Nicaragua’s fantasy island

Nicaragua’s fantasy island
I’ve found an island in Nicaragua “where extreme rustic adventure meets extreme tropical relaxation” in an ideal balance, said Josh Noel in the Chicago Tribune. Ometepe “couldn’t be designed more perfectly.” Rising from the serene waters of Lake Nicaragua, the 107-square-mile island is shaped like a figure eight, with a volcanic peak on either half and the land between adorned by a river as well as just enough beachfront restaurants. Even with 40,000 residents, a new airport, and a couple of museums, Ometepe “remains wonderfully slow and unspoiled.” Cows meander down the main road, and there are “few, if any, stoplights—or buildings taller than a palm tree.”

Hiking a volcano is “a quintessential island experience,” so I couldn’t pass up the chance. As  my guide and I set off for the Maderas crater (elevation 4,570 feet), howler monkeys called from trees and the path wound through wet jungle to “a misty cloud forest.” I lost count of how many times I stumbled on the muddy incline, but after more than five hours of climbing, we were looking down into the crater—“360 degrees of thick, green growth in what once spewed smoke and lava.” The next day was a day of rest, highlighted by an  afternoon lounge in a hammock with a rum in hand. When I tired of that, I strolled to the beach and waded in the “wonderfully warm” lake as children fished for sardines. Volcan Concepcion, Maderas’s still-active, 5,280-foot sibling, loomed in the distance.

On my last day, I discovered “what might be Ometepe’s greatest joy.” Ojo de Agua is a large natural spring with stone walls and a rock and silt floor, and its “wonderfully bright and clear” water felt “just cool enough to be refreshing.” At the pool’s edge, a vendor was selling coconuts filled with rum, and I learned that the mineralrich waters ostensibly had healing powers. In any case, this “serene little oasis” was worth a day unto itself,” and it made me wish my trip were longer. “Who knows? Had I stayed, I might have attempted that other volcano.”

Turkey’s ancient gem
“It sounds like a cliché, but Mardin really is a magical place,” said Bernd Brunner in TheSmartSet.com. An ancient city in eastern Turkey built on a mountain ridge, Mardin has little in common with bustling Istanbul, which lies 700 miles away. Mardin exists within its own time and place as one of upper Mesopotamia’s oldest and most unchanged settlements. From its well-preserved historic district more than 3,000 feet above sea level, one can spot the Tigris and Euphrates in the distance—the cradle of civilization. Somehow, Mardin’s charming, historic old town has “withstood the pressure to become a kind of open air museum” honoring a culture that goes back 7,000 years. Instead, it remains as vital as newer neighborhoods.

During a recent stay, I visited Mardin’s main street every day, reveling in its architecture, winding streets, and friendly (but not pushy) shopkeepers. The Muslim businesses sold aromatic soap and handmade jewelry, and I also passed a few Christian shops offering good Turkish red wine. One side trip off Main Street brought me to the centuries-old Emir hamam, or bathhouse, with a “fascinating interior” topped off with a colorful dome. Another day, I journeyed just outside the city to the “lovingly restored” Deyrulzafaran Monastery, a Christian site built in the 5th century. At the monastery’s chapel, Muslim visitors joined me in admiring its “beautifully colored images painted on cloth.” This was typical of Mardin: The city celebrates holidays from all religions and is justly proud of its multicultural heritage. Recently, Mardin even elected a 25-year-old Christian woman to be comayor with a 71-year-old Kurdish man.

Any visitor will be amazed that Mardin’s Old World magnificence does not draw more tourists. The city recently withdrew its bid to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site because of modern structures that obscure views of the historic district. As a fix, hundreds of newer, concrete buildings will be demolished. While the surrounding region modernizes, Mardin is becoming easier to reach—and word is getting out. “It’s becoming clear that Mardin will soon awake from its slumber—with or without UNESCO’s blessing.”

Getting to know Sydney’s ‘wildly cosmopolitan’ side
When I tell American acquaintances where I’m from, the first thing that pops into their minds is a soaring opera house, said Tony Perrottet in The New York Times. But it’s a soaring opera house that’s surely just a silent hulk in their minds, because they know Australians only as a horde of “beer-swilling, happy-go-lucky folk” who spend all their waking hours barbecuing steak on the beach. Look—I’ll admit that Sydney can distract first-time visitors with its “Rio-like natural beauty.” But on my last trip home, I was determined to reengage with the city I’ve always known to be “wildly cosmopolitan”—its museums packed, its creative class fecund, and its calendar bursting with arts festivals.

I focused on reconnecting with Sydney’s so-called inner city—a string of bohemian neighborhoods that surround the central business district. The area’s Victorian-era working-class housing has been prized for years, and yet it was “a mild shock” to see that Chippendale, the area I lived in as a student, was now a nonprofit arts district and a haven of quiet, leafy streets. I used a gallery map to explore, then hit a few higher-end galleries in Paddington and Woollahra. At the former Surry Hills studio of painter Brett Whiteley (1939–92), Whiteley’s Sydney Harbor paintings so dazzled me that they “sent me racing down to the very tourist zone I’d planned to avoid.” From the rooftop café at the harborside Museum of Contemporary Art, I enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine and “ravishing views” of the Opera House.

Australians are said to read more books per capita than the citizens of any other English-speaking country, and the Sydney Writers’ Festival celebrates that passion with around 300 events every May. Trying to explain Sydney’s special energy, the poetnovelist Luke Davies once told me that it’s a perfect place to do creative work because its natural beauty induces a trance-like state. Actually, he told me this during my recent trip while we both bobbed in the waves off Bondi Beach. As per a daily ritual of his, we had just walked to Bondi, past some Aboriginal carvings, and “plunged from a ledge straight into the churning ocean.”

Exploring mystical Wales
No offense to remote Ireland or Scotland, but northern Wales might just be the United Kingdom’s most magical locale, said Jim Farber in the New York Daily News. “It’s a wonder of a place,” an exotic land where psychedelic- colored sheep graze on velvet-green meadows and ancient castles dot the hilltops. The sheep can be explained: Their wool is dyed to indicate who owns them. But much harder to decipher is the strange language that often fills the air. “Here, people really do speak Welsh—with special aggression if they spy an English person.” I was glad to have a guide familiar with the language, and even gladder that he knew the back roads and the region’s small, hidden treasures. “Not that these remote parts of Wales only offer a sense of the surreal, or the past.”

During a recent six-day stay, I managed to ride a zip line in the town of Bethesda that was “infinitely scarier” than any I’d ridden before. (“Think of a gun shot with you as the bullet.”) I also partook of a “singularly horrifying” local pastime called coasteering, which entails donning a wetsuit, leaping repeatedly into 37-degree ocean water, and scrambling back to safety across razor-sharp rocks. “To be fair, some swear by this sport.” But I far preferred Wales’s more tranquil attractions.

There are many. Llangollen is a town of black-and-white Tudor houses and a canal ride that uses a single horse for power. Ruthin is a town of “adorable” stores, fine pubs, and a castle once owned by Henry VIII. Conwy has a castle of its own, plus a 6- by 10-foot dwelling advertised as “The Smallest House in Britain.” I had “the most regal afternoon tea of my life” at Chateau Rhianfa, a “storybook” hotel on the Isle of Anglesey just across a bridge from the mainland. Though I didn’t attempt to climb Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in the vast Snowdonia National Park, I did enjoy the next best thing: a ride in a 1903 trolley up a nearby peak and a descent into Llandudno, a seaside town with “a romantic sweep of beach” and a collection of pastel Victorian buildings that “look like they’re swirled with cream.”

