It’s actually amazing the amount of animals out there that can put some serious hurt on a body. Whether they bite, sting, or are simply too poisonous to eat, they or their stereotypes can be passed on to mess with future generations of characters.

Now there is a difference in the type of damage you can slap characters with. There are the poisons that cause a certain amount of damage… and then there’s sensitivity. Sensitivity is what turns a minor swelling into a throat-closing fatal incident. Sensitivity can turn a spider bite into a twelve-inch diameter hole in someone’s thigh. Sensitivity can turn a light brush with a caterpillar’s fuzz into a life-threatening situation. When sensitivity had the risk of being fatal, it is usually called an allergy. Anything non-fatal stays a sensitivity.

So if you have a bite, sting, or anything that gets past the skin, even microscopically, the GM should role for the existence of sensitivity in the character, and then for how severe of a reaction the character could have (light, medium, severe). In fact, for those game settings that have weaknesses or disadvantages built in, “sensitivity/allergy” is an ideal one to choose.

There are some animals listed here that have the other method of killing you—by parasite. Truth is, any bite, or even a well-scratched sting, can get infected with bacteria. Not as much will be emphasized in this section—just the basics—since I think most of the diseases you can contract would be under a medical article. We’ll just mention if there’s a high risk of infection and what kind as we go.

Treating Toxins in Roleplaying Games

One thing that really stands out: toxins from animal poisonings generally cause respiratory arrest when they kill. Artificial respiration becomes necessary at that point… which means in the roleplaying game hack & slash world, they’re going to die. Not only that, but even magic healing potions shouldn’t be able to save them, since they heal the current damage but usually don’t deactivate the venom still coursing through the victim. It would require multiple (like continuous gallons) of healing potion and at that point you might as well let the victim die and use a resurrection potion—it’s cheaper.

What the characters really need is anti-venom. Now, real anti-venom isn’t so easy to come by; it’s available to hospitals and usually is very specific as to what venoms are counteracted. It is my proposition that there be special potions that are not healing potions so much as anti-venom potions geared toward specific creatures (magic or otherwise) in an area. In order to make the special potion, one would need a sample of that particular venom to start and then a fairly difficult magic working to create the anti-venom. These potions should be fairly expensive if available in a town, but available if a particularly poisonous beastie is known as being in the area.

In terms of healing spells, again, the usually healing spell should just temporarily restore the victim, but neither negate the venom still in the person or prevent any future symptoms from occurring. UNLESS, the person performing the healing spell is really good AND announces that he or she is targeting the venom itself. At that point it should be as difficult a roll as deserved for targeting something so miniscule in the body, but if should be possible for a very skilled magic-user. Divine intervention is just about the only other way a group can save a character.

Venomous Killers

These animals sting, bite, or chew, getting the venom inside their victim via a wound.

Widow Spiders

There are about 31 species of widows out there worldwide, the black widow being the most famous. There is an equine-derived anti-venom available nowadays. Many, but not all, widow spiders have a red marking or pattern on them (an hourglass in the black widow and a few other species). The venom, called latrotoxin, is a neurotoxin that spreads rapidly through the body.

Symptoms: Divided into three phases. In the exacerbation phase there is severe pain in the muscle groups surrounding the bite, plus muscle cramping, headache, dizziness tremors, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, tearing of the eyes, joint pain, tachycardia, bradycardia, hypertension, and hyperventilation. Renal failure, paralysis, shock, coma, and death can occur readily in the first stage. In the dissipation face, one to three days after the bite, the symptoms start to fade. Then, in the residual phase lasting weeks or months, the victim continues to suffer muscle spasms, tingling, nervousness, and weakness.

Treatment: In the modern era, the person gets anti-venom. Although death is rare in healthy individuals, complications can occur and worsen quickly. Young children are at the highest risk for death. Treatment is symptomatic using pain medications, muscle relaxants, and the antivenom.

RPG Care: Magic will take care of the symptoms at a +2 Disadvantage. Another healing spell/potion will take care of the rest of the venom to keep the symptoms from coming back.

Blue-ringed Octopus

Consist of three or four species that live in tidal pools from Japan to Australia. The tetrodotoxin, identical to that found in pufferfish and cone snails, is created by the bacteria living in the octopus’s salivary glands.

