Toxic Creatures

It's hard to believe but some people keep aggressive and dangerous deathstalker scorpions as pets. Readers learn where this arachnid lives, what it likes to eat, the power of its venom, what medical science has done with this venom to treat patients, and why it lives up to its terrifying name.

The puzzling thing about the pufferfish or blowfish is that it is highly toxic yet some people consider it a delicacy. That can make for a dangerous dinner. This book describes how the spikey fish got its name, how it fights off predators, where it lives, the strength of its toxins, and how a skilled chef can render it safe to eat.

The Australian box jellyfish is the most venomous animal in the oceans, with the capability to kill a human in minutes. There are about fifty species of box jellyfish. Readers learn where they live, how they eat, how they strike, what happens when one stings you, and what creature is immune to its powerful poison.

The poison dart frog is a colorful creature with a colorful history. Readers learn the ways man has used this amphibian, which is one of the most toxic creatures on earth, for good and for evil. They will also discover its lifecycle, where it lives, how it creates its poison, what it eats, and what eats it.

The blue-ringed octopus is a tiny terror, and is one of the world's most venomous creatures. Readers find out where it lives, how it develops, how it warns predators, what it eats, and if there is any hope for someone unfortunate enough to be bitten by one.

The boomslang snake is shy and not aggressive, but one bite from this highly venomous creature leads to a horrible death. This books describes how the poison affects its victims, where this large snake lives, how it hunts and hides, and why it wasn't considered dangerous to humans until one unfortunate incident.