Day-tripping through Italy’s Piedmont region
The owner of our hotel said that his city of 25,000 should be better known, and he was right, said David Stewart White in The Washington Post. Fossano, Italy, is “the perfect hub for a visit to Piedmont,” the region in northwestern Italy famous for stellar wines and marvelous food. A short drive east puts you in “wine heaven,” among the vineyards that produce Barolo, Barbera, and Barbaresco. A quick jaunt north puts you in Bra, the home of the slow-food movement. Whichever direction you choose to go, “a nearly 360-degree view of the Alps is always lurking,” and the day’s end returns you to an “ancient and atmospheric” town that tourists have yet to overrun. Our hotel? A converted 16th-century monastery that also houses Fossano’s best restaurant.

Our first day trip took us southeast to Valcasotto, a picturesque mountain hamlet now owned by one of Europe’s premier cheese-makers, Beppino Occelli. Samples of the local specialty came “with sides of  history and cheese-making science,” and we devoured every scrap. The next day, we eagerly made wine our prey, venturing into the Langhe region for a guided wine tour that turned out to be “a sublimely relaxed experience.” Roaming oenophiles occasionally overrun some of Piedmont’s hill towns, but most of the vineyards we visited booked tours by appointment only, allowing us to converse casually with the winemakers while we savored each selection they chose to share.

Each day brought a new adventure. Fossano itself offered a maze of medieval streets lined with shops selling Milanquality designer goods. Nearby Saluzzo held its annual music festival on the summer solstice, and we took the occasion to visit Castello della Manta, a castle that houses a “breathtaking” series of 15thcentury frescoes. Everywhere we went, even the most modest bar served wonderful food, yet one place in the village of Serralunga d’Alba will go down as the most memorable. We ate a simple meal, accompanied by a bottle of the local dolcetto d’Alba. But we were sitting on a windswept terrace, relaxed as could be, and gazing out on “a 50-mile view of rolling vineyards and red-brick-fortified hill towns.”

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Vanuatu, an untamed South Pacific getaway

Vanuatu, an untamed South Pacific getaway
The Vanuatu archipelago is a true throwback—one of the “rawest” places to visit in the South Pacific, said A. Odysseus Patrick in The Washington Post. But if you want to escape the modern world, the tiny island nation is “gorgeous, exotic, occasionally scary, and often farcical. And fun. Mostly.” My recent family trip to Vanuatu almost ended before it began when a storm prevented our plane from landing at the antiquated airport, which lacked a modern guidance system. But this is to be expected when vacationing in a place where 80 percent of the population lives in thatched huts. Vanuatu may lack modern amenities, but the former French and British colony does have “unspoiled tropical landscapes, friendly locals,” and a rich heritage that mixes Melanesian culture with British and French influences.

Vanuatu’s biggest attraction is Mount Yasur, an active volcano located 130 miles south of the main island, Efate. To get to it, we hired a guide who crammed us into a tiny, six-seat plane, then flew for an hour through the mist before landing on a bumpy runway. Climbing into SUVs, we followed a “potholed, single-lane dirt track” through the jungle until we reached a plain of ash marked by “clumps of orange lava, long cooled and solidified.” The volcano’s peak loomed to the east.

At the volcano’s summit, our guides didn’t offer much advice, and there weren’t any warning signs about where we could go. To my wife’s dismay, my kids and I walked along the 3-foot-wide rim of the crater as steam and sulfurous gas billowed up from below. Every few seconds “a low boom sounded,” and the larger explosions shot chunks of molten stone into the sky. Some of the debris landed nearby, and although the taciturn natives insisted we were safe, each blast sent “a shudder of fear racing through our group.”  Later, back at the resort, we were content to sip tropical cocktails and enjoy a delicious and inexpensive dinner while our kids ran free on the beach. It wasn’t a standard tropical vacation, but we hadn’t come for one.

Casual class on Portugal’s exclusive coast
Portugal’s Herdade da Comporta exudes an “under-the-radar cool,” even as it’s become more popular, said Maura Egan in Condé Nast Traveler. In the past 20 years, this region along the nation’s western coast has emerged as a secret, fashionable retreat for well-to-do Europeans. Newly opened hotels and restaurants should bring in even more visitors. Still, Comporta resists the overdevelopment plaguing much of the continent’s beachfront. When I visited recently, Isabel de Carvalho, co-owner of the chic restaurant Museu do Arroz, said to me, “People come here because it reminds them of St.- Tropez in the ’70s.”

There are seven villages in the Herdade da Com porta. One local explained that wealthy families live in Brejos, well-heeled tourists vacation at Pego, and Comporta village is “the destination for day-trippers from Lisbon.” Surprisingly, the elite mingle easily with fishermen and farmers, and many summer homes and rentals give off “a casual boho vibe, with little furniture and plenty of outdoor areas for taking in the landscape.” On one afternoon drive, I passed through the village of Carvalhal, where old men sat drinking espresso at an outdoor café, as they’ve done for generations, and a woman collected snails by the side of the road. I was on my way to Pego’s Restaurante Sal, the “unofficial clubhouse” of the Comporta. When I arrived, families were sitting on the deck, “lingering over their grilled fish, squid ink rice, and half-empty bottles of local rosé.” Everyone wore “their Sunday beach best: polo shirts and Top-Siders for the men, flowing caftans and straw hats for the women.” A grand father slumped in a chair while his grandson played on a nearby sand dune.

The casual mix of the upper and lower classes is readily evident in Comporta village. Businesses range from a tiny supermercado to boutique shops selling Moroccan pottery. Locals sit on a stone wall eating ice cream near an intersection congested with BMWs and Range Rovers. I met British artist Jason Martin, who moved to Comporta after seeing it on TV. He spoke of a “genuine” vibe and said that, even with increased attention, Comporta remains “Europe’s hidden treasure.”

Discovering Spain’s Roman ruins
To understand ancient Rome, start in Madrid, said Miranda S. Spivack in The Washington Post. “Spain is essentially one big archaeological site, much of it dating from the Roman era.” During a recent trip, my husband and I made a point of seeking out remnants of that mighty empire, which gained a foothold in the Iberian Peninsula in about 200 B.C. and ruled the region until the early 5th century. Dozens of Roman sites can readily be reached on day trips from Madrid, and they’re consistently less crowded and often in better condition than Italy’s own. “Add to that the economics of visiting Spain—where a tapas snack and a drink in a restaurant can be had for about $9 or less—and it’s tough to find a reason to stay away.”

Every site we visited we had nearly to ourselves. At Carranque, the site of a 20-room, 4th-century Roman villa, only 12 other people joined a tour during which we marveled at dozens of mosaics on the walls and floors. At Numancia, a hilltop outpost where residents valiantly held off Roman aggressors for two decades, we wandered among ancient Roman and Celtiberean homes filled with periodappropriate furnishings. At the Museo de las Villas Romanas, in Almenara-Puras, we toured a full-scale model of a Roman villa built next to the remains of the 4th-century villa it was based on. “It seemed like a lifesize playhouse, complete with an interior courtyard, spa rooms with neatly folded towels, and communal latrines, typical of the Romans.”

Farther afield, you can find a Roman chariot racetrack in Mérida, and large coliseums in Itálica, Segóbriga, and Tarragona, a city that sits on the Mediterranean coast southwest of Barcelona. From Tarragona, we took a short ride on a public bus one day to reach Centcelles, a Roman villa famed for a ceiling mosaic said to be one of the finest in the world. Previously we’d been told that the nation’s wrenching economic downturn had slowed tourism, but we were surprised to be the day’s only visitors. The day before, a curator told us, there’d been maybe three. We gazed upward in amazement for a long time.