Symptoms: Due to the octopus’s small size the bite is often painless and unidentified until symptoms start. The toxin blocks sodium channels, causing rapid motor paralysis and respiratory arrest. Patient often remains conscious.

Treatment: Pressure on wound, artificial respiration until the poison fades from the body. Takes a few hours for the paralysis to wear off. Being bitten alone is a death sentence. There is no anti-venom available.

RPG Care: Because artificial respiration is generally a nonentity in most fantasy roleplaying, the first aid will be useless. For all appearances the person will stop breathing although the heartbeat continues. Magic is at a major disadvantage (+3) due to intensity of paralysis. Perhaps a good roll allows the person to start breathing briefly (and tell people he’s having trouble again in a few minutes before being overwhelmed by paralysis). Perhaps the magic-user needs to state what he or she is trying to repair.

Brown Recluse

Also known as the violin spider for the pattern on its back, the brown recluse doesn’t necessarily have to be brown, but is usually identified because it only has three pairs of eyes. Native in North America from the southern Midwest to the East down to the Gulf of Mexico, although occasionally species hitchhike north or west. A separate species lives in Hawaii. Bites are not often felt and due to the non-aggressive nature of the spider, the bites are usually caused by the spider sleeping in undisturbed clothing and getting caught between cloth and skin.

Symptoms: Most bites are minor. However there is a one in three chance (convenient for dice-rolling) that necrosis will occur. Even in cases of necrotic symptoms, most are small lesions of the skin. In those rare instances (one in seven… call it one in six), the bite causes a range of symptoms known as loxoscelism. There are two types of loxoscelism: cutaneous (skin) and (systemic). When both occur due to a bite, the systemic effects are seen first. Cutaneous symptoms occur more frequently than systemic symptoms and include necrosis, an ulcer that destroys soft tissue and can take months to heal. These bites usually become itchy and painful in two to eight hours, pain and local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite and the necrosis begins after a few days. In extreme cases, the wound can grow over 25 cm in diameter and the damage tissue becomes gangrenous and sloughs away. Systemic symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, muscle and joint pain. In severe reactions (the venom reaches an artery), both forms of loxoscelism occur, also causing hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, organ damage, and death.

Treatment: Ice pack for inflammation, aloe vera, or a lotion for the pain. For necrosis elevation and immobilization of affected limb, ice, wound care, tetanus shot. Many other treatments have been tried with some varying degrees of success but in most cases the wound heals on its own.

RPG Care: This is a fun poison. Roll to see if there is a reaction… roll to see how severe. Hit them up with the itching and pain and then, a few days later, portions of their skin fall off. In terms of first aid, be very specific: first aid for the pain? Great, easy fix. First aid for systemic reactions? No problem. The venom is still working however and there will need to be additional rolls for wound care in a few days. If using magic spells, the clever magic user can concentrate on the venom rather than the symptom and possibly prevent necrosis. Make it a Difficult roll, however, for being so specific.

Cone Snail

Predatory sea snails, mostly tropical in distribution, capable of using modified teeth to deliver poison to prey. The harpoon-like tooth is fired from the proboscis by a powerful muscle contraction and is used to paralyze fish. There is always a dart stored in the snail and it can be used for self-defense. All cone snails contain an arsenal of these darts and they can be fired in any direction, including backwards. Multiple toxins, called conotoxins, cause a variety of symptoms. Some snails contain tetrodotoxin, also found in pufferfish.

Symptoms: Most of the cones that hunt worms rather than fish will not cause a severe enough reaction in humans to warrant intervention, no worse than a hornet sting. In cases of larger species of cone snails that hunt fish, the harpoon can penetrate gloves or a wetsuit and the venom causes intense localized pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, and vomiting. The symptoms can start progressing rapidly, or there can be a couple of days before onset. Severe cases include muscle paralysis, changes in vision, and respiratory failure leading to death.

Treatment: No anti-venom available. Treatment includes life support until venom is metabolized by victim.

RPG Care: Giant snails coming out of the sea and firing meter-long harpoons at people to eat them. What a GREAT story idea. In terms of care of the ones of normal size, small ones will not require care but decent-sized or fish-eating varieties will require divine or magic intervention to survive, since artificial respiration is a little wonky.

