This month we conclude our series on the most poisonous animals on the planet by considering an arachnid, the Brazilian Wandering Spider (pictured rigth). This spider’s habitat is the rainforests, from central to South America. They get their name because they wander the jungle floor at night, rather than residing in a lair or maintaining a web like most other spiders. The Brazilian Wandering Spider is one of the most venomous arachnids in the world, with a cocktail of toxic enzymes that is extremely problematic for the nervous system. A bite results in symptoms such as extreme salivation/sweating, intense pain, and irregular heartbeat. Hundreds of spider bites are reported annually, but a powerful antivenom typically prevents deaths in most cases. This species of spider is also called “the banana spider” because it is frequently found on banana plant leaves. Brazilian Wandering Spiders have an aggressive defensive posture, in which they raise their long front legs straight up into the air. A full grown spider can measure up to 8 inches in diameter. Its prey includes small vertebrates like lizards, frogs, and mice. The venom causes paralysis and helps to digest the prey. Spiders are mentioned a number of times in the Bible, including Isaiah 59:5, where it is listed alongside two poisonous snakes: the viper and the adder.
Earth’s Most Venomous Animals – Part 6