Ankara—Turkey’s second city
Ankara too often gets overshadowed by Istanbul, said Andrea Sachs in The Washington Post. Turkey’s capital has only 4.5 million residents to Istanbul’s 14 million, and it has a reputation for being less fun—a Washington, D.C., to Istanbul’s New York City. But don’t let the concentration of universities and foreign embassies give you the wrong impression. Ankara is more than a place to study or practice diplomacy. It’s a pleasingly disorderly city—“energetic, loud, and alive, so very alive.”

I stayed recently in the historic Ulus quarter, buying my daily provisions at a market where the vendors routinely threw in extra fruits or vegetables for free. Whenever you look up in this district, “your eyes inevitably bump into the citadel, a colossal structure of towers and walls shaped by the hands of many civilizations (Hittite, Byzantine, Galatian, etc.).” One late afternoon, I entered through a dramatic archway and climbed ragged steps to a wall where I could sit watching boys playing soccer below me. At 5:57, a booming voice called Muslims to prayer, so I followed the faithful to Haci Bayram, Ankara’s most sacred mosque. Passing through a courtyard that contains the ruins of a Roman temple, I padded into the mosque though the women’s entrance, hiding my hair under my jacket’s hood. While children played around us, the women “remained deep in prayer, their covered heads bowed toward Mecca.”

My favorite hangout was a furniture shop run by a friendly man named Ahmet Geyikoglu. He’d invited me in for tea on my first afternoon in Ankara, and I kept returning to paw through his beautiful carpets and talk about the day’s plans. Finally, I playfully told him I wanted a chair, a stool, and a bench, but he ignored the chance to make a big sale while bubble-wrapping the least expensive of my requests and tucking in a complimentary kilim-covered pillow. Unexpectedly, “I had discovered Ankara’s true spirit in a rug seller’s cramped shop.”

A train through old Germany
"Steam locomotives are impossibly romanric"-perhaps nonc more so than those that run on the Fichre1bergbahn, said T.R. Goldman in The Washington Post. The small German railroad began operating in 1897, transporting people and freight 11 miles through the scenic Ore Mountains along what's now Germany's border with the Czech Republic. Today, the Fichtelbergbahn carries 200,000 sightseeing passengers each year, from Cranzahl to the low-key ski village of Oberwiesenthal, a former silver-mining town and the highest settlement in the nation. Many of these visitors are train aficionados who, like me, are drawn to the region by the ride itself.

Oberwiesenthal is one of Germany's bestvalue ski resorts, favored by families who pack the little inns above the train station and wander into the main square when they're not on the slopes. Picturesque lodgings like the Hotel-Gasthof Rotgiesserhaus sit near "very GDR" restaurants like the main square's Cafe Central, a place where the bad lighting, cheap beer, and raxidermied animals offer their own retrograde Soviet-era charm. We train buffs spent many hours just milling about the village's railyard, "photographing the engines as if they were exotic zoo animals." Because they run on narrow·gauge tracks, the locomotives are about half normal size, and though plenty powerful, they're also "impossibly cute."

The engineer and the fireman agree to let me ride in [heir cab as my train embarks for Cranzahl. A high-pitched, breathy whistle sounds, and thcn the chug-chug-chug starts, "first slowly and methodically, then rapidly crescendoing in speed." The engine shoots thick bursts of white steam into the air as we weave through the mountains, and I admire thc orange-roofed villages in the valley below. Later, I discover that both tourists and locals often pull their cars over to watch the train pass overhead on a 75·fooHall viaduct about half a mile olltside Oberwiesenthal. One Bavarian visitor struggles to answer when I ask him to explain the attraction. "It's black, it's beautiful," he says. "It's life inside."

MOST DEADLY SNAKES AROUND THE WORLD

MOST DEADLY SNAKES AROUND THE WORLD
Every year, up to 125,000 people die from snakebites. However, the most venomous snakes are not always the most dangerous, because many of them live in remote places where there are few people. The biggest killers live in densely populated countries where people are very likely to step on them, get bitten, and not receive proper treatment.

Puff adder
This heavily built viper is the most dangerous snake in Africa. It gets its name from the way it puffs up its body and hisses in a threat display before striking with its very long fangs.

Australian taipan
The venom of this Australian snake is so toxic that its bites are deadly if not treated quickly. The closely related inland taipan, also found in Australia, is even more lethal. But both live in such remote regions that bites are rare.

Bushmaster
The South American bushmaster is the biggest of the pit vipers, growing to 10 ft (3 m) or more in length. Its venom can be fatal, but luckily bites are rare.

Gaboon viper
Similar to the puff adder, this central African ambush killer has huge fangs that can be up to 2 in (5 cm) long—longer than those of any other snake.

Fer-de-lance
This highly venomous pit viper is the most deadly snake in South America. Many of its victims are bitten while working in banana plantations

Desert death adder
Long fangs, big venom glands, and a very fast strike make this adder one of the deadliest snakes in Australia. However, since not many people live in its desert habitat, it claims very few victims.

Monocled cobra
Like all cobras, this South Asian snake tries to scare off its enemies with a threat display. But if that fails, it will bite, injecting a deadly venom.

Saw-scaled viper
Its habit of lying near where people live means that this small Asian viper is often stepped on. As a result, it bites and kills thousands of people each year.

Tiger snake
The tiger snakes of southern Australia and Tasmania live in coastal regions and wetlands. Their venom is as deadly as that of a cobra.

Eastern brown snake
Its extremely toxic venom makes this the most dangerous Australian snake, but most of its victims recover if they are treated with antivenom in time.

Snake venom is a nightmare cocktail of poisons that might have been cooked up by a mad scientist. It is basically saliva, laced with powerful digestive juices that break down the tissues of the snake’s prey. In the most venomous snakes, the mixture has been refined into a lethal weapon, used for both hunting and defense.

Types of venom
The toxins in snake venom work in different ways. Some attack the victim’s blood or muscles, while others paralyze its nervous system. Each type of snake has its own toxic recipe.


BOOMSLANG
Equipped with fangs in the rear of its mouth, this African tree snake has a powerful venom that stops its victim’s blood from clotting, so it bleeds to death.

RATTLESNAKE
A rattlesnake is a type of viper, with a hemotoxic venom that causes massive bleeding and destroys flesh. It slows the blood circulation, causing the symptoms of shock.

TAIPAN
The taipan has the most deadly venom of any land snake. It kills very quickly by attacking the nervous system and paralyzing the bite victim’s breathing.

SEA SNAKE
A sea snake needs extremely potent venom to stop its prey from escaping. It is myotoxic, paralyzing the victim’s muscles. Luckily, sea snakes rarely bite.

BLACK MAMBA
Strong enough to kill an elephant, black mamba venom attacks the nervous system and  heart muscle with rapid, deadly effect.

INDIAN COBRA
Like most cobras, this one has a neurotoxic venom that spreads through the body and can kill by paralyzing the nerves that control breathing.

Scary fangs Venomous snakes inject their victims
using fangs—special teeth designed to puncture fl esh before channeling venom into the prey.
HOW FANGS WORK
When a rattlesnake is resting, its sharp fangs are folded back. When it gapes its mouth open, the fangs hinge forward, so the snake can use them to stab its victim. The muscles surrounding the venom glands then contract to squirt highly toxic venom through the fangs. The venom targets blood and internal organs, causing intense pain and vomiting.

BOOMSLANG
Most venomous snakes have long, hollow fangs that inject venom. But a “rear-fanged” snake like the boomslang has simpler ones near the back of its mouth that just bite into the victim, allowing toxic saliva to flow into the wounds.

RATTLESNAKE
Found in the United States, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest species of rattlesnake and has a highly venomous bite. When in danger, it shakes a rattle on the end of its tail to scare off predators.

PIT VIPER
Like all pit vipers, the two-striped forest pit viper has heat-detecting pits located in between its eyes and nostrils. It’s responsible for many of the recorded snake bites in the Amazon rainforest.