Copperhead

The copperhead usually refers to a pit viper found in North America and the genus includes the cottonmouth, which will also be discussed here. Other snakes known as “copperhead” include a genus from Australia and New Zealand, and another, the Chinese copperhead, found in Southeast Asia. The copperhead of North America can grow to be a meter long; the cottonmouth can get as long as 180 cm. It favors deciduous forests and mixed woodland, with rocky outcroppings, but is also seen in swamps. The cottonmouth generally lives in the Southeastern United States and is semi-aquatic, capable of even swimming in the sea. An ambush predator, the browns of the copperhead’s coloring camouflage it readily in dead leaves. Cottonmouths starts out with similar coloring to copperheads but grow darker with age until they are near black. When a larger animal approaches the copperhead will freeze rather than flee; many bites occur from unwitting passers-by stepping on them. The Cottonmouth will stand its ground and bare its fangs aggressively.

Symptoms: Bites of copperheads are almost never fatal. Estimated lethal dose is around 100 mg. Copperheads will employ a “dry bite” as a warning, with little or no venom at all. Bite symptoms include intense pain, tingling, throbbing, swelling, and severe nausea. Respiratory distress in moderate cases. In severe cases there is also vomiting, diaphoresis, sinus tachycardia, and hypotension possible leading to arrest. Damage can occur to muscle and bone tissue, especial when the bite occurs in the outer extremities. Can be fatal in large enough doses, especially when multiple snakes are involved. Allergic reaction and secondary infection are possible.

The bite of the cottonmouth is more serious with a greater venom yield. It also contains more tissue-destroying enzymes. Unless the victim has an allergic reaction, however, the bite from a cottonmouth is almost never systemic. The bite causes severe pain, swelling, and bruising, with possible formation of blisters and necrosis. The tissue destruction is extensive, however.

Treatment: Anti-venom available but likely to cause allergic reaction therefore not used often with copperhead bites. Pain management, antibiotics, and medical supervision proper course. In the case of cottonmouths, generally the anti-venom is used to stop the severe proteolytic reaction destroying the soft tissues.

RPG Care: Generally non-fatal but roll for allergic reaction. Also, secondary infection can readily occur with the right environment. Other than that, with no antivenom available, the venom will have to be neutralized with magic. Otherwise first aid will treat the symptoms as they arise.

King Cobra

The world’s longest venomous snake, with lengths over five meters. Widespread throughout forests in Southeast Asia and parts of India, the snake is generally fierce, agile, and deadly. The strike distance can reach two meters. The venom is both neurotoxic and cardiotoxic. The King Cobra is capable of injecting a large amount of venom through its half-inch fangs delivering between 380 to 600 mg in a bite, which could down an adult elephant.

Symptoms: Severe pain, blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness, and paralysis, which progresses to cardiovascular collapse, coma, and death from respiratory failure.

Treatment: There are two types of anti-venom, neither of which is widely available.

RPG Care: Divine intervention or a major spell-casting or heal-all potion.

Notes: Female Burmese snake charmers often use king cobras for their snake-charming shows.

Scorpion

There are over 1700 species, 25 of which with venom powerful enough to kill humans. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, and nearly every biome except tundra. Scorpions were introduced via trade routes to Great Britain, New Zealand, and some of the Oceania islands. In general scorpions are not aggressive. All scorpions have venom in their stingers suitable for paralyzing or killing prey; the 25 most poisonous genera are in the same family, Buthidae. Buthus is found from Spain to the Middle East, Parabuthus from western to southern Africa, Mesobuthus throughout Asia, Buthotus from southern Africa to southeast Asia, Tityus in Central and South America and the Caribbeans, Leiurus in northern Africa and the Middle East, and Androctonus from northern Africa to Southeast Asia. Centruroides live from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Any of these scorpions can be transported with luggage or cargo. The highest mortality rate is in Mexico at 1000 deaths a year, but the venom of Androctonus and Leiurus are most toxic. Keepers of the more deadly varieties can be held accountable and charged with negligent manslaughter. Symptoms: Pain and paresthesias, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, hypersalivation, muscle spasms, hyperthermia, hypertension or hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory arrest common cause of fatality. Stings close to arteries or veins have immediate effects, subcutaneous or intramuscular routes take several minutes to an hour. Maximum severity of symptoms in five hours. Symptoms generally persist for 10 to 48 hours. A false recovery followed by complete collapse is common.

