Warning! Don’t Eat These Deadly Poisonous Animals

Though there are creatures that are safe to eat and get into contact with, there are also poisonous animals that can induce deadly consequences if they are consumed or even just touched. Some of these creatures could be familiar, while others could be totally unknown. Here are some poisonous animals that you must definitely skip and avoid altogether.

Brush Bronzewing

As per Live Science, this bird is an Australian pigeon species that has a unique color splash covering its wings. There were reports of animal deaths after consuming these birds. Through such reports, scientists were able to discover that these creatures had toxic flesh.

The toxicity of the brush bronzewing comes from its ability to ingest Gastrolobium plants' poisonous seeds. Toxins then build up on the bird's flesh.

Hooded Pitohui

The Pitohui bird genus can be spotted in New Guinea. While these birds may appear harmless, several species have feathers and skin that harbor batrachotoxins. According to the Australian Geographic, these are extremely strong neurotoxins that may lead to cardiac arrest, paralysis, and death if high doses are taken.

Though there have not been any fatality reports related to the bird species, hunters generally avoid them.

Choresine Beetles

According to a 2004 study, Pitohuis could have gotten the toxins from beetles that belong to the Choresine genus. These beetles are only 6 millimeters long and are reportedly eaten by Pitohuis. Locals refer to the beetles as "nanisani," which describes the numbing and tingling feeling that one may get after getting into contact with pitohuis.

Puffer Fish

Though this fish is actually served as a delicacy across different regions of Asia, preparation mistakes can be fatal as the fish harbors tetrodotoxin. In fact, just recently, an elderly woman died while her husband was in a coma because both of them ate puffer fish for lunch.

ALSO READ: Elderly Woman Dies, Husband in Comatose After Eating Puffer Fish For Lunch

Newts From the Pacific

Four newts that belong to the Taricha genus are tiny but deadly creatures. These are the Taricha granulosa newt with rough skin, the Taricha rivularis newt that has a red belly, the Taricha sierrae newt, and the Taricha torosa newt, the last two being the Sierra and California newts, respectively.

These newts harbor tetrodotoxin, which is a neurotoxin that inhibits inter-nerve signals. This, in turn, leads to muscle paralysis in the diagram and affects breathing. Unless symptoms are promptly treated, it may also lead to death.

There was one fatality recorded in a 1981 report that was due to the consumption of a rough-skinned newt. The report explained a case in 1979, wherein a man ate the newt as part of the dare. He then expressed complaints of tingling and numbing. He eventually died within the span of two hours despite his friend's attempts to revive him.

Milkweed Butterfly

Though these flying creatures are indeed beautiful, they are actually deadly. Butterflies belonging to the Danainae subfamily include Euploea mulciber, the crow butterfly with blue stripes, and Danaus genutia, the common orange-and-black tiger butterfly. Its most famous subfamily member is the Danau plexippus, or the monarch.

These butterflies consume milkweed plant toxins that they then end up carrying, especially when they are still caterpillars. These toxins are known as cardiac glycosides, which disrupt pumps across cellular membranes that are responsible for balancing electrical charges inside and outside of the cells.

As per the Cleveland Clinic, high dosages of the toxin may lead to vomiting, nausea, vision alterations, and fatal heart rhythm disruptions.

Moray Eels

These creatures have a high position in the food chain. At times, they have a buildup of marine plankton toxins that may lead to ciguatera on their own flesh. Because of this, these creatures could be a deadly dish.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Four blue-ringed and blue-lined octopus species across the Indian and Pacific oceans have elevated defenses as they harbor tetrodotoxin. Because of this, these creatures are among the most dangerous animals in the marine world.

Simply dealing with these species can be a deadly encounter. In fact, WebMD notes that one milligram of tetrodotoxin from the creature's saliva is potent enough to kill a person.

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