PUFF ADDER
Found in the rocky grasslands of Africa, this species of viper is usually active at night, when it ambushes unsuspecting prey.

BLACK MAMBA
This relative of the cobras has shorter fangs than a rattlesnake or viper, but they are just as effective. It’s probably the deadliest species on the planet.

VENOM
Scientists “milk” snakes for their venom, which is then injected into a sheep to collect antibodies created by the sheep’s immune system. These are used to create antivenoms to combat the effects of a snakebite. These usually work extremely well, provided the victim gets treated quickly enough.

MOST DANGEROUS SEA CREATURES

MOST DANGEROUS SEA CREATURES
From aggressive fish with a mouthful of teeth, to the most venomous marine animal, here are 8 sea creatures you should watch out for!

8. Titan Triggerfish
There's a misconception when swimming in the ocean that it's "obvious" which creatures will attack you and which ones won't. Like the Titan Triggerfish. Take a look at it. What do you think? Looks like a pretty regular fish right? Exactly! Plus, if you do a little research on Triggerfish as a species, they're actually pretty friendly fish, but this one is in a league of its own, and not in a good way. The Titan Triggerfish are wired to be very territorial, and as such, they'll go to great lengths in order to protect what is theirs. So you have to be careful if they’re in a bad mood!! They can grow to about a foot in length, and use their teeth to attack anyone or anything that they think is an “intruder". And they can be quite vicious too, because their teeth are incredibly sharp, and their jaws can clamp down with a ton of force. They can be found in most of the Indo-Pacific and usually are shy around divers. But if its reproductive season and divers are lurking around their nests, all bets are off. They're so territorial and protective that they've been known to attack divers who come anywhere close to their homes. And experienced divers look out for these fish whenever they go close to their reefs because their bite can be toxic and cause paralysis. Good news is, they like to attack the colorful parts like fins, which helps reduce the risk of personal injury. However, some unlucky divers have been knocked out cold!

7. Flower Urchin
While some creatures might look like harmless plants, be careful because appearances can be deceiving!! The flower urchin looks like a nice little bouquet of flowers, and it is one of the most frequently encountered sea urchins. Which is not that great because these echinoderms know how to attack when the time is right! There are spines sticking out of their “flowers" which are anything but decorative. The flower urchin is the “World’s Most Venomous” sea urchin and if their venom gets into your body, you're in for a very rough ride. The venom is known to causes spasms in humans, and that's just the beginning. You can also get convulsions, suffer from drowning, go through shock, get paralyzed, and yes, you can also die. And it doesn't take much to get the venom in you, all it takes is the tiniest contact with your bare skin. Flower Urchins have caused many deaths over the years, and this has made them infamous among divers. Good news is that sea urchins are defensive creatures, they aren’t trying to hurt you on purpose so if you do get jabbed, it’s most likely your fault. Just trust me, and don't go near this thing. And now for number 6, but first can you name the most venomous marine animal? Let us know your answer in the comments below! The answer is coming up! And if you are new here, welcome, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on the latest videos!!

6. Eels
Eels are special creatures, and there are many different types of them living underneath the waters. And many you need to be careful of. Some just like to strike, but others, like the Electric Eel, like to just send a shock through your system. The Electric Eel is a creature that can well and truly charge itself up for an attack, and given that you're most likely underwater when you meet this creature, it means the attack is all the more potent. The cells within their bodies build up electrolytes, and when they build up about 6000 of them, they can release a 600-volt charge into an enemy. They also emit a low-level charge that they use like radar. Plus they can grow up to 8 feet long! Eels can be very hostile, and they have been known to attack humans at times. And 600 volts to a human can do some serious damage, not the least of which is stopping your heart flat. So if you see an eel, swim the other way! Just in case!

5. Barracuda
Barracuda are pretty recognizable fish. Not only does it get a bad rap because it killed Nemo’s family, but also because of it’s razor sharp teeth and long shiny body. Of all the different types of Barracuda, the Great Barracuda is the most impressive. After all, it has the name "Great" in it. This creature can be up to six feet long, which is pretty menacing on its  own, but its trademark is its speed. It cuts through water like a bullet does through air. It'll race towards anything and either slam into it, or bite it with its teeth, which as you can see are numerous, and razor sharp! In reality barracudas are not the most dangerous creature you will encounter but they have a very bad reputation. There have been about 25 reported attacks in the last 100 years, so why are they so scary? Because they are dangerous by design! They are often accused of attacking humans, even when they're not provoked. They are attracted to shiny objects because it looks like the reflection of a fish belly. Always avoid wearing any jewelry while diving!! Some divers and snorkelers have been attacked around their head as the barracuda tries to get to the object. They'll strike at them like they stole something. They might also mistake white, pale skin for fish skin. They will often get into fights with people fishing with spears as they try to get to the kill. There are even reports of Barracudas jumping out of the ocean to attack people on boats. They’re not scared of anything! And they’re kind of mean.

4. Pufferfish
There are many fish in the oceans that scare people away, but for entirely different reasons. While an eel or a barracuda is a physical threat, a Pufferfish is a threat inside and out. On the outside, the Puffer Fish has plenty of spines, and if threatened, such as when a human approaches it, it'll fill itself with water and even air, to make it look much larger than before. It’s more of a death sentence if you try to swallow it, but actually I think it’s kind of cute. Then, there's what's on the inside. Mainly, poison, lots of it. While many creatures have poison in them, it's usually located to a central area, like how snakes have venom in their fangs and can have them milked without harming the meat inside. For Pufferfish though, some species have poison all over their entire bodies. Tetrodotoxin to be exact which is 1200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans. And there is no known antidote. Selling Pufferfish meat is outlawed in most countries, for our own good. Why? Well, it's because though you can get rid of poison in meat, the Pufferfish has it so completely intertwined with its being that if you fail in any way to get the poison all out, you will die. Currently, the only places that serve Puffer Fish are Japan, China, and Korea. Known as fugu, it is only prepared by licensed chefs who are specifically trained to handle Pufferfish. Even so, there are several deaths annually.

3. Stingray
The Stingray is one creature that everyone should fear and respect. While their attacks are rare, they do happen, and like some other creatures on this list, they’re not afraid of attacking when they feel provoked. The most famous case of a Stingray attack was the strike and killing of beloved zookeeper and animal conservationist Steve Irwin, aka the Crocodile Hunter. Irwin was underwater doing some filming for a show that was going to be called "Ocean's Deadliest", he was also going to film some footage for his daughter Bindi, who had a show herself. Irwin was famous for his ability to read a situation and interact with animals, and according to his crew, he gave the Stingray in question plenty of room. Irwin was just trying to get a shot of the Stingray swimming away from the camera. However, as he did so, the Stingray became defensive, and started flailing its tail around, and when it did, one strike caught Irwin in the heart. He quickly pulled it out, which was maybe the worst thing he could do. Despite the quick actions of his crew, Irwin passed away. It was very much a freak accident because you can be struck by a stingray barb and survive. But the barb slipped in between Irwin's rib cage. It’s hard to survive a direct hit to the heart. Rays also have venom in their barbs, which is not necessarily fatal, but it hurts a lot. It has enzymes and seratonin which make your muscles severly contract. Heat breaks down the venom and can limit the amount of damage. But if you are stung by an internal organ, your chances of survival will plummet.

