Extreme Science” E-Zine May 2001 DEADLY CREATURESExtreme Science® E-Zine May 2001 The Dangers of Venom ‘The world is full of creatures that are deadly to humans, vitally attacking ‘our systems in different ways. Since the beginning of time, people have died from attacks by lions, tigers, bears, sharks, dogs, and other creatures looking for a meal, or to protect their territory. In addition to dying from diseases of eld age, like cancer and heart disease, many, many human beings have lost their lives to virulent diseases spread by rats carrying fleas infected with bubonic plague, or mesquitees toting malaria in their People don't nermaly think systems. In fact, itis estimated that helf of all human deaths (outside of Blone deadly creatures. War and accidents) since the Stone Age have been caused by the malaria Yet these vividly colorful parasite, making it the most deadly “creature” on earth. But there are amphibians release an creatures in this world that have developed a highly specialized adaptation inrough their skins when’ ta their environments that allows them to efficiently capture prey, or to Gistybed. Their vengm defend themselves and their young - a chemical substance manufactured g.potent nerve toxin which by their own bodies called venom. Venom is created exclusively for the purpose of disabling or killing. Different organisms’ bodies manufacture different kinds of poisons that act on other living organisms in different ways. For example, some creatures, such as poison dart frogs, release their poison through the moisture on their skin. Ifa bird or animal tried to eat a poison dart frog and picked it up in its mouth it wauld immediately fee! the tingling and burning of the venom on the frog's skin as it comes in contact with the skin inside the mouth and then drop the frog. Humans can be " poisoned by the frogs by simply touching and holding the frog and absorbing the venom through the skin. Thus, absorption is one way that venomous creatures can deliver their paisons to their victims. In the case of the poison dart frog, its venom is used as a defense - to protect it from other animals that may try to eat it. The venom is extremely potent and fast acting so that there is an immediate response - to drop the frag uninjured allowing it to escape with its life The incredibly bright, bold coloring of poison dart frags is a hallmark of the species, of which there are several, making them spectacularly beautiful. But the bright colors also serve as a warning beacon to creatures that might consider eating the frog - they shout, "Danger! I am toxie!!” to a would-be predator. Incidentally, they have been called poison dart frogs because some of the natives of the jungles where these gorgeous frogs live have learned to carefully capture the frogs and douse the tins of darts with their venom far use in hunting, for food. The frog venom on the tip of the dart aids in quickly killing the animals the natives hunt for food, but not enaugh of the venam gets into the animal's system to poison the people eating its meat. There are people who are so fascinated by poison dart frogs and captivated by their incredible beauty that they keep them as ‘pets’, One cool factoid that has been discovered by these “frog fanciers’ as a result of raising and breeding them in captivity the poison in their skins loses its potency, or completely disappears as a result of the diet they're fed while in captivity. This is how scientists have learned where the poison frogs manufacture their venom - it comes primarily from a diet of poisonous insects. PereerExtreme Science” E-Zine May 2001 ‘The Deadliest Thing on Eight Legs ‘The Guinness Book of World Records states that the most venomous spider in the world is the Brazilian wandering spider. This spider, like all spiders, uses a different method of poisoning its victims with its. highly toxic venom, Instead of trying to cover itself with a toxic substance so that its enemies will absorb its venom (like the poison dart frogs), the spider + injects its venom into its victims with its fangs. The i _~ venom of the Brazilian wandering spider is ane of the mast potent neurotoxins in the animal kingdom. A |_| neuratexin is a type of venam that is designed te J. Kallgchye TEs impair er halt the effective functioning of the nervous Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska system in the affected victim. This type of toxin works extremely rapidly at blocking nerve impulses throughout the victim's bedy so that vital organ systems begin to shutdown immediately. A neurotoxic venom will cause such life-threatening symptoms as paralysis and convulsions, pulmonary edema and profuse vomiting. The Brazilian wandering spider lives in Brazil where it is found to be an extremely aggressive and very dangerous spider. What makes a bite from this spider so dangerous is that, when provoked, the wandering spider will bite several times in succession, very rapidly. This allows for the injection of a greater volume of venam inte its victim. These spiders tend to wander into people's homes, putting them in close contact with humans who unwittingly share living space with them. Death from a bite (or series of bites) from this spider can lead to a rapid death, usually within minutes for children under age 7. ‘Another famous killer on eight legs is the Sydney Funnel Web spider. This species is found living primarily in and around Sydney, ‘Australia (hence the name), There are many other Species of spiders that are called funnel web spiders because they all build funnel- shaped webs above the ground. But the Sydney Funnel web spider has developed one of the mast highly taxi venoms of any spider in the world. Only the male funnel web spiders are the dangerous anes, for several reasons. Firstly, their venom is much more toxic, in fact it is deadly to humans, than the female's. Secondly, during mating season, male funnel web spiders go ‘aut on the prow!’ searching for eligible females. They are extremely aggressive during that time, and are prone to wandering into people's homes, searching for females and comfortable digs. Many of them seem to find the conditions inside outhouses just right, where many people have been bitten by the deadly creatures in some very vulnerable places! (Can you imagine?) Death from the bite of a Sydney Funnel Web spider can occur within minutes. Fortunately, an effective anti-venin has been developed to combat the toxic effects of the Funnel Web spider's venom. This is a special kind of medicine that is injected into the spider-bite victim's body, which halts the painful and destructive effects of the spider's venom on the human body. Anti-venins have been developed for many of the world's most poisonous creatures, so that humans who become envenamated by them will survive.