Treatment: Symptomatic, artificial respiration.

RPG Care: Symptomatic first aid not that helpful. If a major first aid magic spell or potion is taken immediately after sting, lessen it to nonfatal; otherwise, divine intervention and multiple major magic workings over the course of the next 24 hours.

Sea Snakes

Evolved from terrestrial snakes, sea snakes have adapted to living almost exclusively in the water. Generally, all 62 species live in tropical waters in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They do not have gills but have developed paddle-like tails. The largest can reach three meters long. The sea kraits are the only sea snakes still capable of going on land. There are two landlocked freshwater forms, found in Lake Taal of the Philippines and Lake Te Nggano on Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands. Most sea snakes are not aggressive with individuals more likely to bite than species. It is rare for much venom to be injected per bite so human fatality is rare.

Symptoms: Usually painless and may not be noticed when bitten. Teeth are sometimes left within the wound. There is usually little or no swelling and nearby lymph nodes are rarely affected. When envenomation does occur, headache, a thick-feeling tongue, thirst, sweating, and vomiting are the first symptoms. After 30 minutes to several hours, generalized aching, stiffening, tenderness, and tetanic spasms of muscles occur. What follows is paralysis and a rapid breakdown of the nearby skeletal muscle tissue. Paralysis of muscles involved in swallowing and respiration can be fatal. The muscle breakdown causes acute renal failure and severe hyperkalemia after 6 to 12 hours, resulting in cardiac arrest.

Treatment: Sea Snake or tiger Snake Anti-venom to stop breakdown of tissues. All other symptoms (i.e. artificial respiration) treated as they occur.

RPG Care: Without divine intervention or a major magic working, it will probably be fatal. A healing potion might reduce some effects, but the venom works over several hours.

Sea Wasp (Box Jellyfish)

Considered the most lethal jellyfish in the world. The most infamous deadly species are found mostly in the tropical Indo-Pacific, although lesser known or nonlethal box jellyfish can be found in the Atlantic and East Pacific as far north as California, the Mediterranean, and Japan. The sting of some only cause short-lived itching and mild pain. Others, like the sea wasp, is lethal and has tentacles up to three meters long, which can be contracted to 15 cm long, so it can appear a lot smaller and more easily avoided until it stretches out. Being stung by one of the hundreds of thousands of microscopic darts is excruciatingly pain, and you won’t be stung by just one. If the sting area is significant (three meters’ worth of tentacles), death can come as quickly as three minutes.

Symptoms: Excruciating pain followed by intense burning, as tentacles with adhere to the skin. Venom affects the skin, heart, and nervous system simultaneously. Rapid necrosis affects the skin; the pain can last for weeks and leave scars. Difficulty breathing and swallowing is followed by cardiac arrhythmias and then cardiorespiratory arrest. Cardiac arrest can occur in three minutes, but any dose less than that can still cause the swimmer to drown. Should the victim make it to safety, cardiac arrest will still likely occur. Another box jellyfish, called Irukandji, is thumbnail size and causes a syndrome that intensifies over thirty minutes to include headaches, backaches, chest and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, sweating, anxiety, and a feeling of “doom.” If treatment (washing with vinegar) isn’t begun, a victim can die of cardiac arrest within thirty minutes of Irukandji envenomation.

Treatment: There is anti-venom available for the sea wasp; no such luck for the Irukandji. Vinegar is the number one treatment because it inactivates the tentacle; attempting to pull off a tentacle before it’s inactivated will likely cause greater envenomation and a tearing of the victim’s skin. Artificial respiration and cardiac massage likely. Pain is treated with ice packs and analgesics. For Irukandji, with proper treatment as for sea wasps, the symptoms generally go away after six hours.

RPG Care: It is likely this will take a resurrection spell or act of deity. Either way, make sure there’s a lot of pain before and after.

Stonefish

The most venomous fish in the world, stonefish are found along the coasts in the Indo-Pacific region. Some species have been found in rivers of the same area. The venom is involuntarily injected from glands in its dorsal spines. Spines can pierce through a shoe.