2. Sharks
You don’t need me to tell you about sharks! While you can argue that sharks have always been feared, it was "Jaws" that helped bring the hysteria of sharks attacking humans to life. Which is actually kind of ironic, as most shark species DON'T attack humans, even when provoked. Shark attacks are actually pretty low when you look at statistics from around the world. But still, just because they don't attack a lot, doesn't mean they don't attack at all. And when they do attack, it makes worldwide news. Once one attack happens, everyone seems to freak out! Others get scared of the water, and I’m sure you’ve likely heard of one shark bite story or another. So the question is, what shark species attack humans the most? Well, that would be Great White Sharks, Tiger Sharks, and Bull Sharks. But that doesn't mean that's the order of most attacks animal. Great White Sharks are the most infamous sharks on the planet, thanks to Jaws, but the Tiger and Bull are just as fearsome, and arguably more aggressive than their Great White brethren. In fact, more people are killed by dogs than by Great White Sharks every year. Still though, these sharks are known to attack people, whether it be for territory, for food, or just basic animal instinct. As always though, we are way more of a threat to them, then they are to us.

1. Box Jellyfish
Surprised? I know it may seem like sharks are the obvious answer for dangerous sea creatures, but when it comes to the Box Jellyfish, it's a whole other story. Answer: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Australian box jellyfish is the most venomous marine animal. The Box Jellyfish lives in the Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia. As such, more people are killed in Australia by the Jellyfish than snakes,  sharks and crocodiles...combined! How is this possible? Well, one part is the location. As noted, they live in the coastal waters of Australia and many people are out and about swimming. The Box Jellyfish have about 60 tentacles on their body, and each of them can extend to about 15 feet long. Which means you don't even have to be close to the head of it for the creature to kill you. Each tentacle! 60 times 50, you do the math! (Also watch out for the Irukandji jellyfish!) Many people also die in the Philippines from box jellyfish stings, as well as Indonesia but they are not required to have death certificates so data is hard to get. No matter what way you look at it, these creatures are deadly, and their toxins can wreak havoc on the toughest of creatures. Also I have bad news for you, they are are starting to be found in other parts of the ocean, including the coast of the US. While it might not be something we need to worry about, you never know what the consequences will be as the ocean waters get warmer.

THE MOST POISONOUS SNAKES In The World

THE MOST POISONOUS SNAKES In The World
get ready to meet the 10 most poisonous snakes in the world many animals are poisonous but few is deadly and highly dangerous as bees you find them in deserts forests and even at sea and with a single bite they are capable of killing up to 100 men extremely feared in the animal kingdom by its venomous annihilator they give chills to whoever they cross paths with the

rattlesnake this poisonous animal is found throughout most of the American territory from the United States to Argentina unmistakable by the peculiar sound that it produces with its tail and the fact that it can be heard at a distance of up to almost 65 feet although curiously the young specimens do not have such an intense sound they are the most poisonous their venom contains chemo toxins that destroy tissues causing necrosis or caused severe paralysis in the worst case venom can enter the bloodstream and cause instant death although the rattlesnake usually doesn't attack humans the best thing to do is not to underestimate this situation and if you get bitten seek help immediately luckily there is an anti-venom which reduces the death rate to only 4% and helps avoid a tragic outcome

9 Viper of death it is one of the most dangerous snakes that lives in Australia and although its fangs are short its poison is lethal because it has a very aggressive neurotoxic effect that causes paralysis and death in a span of six hours as it produces a respiratory failure this snake manages to inject between point six and 1.5 grains of venom in a single bite and a dose of 0.46 grains would suffice to cause you death for this reason the Viper of death deserves its name because of the high number of deaths it causes among humans therefore even if it is a snake with very beautiful colors it's advisable not to approach it if it is nearby since it the fastest attack being able to attack repeatedly within only 0.1 three seconds of separation between each fights not even the fastest of animals could escape

number eight the Philippine Cobra known to be a poison spitting cobra it is extremely dangerous the Philippine Cobra is able to launch its venom with impressive accuracy to a target of up to nine point eight feet what incredible marksmanship it is distinguished by the triangular shape of its head and by how it stands on a right angle when it feels threatened this dangerous snake has a highly toxic in deadly poison that contains a neurotoxin that  affects the heart and respiratory functions and in just thirty minutes could cause the death of a person it is usually used by snake charmers throughout the eastern zone where it is native since it has an excellent visual response the Philippine Cobra is considered to have the most harmful poison among all Cobras with a dose of 1.3 and 1.5 grains which curiously leaves only a tiny mark when biting but above all remember that it has an inconceivable aim so it is worth keeping a very very long distance if you ever cross it

number seven with a tiger snake the tiger snake lives in Australia and according to experts it has a poison that can be described as simply perfect it really sounds dangerous and has remained that way for more than ten million years can you imagine this poison is the union of a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system of the victim immobilizing it and also of Myo toxins  that cause the blood to coagulate blocking the arteries it is highly lethal and can cause death just like the Philippine Cobra in 30 minutes symptoms of a bite include pain in feet and neck tingling numbness excessive sweating difficulty breathing and paralysis the tiger snake is not aggressive unless it is corner but its attacks are infallible they can whistle loudly as they inflate and deflate their body and if they're provoked they attack and bite  hard although an antidote has been developed against its bite it is estimated that 45% of people die when they don't receive treatment in time

number 6 Black Mamba it is without a doubt the most poisonous snake on the African continent although its powerful venom is not the most toxic the large amount eating checks into a bite is superior to other species of its kind from 1.5 to 1.8 grains of poison on average however it can inject the amazing amount of six grains enough to kill up to 25 people it is also the fastest snake in the world since it can move from 9 to 12 miles per hour so not even Jamaican Huseyin bolt can escape from it the fearsome black mamba can also cast up to 12 bites in a single attack and potentially kill a human being within 20 minutes

number 5 the Taipan snake Australia itself is wild this land is inhabited with the most poisonous snakes in the world the Taipan of the coast is the largest poisonous snake in this continent its record is almost nine point eight feet although the average is 4.9 to 6.5 feet it possesses a highly neurotoxic poison which means that it paralyzes the nervous system and coagulates the blood as a result the wound of the bite never stops bleeding and with only a drop of its poison it can end a life of up to 10 adults and a bite can be enough to kill 50 thousand mice yes 50 thousand since its toxin is between 200 and 400 times more powerful than most rattlesnakes and 50 times more lethal than the venom of a brah the Taipan snake can kill an adult in agony in just 45 minutes if he's not taken to an emergency room and if it reaches the bloodstream directly death would take less than half an hour

number 4 blue crate the blue crate snake is only found in Asia luckily for us this tremendously dangerous and poisonous snake prefers to go hunting at night curiously it has a cannibal diet based on eating snakes smaller than it regardless of whether they are poisonous or not still it tends to seek refuge in sleeping bags tents and boots its poison is sixteen times more powerful than that of a Cobra although at first glance its bite produces a scarce reaction with only local signs of irritation the symptoms are triggered after a quarter or half an hour with swelling spasms blurred vision and respiratory arrest in India it has caused a death rate between 70% and 80% due to its bites don't let its attractive in bright blue color deceive you it is one of the most lethal snakes

number three an Eastern brown snake the Eastern brown snake is the one that unfortunately has claimed more lives in Australia it has the third most deadly poison snake in the world and its movements are extremely fast and aggressive it is estimated that the venom from a bite of the Eastern brown snake is capable of killing up to one hundred humans or something like 250,000 mice but don't panic although the initial bite of an Eastern brown snake is painless and often difficult to detect anyone suspected of being bitten by a snake of this type should seek medical attention without delay this elusive snake has the horrible habit of getting inside houses in Australia while a woman was picking up her son's toys she saw between her son's LEGO City and Eastern brown snake extremely dangerous and deadly this species carries the unfortunate distinction of causing more deaths by bites than any other snake species in Australia although many bites have been the direct result of people trying to kill these snakes which obviously could have been avoided

