The only poison dart frog that is able to produce its own toxin is the corroboree frog. It is easily recognizable by its yellow stripes. Unfortunately, the corroboree frog is currently endangered due to natural damages to its habitat in Australia.