Symptoms: The sting causes excruciating pain and tremendous swelling rapidly develops along with the death of tissues. The severity of symptoms depends on how deep the penetration and how many of the thirteen spines were involved. Muscle weakness, temporary paralysis, and shock follow, often resulting in death.

Treatment: Hot water can deactivate much of the venom, but usually the victim is hospitalized for intravenous analgesics, anesthetics, or regional blocks. Anti-venom is often given, especially if the victim is suffering from severe pain, paralysis, or if there is evidence of multiple puncture wounds.

RPG Care: Potions may stop the pain, but first aid won’t do much unless hot water is used. If more than three spines are involved (roll fifty-fifty), it will taken massive magic spelling or divinity to save the victim.

Coral Snake

There are Old World coral snakes (11 species) and New World coral snakes (65 species). New World coral snakes live in the southern range of temperate US to Mexico and throughout South America and the Caribbean, and are the most venomous snakes of the New World. They have short fangs that cannot penetrate thicker clothing. The Old World Coral snake species are found primarily in Asia. The banding colors of Old World coral snake are completely different than those of the New World.

Symptoms: Coral snake bites are only mildly painful with almost no immediate symptoms. Then the area around the wound and the lips go numb. It becomes difficult to breath. The venom can cause respiratory arrest in a few hours within hours.

Treatment: Mechanical or artificial respiration is required along with large doses of anti-venom.

RPG Care: Slim to none chances of survival on first aid and healing potions alone. This is potent poison. May need resurrection spell.

Australian Funnel-Web Spider

Found through much of eastern Australia, these very venomous spiders are from one to five cm in body diameter. Their fangs are very large, capable of penetrating a fingernail or shoe. The males wander seeking out females, but are know to search for water and fall into swimming pools. Although normally non-aggressive, when frightened or defending itself during attacks the spider grips tightly and delivers multiple bites.

Symptoms: Bite very painful with obvious puncture marks and local bleeding. Rest of symptoms start occurring within minutes if substantial venom was injected, and include goose bumps, sweating, tingling around the mouth, twitching, salivation, watery eyes, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, vomiting , shortness of breath, agitation, confusion, writhing, grimacing, muscle spasms, pulmonary edema, metabolic acidosis, and hypertension. In the last stages the pupils dilate, the muscles twitch, and unconsciousness is reached, after which the victim succumbs to intracranial pressure and death due to progressive hypotension or cerebral edema. Death can be as quickly as 10 minutes in a child-sized person, to three days.

Treatment: Pressure immobilization bandage that slows venom movement, anti-venom as soon as possible. Prior to introduction of anti-venom, morbidity was high and hospitals stays for the survivors was around 14 days. Since the anti-venom was developed there have been no deaths and victims are discharged in one to three days.

RPG Care: Without anti-venom, fatality is nearly guaranteed. It would require multiple healing potions over the course of several days. A resurrection or divine aid might be necessary.

Brazilian Wandering Spider

Considered the world’s most venomous spider. And they are big, wander around, and are aggressive. This is not a friendly arachnid. Found in South and Central America. Their leg span is 13 to 15 cm. During the day they hide where they can, termite mounds, under rocks, under banana leaves or in bromeliads. The spiders are known for “dry bites,” meaning since they are ill-equipped to eat a human, they do not use as much venom as they could. Therefore, fatalities are not always necessary (1 in 6).

Symptoms: Intense pain and inflammation immediately following bite, intensified by the toxin increasing pain neurotransmitters. The bite causes an intense erection that can last for hours, leading to impotence for survivors. Loss of muscle control and breathing problems follow, eventually leading to paralysis and asphyxiation. Survivors recover in a week.

Treatment: Anti-venom available; artificial respiration as needed. Symptomatic treatment.

RPG Care: It will be interesting. If the venom is enough to kill, little will save the victim short of artificial respiration and anti-venom.

Other Venomous Animals

Bumblebee: Over 250 known species primarily in the northern hemisphere, although they are also found in Australia and New Zealand. The queen and the worker bumblebees can sting. A bumblebee’s sting lacks barbs, so it can sting more than once. Bumblebees are not normally aggressive, but do live in colonies. The Cuckoo Bumblebee is aggressive towards colonies of bumblebees, but only stings other animals if irritated. The sting causes local pain and swelling that continues for some time. A certain percentage of people have a local sensitivity (enlarged swelling) and others have anaphylactic shock, fixable with an injection of epinephrine. Ice is the best treatment available for pain and swelling.