number two Belcher sea snake can you imagine encountering a poisonous sea snake on the beach the Belcher sea snake lives in tropical areas such as the Indian Ocean and the Pacific it is the most poisonous marine snake species and in addition its poison is up to 100 times more powerful than that of most poisonous terrestrial species even so it is not dangerous for humans because it rarely bites and when it does it doesn't release all its venom however just a small amount of this poison would be enough to kill up to 100 adult men yes you heard right 100 men this species is incredibly deadly from 20 minutes and up to 8 hours later he will begin to feel the common symptoms of poisoning like pain and muscular weakness tongue inflammation eyelid weakness convulsions and later death

number 1 inland Taipan the snake that definitely occupies the first position - the most poisonous snake in the world had to be from Australia coming from the south the inland Taipan possesses the most toxic poison of all terrestrial snakes just like all members of its family the poison has neurotoxic actions causing great inflammation in necrosis in the area of the bite as occurs with snakes this poison is 50 times more powerful than that of the Indian Cobra and 800 times more than that of the rattlesnake one specimen has enough poison to kill a horse in just five minutes and a precise bite is enough for a man to die in only 20 minutes to get a better idea of how lethal it can be it usually kills 80% of its victims with only 0.38 grains of poison so it is important that any time we come across an inland Taipan snake the best thing to do is let it go since if it's disturbed it is more likely that it kills those who disturb it

TOP 10 DEADLIEST SNAKES IN THE WORLD

TOP 10 DEADLIEST SNAKES IN THE WORLD
This is our list of the top 10 deadliest venomous snakes. Keep in mind that the most venomous ones aren’t necessarilly the deadliest ones to humans. There are other factors to consider.

Number 10 The Dubois sea snake

This creature is the most venomous ocean snake. It roams the waters around Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the northern eastern and western coastline of Australia. The live among coral reefs and areas with dence underwater vegetation. It`s a relatively shy creature and it wont attack humans unless provoked. They have flat paddle shaped tails which make them excellent, very fast swimmers. If you found yourself in the water and you really pissed off one of these there`s no way you could get away by swimming, but this is a highly unlikely situation. The reason its only number 10 on our list is the fact that it rarely encounters humans, apart from the occasional fisherman.

Number 9 The Inland Taipan

Remember when I mentioned that venom isn`t the only thing that determines the deadliness of a snake.The Inland Taipan is a perfect example for this. It lives in remote areas of the Australian outback and it`s not aggressive by nature at all. If it came into contact with humans and if it was easy to provoke it would be number one on our list. Why? Because the Inland Taipan, quite simply, posseses the strongest venom of all snakes on the face of the earth. It makes all other snake venoms look like holy water. For example the world`s second most venomous snake has enough venom, on average to kill 58 people in one bite. How many people do you think a Taipan can send to an early grave with the same amount of venom? 289. The first man to capture a Taipan alive, got bitten in the process and died the following day. So, if you go looking for an Inland Taipan, for some reason… bring lots and lots of antivenom. If you don`t you wont have the time to drive to the nearest hospital…..and that will be the end of you. But as I said before, it’s a docile snake and it almost never encounters humans. Thank God for that.

Number 8 The Boomslang

This little green creature is the most skilled climber of all snakes. It can often be found slithering across tree branches looking for it`s favourite meal. Baby birds. This thing literally survives and thrives by raiding nests. Its danger to humans lies in the fact that it`s nearly impossible to spot in dense vegetation, and people who pick fruit in orchards are the most common victims. The other thing one must consider if bitten by a Boomslang is it`s slow acting venom. It could take many, many hours for any symptoms to become noticeable, and many people will just feel relieved, thinking they were bitten by a harmless snake or that it didn`t inject them with any venom whatsoever. Any snake can control its flow of venom accurately. It can choose not to inject it when biting. This is called a dry bite. However, when you do feel the symptoms of the bite, it will most likely be too late. The venom is an insanely strong hemotoxin meaning that it causes internal and external bleeding. People bitten by this thing would start bleeding from the nostrils, the mouth, even the eyes. Internal haemorage would follow soon after…your major organs would bleed heavily… even the brain. Death would occur after hours of agonizing torture.

Number 7 The King Cobra

The longest, and largest venomous snake in the world, the King Cobra is a terrifying site. It can be found in the dense jungles of India, it rarely ventures into human settlements but despite all this, it still claims its fair share of victims. It can grow up to 6 meters in length, and it`s powerfull muscles allow it to extend it`s body vertically, sometimes enough to look a 2 metre tall man in the eye. This allows it to deliver bites to the face and neck, and these are the most difficult to treat and the proximity of the bite wound to the brain and heart make them really, really dangerous. Most snakes can store 100 – 200 mg of venom in their glands and fangs. The king Cobra, in proportion to it`s massive size, can store up to a whopping 600 mg. Only 20 mg are enough to kill an adult. These giant snakes are even known to bite very large animals if they feel threatened by their proximity. Some have even bitten fully grown Indian elephants that died after only 3 hours after envenomation.

Number 6 The Eastern Brown Snake

Found in Australia, this is the second most venomous snake on the planet. Unlike the Inland Taipan, which holds the number one position on the list of toxicity, The Eastern Brown is aggressive, bad tempered, and doesn`t hesitate to enter peoples homes in search of mice and rats, which form the basis of it`s diet. They have been known to chase people out of their houses simply claiming them as their territory and hunting ground. It hunts during the day which makes encounters common, and the only reason why it`s number 6 on our list, is Australia`s efficient distribution of antivenom. Bites from the eastern brown snake are countless and common, but in most cases timely medical assistance prevents otherwise imminent deaths.

Number 5 The Common Krait

Also known as the Blue Krait, or Indian Krait, It is found in the jungles of the Indian subcontinent. It inflicts more bites on people in India than any other snake species. Most snakes strike their prey quickly and then move to a safe distance, letting the venom do it`s work. Not the Krait. It likes to bite and hold on to its victim, giving it more time to pump a lot of venom into it`s body. During the rainy season, they like to take refuge in dry homes, inevitably coming into contact with people. If you get bitten by a Krait while sleeping, there`s a good chance you will never wake up.

Number 4 The Indian Cobra

The Indian Cobra, also known as the Spectacled Cobra due to the characteristic shape on the back of their heads, is another one of india`s fiercest snakes. This particular snake is revered in India`s mythology and is often seen with snake charmers. Most adult specimens grow to lengths of 1 to 1,5 meters, but for some reason, on rare occasions they can grow considerably larger than 2 meters, but only in Sri Lanka. We don`t know why. They like water, and can usually be found near rivers or ponds. The most common bite victims are farmers, especially those working in rice patties. Its venom consists, in part, of cardiotoxins which can, if left untreated, cause respiratory failure or even cardiac arrest.

Number 3 Russel`s Viper

Another native of India, This species encounter and bite people very frequently. They are clever animals who will do whatever they can to warn you to stay away from them. As you approach, they will start to hiss loudly, perhaps louder than any other kind of snake, and they will start clinching their muscles, appearing larger and more menacing. Take a look. They are mostly active at night. If you come across one of them, and you see that it feels threatened by your presence, you might be able to save yourself by running due to them being slugish and slow moving. Provided of course that you don’t venture to close before you spot them Their strikes are lighning fast, far faster than any human reflex. Apparently, this snake has such a fierce reputation within it`s natural enviorment, that other species evolved ways of mimicking it`s appearance, hoping to fool predators into not messing with them. The Rough Scaled Sand Boa, for example, has very similar coloration and skin patterns but can easily be distinguished by the smaller size of its eyes and a somewhat differently shaped head.

