Adder's Fork and Blind-Worm's Sting Quiz

Answer: stonefish

Related to the beautiful lionfish, the stonefish (Synanceja verrucosa) is the most venomous of all fishes. As its name implies, its squat body and gray, mottled skin make it look like a rock - meaning that many an unwitting bather has stepped upon its needle-like dorsal spines, with devastating results. Tough its powerful neurotoxin can be fatal, the most common outcome of a stonefish sting is excruciating pain, which can be relieved by applying vinegar or moderate heat to the affected part. Like other deadly sea creatures, stonefish are found in northern Australia and the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific (where they are sometimes used as food, as their flesh is reportedly quite tasty).

Answer: black widow

Named after the habit of the female to make a meal of the male after mating, the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) is native to the North American continent. Other species of the Latrodectus genus are found in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia (where they are known as redbacks). Typically black in colour, these smallish spiders are distinguished by the red, hourglass-shaped markings on their abdomen.

While the black widow's bite is generally very painful, as it causes severe muscle pains and cramps that can last for days, it is rarely life-threatening to healthy humans, though of course it can be a hazard to children or pets. Only the females (which are considerably larger than the males) bite, but are generally not aggressive unless trapped or threatened.

However, it is better to give these spiders a wide berth - which is not always easy, because black widows live in close proximity to people, and can be found in highly populated areas.

Answer: Portuguese man o'war

The Atlantic Portuguese man o'war (Physalia physalis) gets its name from its distinctive appearance, which is reminiscent of an 18th-century warship at full sail. Though often associated with jellyfish, it is not a single organism, but rather a colony of animals called polyps.

Its gas-filled bladder floats on the surface of the ocean, while its tentacles (which can reach a length of over 30 m/98 ft) extend underwater. The tentacles can sting even when detached from the main organism; they often remain stuck to the skin, and leave long red welts.

The Portuguese man o'war's very painful sting, though hardly ever fatal in itself, can have serious secondary effects (such as swelling of the larynx). The pain of the sting may be relieved by applying vinegar or ammonia.

Answer: Komodo dragon

The largest existing lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is a member of the monitor family. It lives exclusively on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Flores, Rinca, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami (which are all part of Komodo National Park). An adult specimen can reach 3 m (9.8 ft), and weigh up to 70 kg (150 lb). For a long time it was believed that the Komodo dragon's saliva contained so many highly toxic bacteria strains that their victims would die of infection after being bitten. Now, however, evidence has been found that those huge lizards possess actual venom glands (though not all scientists agree on this): the venom, which prevents blood from clotting, compounds the action of their shark-like, serrated teeth, causing victims to go into shock and quickly bleed to death. Though many reports of attacks on humans are quite likely to have been exaggerated, Komodo dragons are large, powerful animals that can become aggressive, and are best left alone.

Answer: Asian giant hornet

As its name implies, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is huge (up to 45 mm/1.8 in) and feared for its potent venom and aggressive nature - so much that it has been given the colloquial name of yak-killer hornet. A native of Eastern Asia, it is the largest member of the wasp family, and an active predator, especially of honey bees. Japanese beekeepers have to implement a number of different strategies to defend their hives from these dangerous animals, whose venom kills 30-40 people a year in Japan, and probably even more in China and neighbouring countries. Fatalities are mostly due to anaphylactic shock or cardiac arrest.

Answer: black mamba

A denizen of sub-Saharan Africa, the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is one of the most dangerous snakes alive. Grey to dark brown in colour (the "black" in its common name refers to the inside of its mouth), it is a large, relatively slender-bodied snake that grows to lengths of 3 m (9.8 ft) and over.

Its head has been rather fittingly described as "coffin-shaped", since the black mamba's neurotoxic venom is so powerful that it can cause death in under an hour if antivenom is not administered promptly.

This, coupled with its lightning speed and unpredictable temper, contributes to its reputation as the deadliest snakes in Africa - though black mamba bites, compared with those of other snakes (such as the carpet viper and the puff adder) are rare.

Answer: Arabian fat-tailed scorpion

Androctonus crassicauda means "fat-tailed man-killer", and the Arabian fat-tailed scorpion is indeed one of the most dangerous members of the scorpion family.
Quite common throughout the Middle East and North Africa, this large, mostly black scorpion is generally active at night, and often found in ruined buildings. During military operations in Iraq, it was considered one of the main wildlife hazards for troops operating in desert areas. The Arabian fat-tailed scorpion's venom is potentially fatal to humans, though fortunately antivenom has been available for a number of years.

Answer: platypus

Although "venomous" is not a word most people would associate with mammals, a few of them possess venom glands. The best-known of these rare creatures is the duck-billed platypus (Ornythorhyncus anatinus) of Australia, a member of the order Monotremata (egg-laying mammals). Though both males and females are born with ankle spurs on their hind legs, only the males keep them in adulthood.

The venom (which is probably a weapon used against rivals in the mating season) is powerful enough to kill small animals, but is not lethal to humans - though reportedly the sting of one of these fascinating creatures can be extremely painful, and cause extensive swelling.

Answer: cone snail

All cone snails (family Conidae) are venomous, and a few of them can be lethal, so they need to be handled with great care (if at all) to prevent their harpoon-like sting from penetrating the skin. The largest species (such as Conus geographus, the geography cone) are the most dangerous, and have caused a number of human fatalities. Cone snails live mostly in tropical marine environments, and are highly prized for their beautiful patterned shells.

The venom of some Conus species (in particular Conus magus, the magical cone) has been used for medical purposes, such as the creation of painkillers and other drugs for the treatment of number of serious conditions.

Answer: Russell's viper

The Russell's viper, or daboia (Daboia russelii, from a Hindi word meaning "the lurker") is a member of the "big four", the snakes responsible for the most snakebite incidents in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is an aggressive snake with a wide distribution, often found in densely populated areas, where it poses a hazard to people working outside.

This snake's plentiful venom causes blood clotting (thrombosis), and is often fatal if the bite is not treated in time. Though the snake in Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" bears the invented name of "swamp adder", it has been identified by some with the Russell's viper because of the distinctive dark spots on its body.