Honeybee: Currently there are seven recognized species of honeybee, their origin in South and Southeast Asia. Domesticated as early as the Egyptian pyramids, the honeybee has been spread slowly throughout the rest of the world as a honey producer. The hybrid known as Africanized bee or “Killer” bee was accidentally freed in Brazil and has spread to North America as a pest, although they do not overwinter well and stay in areas with mild winters. The stinger is attached to the venom glands, which is pulled out of the body of the bee when the bee stings an animal. The worker bee dies but the poison continues to be delivered, offering the maximum dosage. The dying be also gives off powerful pheromones that cause its coworkers to attack as well to defend a hive. Working together, the honeybees can kill a man with the amount of stings they deliver. The sting causes local pain and swelling that continues for some time. The stinger should be removed as quickly as possible (the stinger does not pump more poison if it is pinched out instead of scraped out). Swelling and itching can continue for over a week. Scratching the site will increase the irritation and swelling. A certain percentage of people (15%) have a local sensitivity (enlarged swelling), and another 2% have anaphylactic shock, fixable with an injection of epinephrine. Ice is the best treatment available for pain and swelling.

Inimicus: Closely related to the stonefishes, and include ten species of devilfishes and goblinfishes. Most are found in the warm tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific, but do extend into the waters of the Red Sea and as far east as New Caledonia. New South Wales, Australia is as far south as they get, and Japan as far north. They live on the bottom in mangrove swamps and coral reefs. The venom is stored in glands at the base of needle-like spines in their dorsal fins. Contact with fin produces severe and immediate local pain, sometimes followed by shock, paralysis, tissue necrosis, or death. Survivors often suffer tissue necrosis and nerve damage, leading to atrophying of adjoining muscle tissues. Secondary infection can occur. Treatment includes immersion of affected area in hot water neutralizes some of the enzymes. Local anesthetic helps, and an intramuscular equine-derived anti-venom can be life-saving. Without anti-venom, magic is required to keep damage from becoming permanent. Most won’t know about the hot-water treatment either. They’ll probably pee on it instead. Let them and hand off a secondary infection in a one in four. First aid takes care of pain and agony. More is required in most cases.

Jellyfish: Found in every ocean, at every depth. Some can even be found in fresh water (and do not sting). Jellyfish use specialized structures called nematocysts found on cells called cnidocytes to sting. Each tentacle can have millions of nematocysts that can pierce skin and inject venom. While some of these jellyfish stings will cause only slight to moderate discomfort, others are deadly, such as the box jellyfish listed above. Stings can also cause anaphylaxis in some people. Vinegar is best solution, followed by salt water.

Fire Coral: Colonizing marine organisms distributed in tropical and subtropical waters, the fire coral resembles real coral, but is more closely related to jellyfish or anemones. Aside from tiny tentacles that contain venom, the outer covering is sharp enough to scrape the skin. Brushing against the seaweed-like growth causes intense pain and burn-like wounds that can last for a couple of days to two weeks. Allergic reaction is possible.

Gila Monster and Mexican Beaded Lizard: The Gila Monster is a venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The Mexican Beaded Lizard is a close relative found in Mexico and southern Guatemala. The sluggish lizards are rarely a threat to humans. They inhabit scrubland and succulent desert. Venom produced in modified glands in lower jaw and propelled by chewing. Normally not fatal to humans due to small amounts emitted during attack. The lizards can bite quickly as a defense. Once bitten the Gila monster won’t let go; said the lizard needs to be fully immersed in water to let loose. The Beaded lizard is known to have such a strong jaw grip that its teeth break off at the base. For both types of lizards, a bite is marked with excruciating pain, edema, and weakness associated with rapid drop in blood pressure. Venoms are capable of some horrific symptoms, including hemorrhage of internal organs and bulging of the eyes. Treatment is usually symptomatic.

Lion’s Mane (Cyanea): The largest known jellyfish, the largest that has washed up on shore had a bell 2.3 meters in diameter and tentacles 36.5 meters long. It lives in cold boreal waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans near the Arctic Circle. A similar species lives off Australia and New Zealand. Most encounters cause temporary pain and localized redness. Under normal circumstances the sting is not fatal, although those with sensitivity and weak heart could succumb.