Number 2 The Saw Scaled Viper

This tiny cousin of the Russel`s Viper is only made deadlier by its unremarkable size. Their average length is 60 cm, but some adults can be as short as 30. Most people cannot hope to spot them before it`s too late. They are not just small but they also blend easily with their enviorment. The venom of the Saw Scaled viper is 16 times stronger than that of the Russel`s Viper. And it`s very eager to inject it when provoked. And it doesn’t take much to make it mad. It has enormous fangs in proportion to its body. It`s a very widespread species commonly found in Pakistan, India, Iran, The Arabian Peninsula, The Middle East and most of Africa. It has I mean these things are just EVERYWHERE!

Number 1 The Black Mamba

This is the most feared snake in the world. And for good reason too. It`s the most aggressive snake on the planet, regularly biting even professional snake handlers, it has huge fangs, deadly venom, and it strikes with deadly precision. It’s the second longest venomous snake in the world behind the King Cobra. It`s also the world`s fastest snake. It moves faster than most people can run and it is possible that one would start chasing you if it felt you were trespassing in its territory In a threat display, the Mamba usually opens its inky black mouth, spreads its narrow neck-flap and sometimes hisses. It is capable of striking at considerable range and occasionally may deliver a series of bites in rapid succession. Most snakes consider one bite to be enough but not the Black Mamba. It has been known to strike 5 or even 7 times in quick succession. They never deliver dry bites to their victims and before antivenom, the mortality rate was 100%.

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TOP 10 DEADLIEST SNAKES NOT TO MESS WITH

TOP 10 DEADLIEST SNAKES NOT TO MESS WITH
For this installment, we count down deadly snakes with a nasty tendency to strike fear into man. Due to many countries not keeping accurate records of snake related fatalities and conflicting websites on how potent venom is in certain species, we were unable to compile a list of the "most deadly snake" or "most venomous" snakes - so, here is our pick of deadly snakes we wouldn't want to mess with.

10. Reticulated Python
These massive reptiles inhabit most countries in the India and Vietnam region, and some of the islands and island chains of southeast Asia. This python-type holds the record for longest snake held in captivity, some reaching over 30 feet or 9 meters in length in the wild. Reticulated Pythons are excellent swimmers, often going far from shore if needed, but prefer to stay close to the water as it is their main hunting ground. They have been known to climb trees, though rarely, as they prefer to live on the ground. While not venomous and seldom using their bite to kill, these massive snakes will latch on to pray, then wrap their body around it, slowly constricting its victim to death. They've been known to eat monkeys, pigs, deer, and on occasion, humans. Though the breed is rather timid when kept as pets, we wouldn't want to run into this type of snake in the wild.

9. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Being the largest venomous snake in North America, reaching up to 8 feet or 2 meters in length, these Diamondback Rattlesnakes are normally seen between North Carolina and Florida, and west to Louisiana. When provoked, these snakes can be very aggressive and deadly. Their first attempt to ward off potential predators is to feverishly rattle their tails, and if that doesn't work, they will raise their anterior half off the ground in an S-shaped Coil. They can extend 1/3 of their length to strike and often more than once. If needed, they will stand their ground, but if given the opportunity, will retreat towards safety. Eastern Diamondbacks deliver large quantities of potent venom when they strike, which will cause intense internal pain, bleeding at the bite site, hypo-tension, and swelling, and a high risk of death. Left untreated, roughly 10%-20% of people will die to a single bite from this breed.

8. King Cobra
These cobras can reach 18 feet or 5 meters in length, and can stare you directly in the eyes when they raise 1/3 of their body off the ground in confrontation. They are the longest venomous snake in the world, residing in India, southern China, and Southeast Asia. They feast predominately on other snakes, and are the only known snake to build nests for their eggs, which they will guard viciously. When cornered or threatened, they become aggressive, and while their venom isn't the most potent, they can deliver enough neurotoxin to kill 20 people, or take down an elephant with ease. Although the King Cobra has brethren, like the Philippine cobra who can spit their venom up to 10 feet or 3 meters, or the Indian Cobra in South Asia, we found that the uniqueness of the King Cobra and potential menacing figure wins hands down.

7. Jararaca Fer-de-Lance
Also known as the Brazilian Pit Viper, the Jararacas can grow up to 4 feet or 1 meter in length and its geographic home includes Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina, and Northeastern Paraguay, which includes populated areas. Hunting during the night and hiding during the day, these snakes can deliver a venom package lethal enough to easily kill a human. Envenomation will cause necrosis, blistering, and bleeding of the skin, gums, and nose. These symptoms combined with others that it causes can lead to shock, renal failure, brain hemorrhage, and death. For its region of habitat, Jararacas will encounter humans regularly and are still responsible for most snakebites in the region.

6. Russell's Viper
This snake makes its home in the Indian subcontinent and surrounding countries such as Nepal, Thailand and Bangladesh, preferring the open country rather than densely forested areas. Russell's Viper snakes are primarily nocturnal and often found near human dwellings and farms in search of easy prey. Somewhat slow and sluggish, these snakes get aggressive when pushed beyond their tolerances, raising off the ground, hissing loudly as forewarning. If this snake does strike, it could hang on for a few seconds instead of snapping back quickly. They inject a fairly high amount of venom, that often causes blistering and swelling, vomiting, dizziness and bleeding from open orifices such as the gums. Those who survive a bite, a third of them, later in life, will suffer from failing pituitary glands. Russell's Viper snakes earn their rank in the "Big Four", which is a group of four venomous snakes that have caused the most human snakebite cases in South Asia.

5. Blue Krait
This snake is known by a variety of names, including the Common Krait, Indian Krait, or Malayan Krait, and is also part of the "Big Four". They are mainly found around India, from Pakistan to the West Bengal plains, and Sri Lanka. They prefer areas with close proximity to water, such as rice fields and dams. The Blue Krait isn't even blue, but instead has black and white bands alternating down the length of its body. It often uses the cover of night, and aren't even considered very aggressive, being more considered shy than anything else. So why has it made its place on our list, you ask? 50% of all bites resulting from the Blue Krait result in death, even with anti-venom. The venom it injects is neurotoxic, which attacks the nervous system and shuts it down, resulting most often in the victim going into a coma or dying from suffocation. Death usually results in an agonizing 12 to 24 hours from initial bite.

4. Eastern Brown Snake
Also known as the Australian Brown or Common Brown snake, they can be found inhabiting the eastern half of Australia, except Tasmania, and a few have been spotted in Eastern Papua New Guinea. These reptiles are diurnal, meaning they are most active in the day, then return to their burrows at night after hunting and scavenging. Eastern Brown snakes are extremely agile and fast, and because of their daytime excursions and habitats, including some of the most populated parts of Australia, are often encountered by humans. They are the 2nd most venomous snake in the world, but have shorter fangs than most other snake species, only reaching 3 millimeters in length, allowing them to only inject small amounts of venom into its prey. They are considered to be one of the deadliest snakes in Australia.

3. Saw Scaled Viper
Also apart of the Big Four group, the Saw Scaled Viper ranks number 3 on our list due to its irritable, aggressive nature, lethal venom, and commonality as its habitat is in close proximity to people. Primarily nocturnal, they can be seen late evenings in arid regions and dry savannas north of the equator, including Africa, Arabia, southwestern Asia to India, and also Sri Lanka. Normally slow, Saw Scaled Vipers can employ a side-winding maneuver for faster movement and as it moves, oblique scales rub against each other to produce a hissing sound to ward off predators. They are, however, quick to strike if disturbed, releasing a hemotoxic venom that destroys red blood cells, and causes tissue damage and organ failure. Mortality rates for those bitten are high, and although anti-venom is effective along with medical attention, the Saw Scaled Viper is believed to be responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined.

