Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

The 6 Most Venomous Creatures on The Planet

Photo by Lukas_Vejrik from Shutterstock

#6 The Platypus

The unusual and distinctive platypus lives in eastern Australia. It is one of the very few mammals capable of producing venom, although it is not among the most venomous creatures in the world. The platypus’s venom is located in its hind legs, more specifically in the male’s spur.

The platypus is a little, semi-aquatic mammal that is roughly the size of a house cat. Its body is covered in brown fur, it has webbed feet for swimming, and it has a large bill that resembles a duck’s bill. On their hind legs, males have spiky spurs that are venomous and can sting.

Although the platypus’s venom isn’t thought to be lethal to people, it can nonetheless be excruciatingly painful, especially where a wound is present. Defensin-like proteins, a substance in the venom that can result in swelling and extreme pain, are present. Other symptoms such as weakness and headaches, as well as pain that lasts for days, may also be present. 

Since they are not aggressive, platypuses normally reserve the use of their venom for self-defense or during the breeding season. For the least chance of being stung, it is advisable to watch them from a safe distance.

You should also check out: Stay Safe! These 8 Dangerous Spiders Are in North America Now

< 1 ... 56 7

Share:

Related Article

intelligent dog breeds

The 8 Most Intelligent Dog Breeds

6. Shetland Sheepdog Here, we have another herding breed originally from Scotland: the Shetland sheepdog. This small to medium-sized dog has a kind and lively

Scary Animals

5 Scary Animals That Are (Mostly) Harmless

Can These Intimidating Animals Be Our Friends? What do you think about when you say the word ‘scary’? Most people would say they imagine creatures

squirrels

Can Carnivorous Squirrels Hurt You?

Should We Be Afraid of Carnivorous Squirrels? Squirrels in California changed their dietary preferences, as it turns out. According to the latest study conducted by