Hornet: True hornets can get as large as 5.5 cm and there are both temperate and tropical species. Generally hornet stings) like that from the European Hornet) are nonfatal accept to allergic victims. Non-European Hornets are generally non-fatal except when multiple stings complicate the situation. The Asian Giant Hornet, found in Russia, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indochina, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, is the most venomous hornet (per sting) that can dissolve tissue and can be lethal to someone not allergic to stings. A hornet found in the Philippines as the most potent venom of any hornet and can cause hematuria, cyanosis, and convulsions. Some types of wasps are called hornets but are misnamed.

Io Moth Caterpillar: Green caterpillar found in North America from Canada through the Midwest states to Texas and east. The spines covering the back of the caterpillar can cause a lot of pain as the poison is released at the lightest touch. Generally just painful, except in cases of sensitivity or allergy.

Wasp: There are over 100,000 species of wasp, although a great many of those do not sting. Of those that can sting, most will only do so if roughly handled or endangered. The Velvet Ant (females are wingless) are found mainly in the tropics in desert and sandy areas, although some can be found in sandy areas as far north as Canada. Their sting is extremely painful. Most paper-making wasps are capable of stinging, but the yellow jackets of North America and the common wasps of the Northern Hemisphere and Australia/New Zealand are particularly aggressive. The bald-faced hornet will sting repeatedly if their nest is disturbed. The Tarantula Hawk of the spider wasp species, for all that it is gentle, has one of the most painful stings of the insect world but only lasting about three agonizing minutes. All can cause sensitivity and allergic reactions. Ice is the best treatment for wasp stings.

Platypus: Native to eastern Australia, including Tasmania, the semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal is also one of the world’s few venomous mammals—the male has a spur on its hind foot powerful enough to kill dogs. The venom is generally not lethal to humans but can cause such excruciating pain as to incapacitate its victims. Swelling immediately occurs around the injection site and creates an over whelming hypersensitivity to pain that can last for weeks.

Komodo Dragon: Found on Indonesian islands, it’s the largest species of lizard, as long as three meters in extreme cases. All of its teeth are almost completely covered by a gingival tissue that is naturally lacerated during feeding, therefore, its saliva is usually blood-tinged and rampant with bacteria, mainly E. coli, Staphylococcus, Providencia, and Proteus morgani and P. mirabilis. Captured animals, through antibiotics and cleaner diets, will no longer exhibit septic mouths. Aside from the guarantee of virulent bacterial infection, Komodo dragons possess venom glands in the lower jaw that may cause rapid swelling, localized disruption of blood clotting, and shooting pain, with some symptoms lasting several hours. The strong jaw is more likely to cause damage than the venom, the victim usually dying of blood loss and shock.

Portuguese Man-o-War: A marine invertebrate found most often in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but has been known to drift elsewhere on warm currents. The Man o’ War is not a jellyfish, but a complex colony of many animals. They are responsible for around 10,000 human stings in Australia every summer. Symptoms include severe pain lasting several hours, whip-like welts that last two to three days; should the venom reach the lymph nodes the pain can increase. There can be an allergic reaction, and there can be serious effects should the victim’s body be overwhelmed, such as fever, shock, and interference with heart and lung action. Washing the wounds with saltwater first and best course of action; avoid vinegar and fresh water for first washing. Use hot water later. Affected eyes require doctor’s care.

Scorpionfish: A family of marine fish that are some of the world’s most venomous. The sharp spines are covered with venomous mucus. The family has a number of genera spread through temperate and tropical waters, mostly in the Indo-Pacific region. Scorpionfish are also known as lionfish, turkeyfish, or dragonfish. The sting is not generally fatal to humans, but it can cause extreme pain, headaches, vomiting and breathing difficulties, which may cause problems for someone in the ocean. A common treatment is soaking the site in hot water. Some are more susceptible to the venom than others (one through six, with one being most extreme effects).

Sea Anemone: The stinging cells of most sea anemones can cause dermatitis (a rash) on humans, but due to the thickness of a human’s skin, poisoning is rare to nonexistent.