2. Coastal Taipan
While most would have the Inland Taipan on  their lists due to its venom being more potent, we feel that the Coastal Taipan wins over both it's cousins, including the Papuan Taipan, due to its more aggressive nature when cornered. This snake can be found predominately on the island of New Guinea and along the coastal regions of northern and southern Australia, but have been known to go further inland where temperatures do not go below 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. Coastal Taipans are rated to have the 3rd most toxic venom in the world, only closely behind the Inland Taipan and the Eastern Brown, which contains a neurotoxin that paralyses the nerves of the heart, lungs and diaphragm, and also a powerful myotoxin, which destroys muscle tissue. When cornered or while hunting, this Taipan has been known to deliver several strikes before retreating.

1. Black Mamba
Making the top of our list, the Black Mamba is the fastest land snake in the world, reaching speeds of 12.5 miles or 20 kilometers per hour, and when combined with its lethal venom and nervous demeanor it could spell disaster for any unsuspecting prey. To top it off, they are highly aggressive when threatened and will strike multiple times in a short time-span, releasing a cocktail of neuro and cardiotoxin into the bloodstream. Contrary to what their name would suggest, Black Mambas actually range in color from olive to a greyish tone and get their name from the inside of their mouths, which is a deep, inky black. They are mostly observed residing in the rocky hills and savannas of southern and eastern Africa and can get to 14 feet or 4 meters in length. They like low, open spaces to sleep, which include burrows, hollow trees, rock crevices, or abandoned termite mounds. The bite from this snake was 100% lethal before the advancement of Black Mamba anti-venom, but can still kill within 20 minutes of its initial strike if not treated. Any snake that can cause so much fear, that the African people gave it the nickname "The Kiss of Death", deserves to be respected.

TOP 10 MOST VENOMOUS ANIMALS ON EARTH

TOP 10 MOST VENOMOUS ANIMALS ON EARTH
Don’t you just love animals? Cute and cuddly little creatures that you can’t help but nuzzle? Yeah, well, if you tried that with any of these beasts of nature... you’d probably be dead. We’re leaving the snuggly world of lovable fluff behind to warn you of the world's ten most venomous animals!

10. Indian Red Scorpion

His friends know him as Hottentotta tamulus. You can call him Indian Red Scorpion, the Toxic Terror! This Arthropoda, which can grow up to 3.5-inches long (90 mm), can be found skittering about the lands of India, eastern Pakistan, the lowlands of Nepal, and, rarely, in Sri Lanka, terrorizing anyone that crosses its path with a dangerous, bulbous stinger. One sting from the Indian Red Scorpion can lead to a plethora of uncomfortable symptoms, including vomiting, cyanosis, shortness of breath, cardiac dysrhythmia, shock, hypertension, priapism, loss of consciousness, and death. In clinical studies, the mortality rate of envenomation has been reported anywhere between 8% and 40%.

9. Funnel-Web Spider

Though the venom from the Australian funnel-web spider was recently linked to the possible prevention of brain damage from strokes, it’s ill-advised to run out and give one of these Atracinae a hug. Thanks to the introduction of an anti-venom, the death rate from envenomation has dropped drastically, but it’s still best to avoid their path. While you may not die, a bite from the funnel-web can cause sweating, twitching, elevated heart rate and  blood pressure, vomiting, confusion, metabolic acidosis, hypertension, unconsciousness, and shortness of breath. It’s no picnic, which is why the male funnel-web replaced the Brazilian wandering spider as the most dangerous arachnid.

8. Boomslang

Though its name is quirky and fun to say, the venomous boomslang from Sub-Saharan Africa is far less enjoyable than its moniker. It is one of few members of the Colubridae family that is harmful to humans, thanks to its larger fangs and venom glands. While it’s common for venom to attack the nervous and respiratory systems, that of the boomslang is a hemotoxin that impedes the coagulation of blood in its victim. Along with a headache, sleepiness, and nausea, a boomslang bite can cause hemorrhaging in vital parts of the body. Even with the administration of an anti-venom, it’s possible that a patient may require a complete blood transfusion to survive the bite.

7. Coastal Taipan

Known for being the world’s sixth most venomous snake, the coastal taipan or common taipan carries an unpleasant dose of taicatoxin, or a neurotoxin that hinders the ability of blood to clot. Within minutes of being bitten, victims can experience convulsions, internal bleeding, nausea and vomiting, deterioration of muscle, and kidney failure, all leading to death within 30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. There is no surviving the bite of the coastal taipan if left untreated, as it delivers a dosage 1,000x the amount needed to kill the average adult human. Up until 1956, when an anti-venom was introduced by the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, anyone bitten by a common taipan likely prepared for an uncomfortable death.

6. Cone Snail

Most of us know snails as a delicious cuisine but the people of the Western Indo-Pacific region, the Cape coast of South Africa, the Mediterranean, and even southern California may recognize snails as a troubling, albeit beautiful, predatory mollusk capable of envenoming and killing humans. The most predominant feature of the cone snail is its outer shell, which is attractive enough to be sought for jewelry or collection. Shell collectors heed caution, however, as the harpoon-like sting of this snail can lead to excruciating pain, paralysis, and respiratory failure. On the plus side, the snail’s venom has been implemented in trials for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy.

5. Irukandji Jellyfish

Ranging from a few centimeters to one meter in length (1 inch to 3 feet) and 4 mm wide, the Irukandji jellyfish from Australia’s eastern coast may be the tiniest creature to grace this list. Despite its size, the Irukandji is best known for having its own syndrome. A sting from this oceanic critter’s tentacles leads to muscle cramps, severe pain in the back and kidneys, burning skin, vomiting, and increased heart rate. Amidst all this, the venom can also lead to death, but typically results in psychological alterations, which may make an otherwise happy person feel morose. The death count attributed to the Irukandji is skewed as it’s unclear how many are misattributed to other incidents.

4. Dubois Sea Snake

Aipysurus duboisii, or the Dubois’sea snake is endemic to Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and, of course, the coastal regions of Australia. Found in depths of around 262 feet (80 meters) in coral reefs, you’re unlikely to happen across this slithery serpent on land, making it easier to avoid the unpleasant effects on the nervous system from a bite of this otherwise docile creature. In lab tests, the venom of this sea snake killed mice with an injection of only .44 mg/kg of the rodent’s body weight, earning it the title of the most venomous sea snake and second most venomous snake in the world behind… well, you’ll see.

3. Blue-Ringed Octopus

A favorite amongst the Archive team, the blue-ringed octopus is a stunning creature – both visually and physically. While the coloring of the octopus makes it look like a docile creature, its venomous bite distributes a tetrodotoxin vital in the tiny creature’s survival and feeding. This 8-inch (20 cm) Octopoda carries enough venom to kill 26 adults as even the tiniest of nips can cause total body paralysis. It’s fairly easy to not tick off this eight-tentacled wonder, but in case you need a warning, the blue-ringed octopus is known to change its color to bright yellow and flash its blue rings when threatened.

2. Inland Taipan Snake

If you thought the coastal taipan was a beast, let us introduce you to its land-based cousin, the inland taipan. Just one bite from this east-Australian terror is estimated to pack enough venom to kill 100 adult males or over 250,000 mice! As the inland taipan is indigenous to remote regions, it hasn’t been connected to many deaths, but it would take only 45 minutes from envenomation for a grown person to perish. The taipan’s cocktail of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, nephrotoxins and mycotoxins can lead to multi-organ failure preceded by dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, and convulsions.

1. Box Jellyfish

Harmless and quite squishy looking, the box jellyfish, or sea wasp, sports 15 tentacles, each reaching upwards of 10 feet long (3 meters) and equipped with 5,000 stinging cells. The most fatal of the box jellyfish species is the Chironex fleckeri, which carries a venom potent enough to kill a grown adult within a few minutes. Once envenomed, the jellyfish’s prey may suffer from nervous system damage and, if not treated right away, can go into cardiac arrest.

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