Goliath birdeaters defend themselves by kicking off clouds of barbed urticating hairs from the abdomen — they cause intense itching and respiratory irritation in mammals.
Asian giant hornet venom contains mandaratoxin, a peptide that can dissolve human tissue at the sting site.
Guinness lists Phoneutria as the most venomous spider on Earth — toxicity measured per microgram of venom.
Brown recluse venom contains sphingomyelinase D — a tissue-destroying enzyme that produces 'loxoscelism' lesions that take weeks to heal.
Deathstalker venom is the most expensive liquid on Earth — extraction yields are tiny and lab prices reach $39 million per gallon.
Fire ant stings cause distinctive pustules and intense burning — the venom is unique in being almost entirely alkaloid (solenopsin), not protein.
A centipede's front pair of legs aren't legs — they're modified into venom-injecting fangs called forcipules.