Shrews: Some shrews are venomous, including the Eurasian Water Shrew, the Northern Shirt-tailed shrew, and the Southern Short-tailed Shrew. The Water Shrew is found from Ireland to North Korea, but its teeth are unable to puncture the skin of large animals like humans. The northern Short-tailed shrew lives in the northeast of North America and is capable of delivering a painful bite to humans, although nonfatal to anything much larger than itself. The southern short-tail shrew also lives in the eastern United States, but its venom is only strong enough to kill mice.

Solenodon: Found in Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti), this rodent-like mammal is capable of producing venomous saliva that flows through grooves in the second lower incisors. No known human poisonings.

Stingray: The barbed stinger used for self defense has venom glands to either side and a tube runs up the center to inject the poison. Although usually very docile, larger ones can be more aggressive and often stings come from being stepped near or on. The stinger itself can cause injury, but the venom also causes pain, swelling, and muscle cramps. Seldom is injury fatal, except when it pierces an internal organ. %he barb usually breaks off in the wound and surgery may be required to remove it. Secondary bacterial infection very possible.

Tarantula: Although all tarantulas are venomous, only some species of the 900 out there have been known to cause a more severe reaction in humans, and there is always the risk of life-threatening allergy. Most bites are no worse than wasp stings, but some produce bites that are very painful and cause recurrent spasms over a number of days. The venom of the African tarantula causes hallucinations. New World tarantulas also have hairs on their abdomen that the spider can “throw,” designed for getting into the sensitive nose and eyes of curious critters sniffing at them. These hairs are capable of blinding the eyes.

European Mole: The saliva of the European mole contains enough toxins to paralyze an earthworm so they can save them for later.

Poisonous Killers

These animals are toxic to the touch or to eat.

Golden Poison Frog

The most lethal vertebrate in the world. Native to rainforests of South America. The skin is drenched with Batrachotoxins, which prevent nerves from transmitting; this causes muscles to go into inactive states of contraction. This can lead to heart failure or fibrillation.

Symptoms: The poison seeps through the pores of the skin and causes extreme pain, severe fever, seizures, and paralysis. Permanently blocks nerve cell transmissions. Affects the heart with arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. Can kill a human being in less than an hour. Fatalities among humans caused by direct contact with frog have been confirmed.

Treatment: No antidote. Anesthetics are tried with varying result

RPG Care: Divine intervention and major magic spells. Good luck. Notes: Poison frogs generally become nonpoisonous in captivity, raised away from their natural food sources; the truly poisonous critter the frog eats is unknown. The frog is the main source of poison for darts used by the natives, generally by piercing or roasting the frog until its poison-producing glands completely cover the back with poison. Darts covered with this poison can remain lethal for up to a year.

Polar Bears (and other arctic mammals)

Not exactly a poison, but the livers of polar bears, walruses, seals, and sled dogs will kill a person. Through an ailment called hypervitaminosis A—too much vitamin A—the liver has so much of this vitamin that the human body can process it all and dies.

Symptoms: Nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, loss of muscular coordination, cells swell and rupture, hypertension, and death. Treatment: Stop eating vitamin A, symptomatic care until the body can process the fatty vitamin.

RPG Care: Potion or two (so long as it’s not made from livers). Magic healing spell in the average difficulty range.

Other Poisonous Animals

Blowfish: Also called pufferfish or balloon fish. Generally believed to be the second-most poisonous creature on earth. Cooked pufferfish considered a delicacy and although some preparations (fugu chiri) can kill you if improperly prepared, others (sashimi fugu) are prepared to cause slight intoxication. The tetrodotoxin of the pufferfish deadens the tongue and lips, induces dizziness and vomiting, followed by numbness and prickling all over the body, rapid heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and muscle paralysis. The toxin paralyzes the diaphragm muscles and stops the person from breathing. If the person survives this, they generally end up in a coma for several days. People who live longer than 24 hours generally survive and say they were conscious through the whole experience. Treatment consists of emptying the stomach and supportive care. Pufferfish kept in aquariums or tanks are completely free of toxin. Note: The pufferfish’s poison is used in Voodoo to stimulate the “death” state (paralysis, semi-consciousness) before creating a zombie.

Dinoflagellates: When dinoflagellates reproduce rapidly and copiously when certain nutrients are available, the result is red tide. They carry toxins that kill fish and are filtered through certain shellfish that pass on the toxins to the humans that eat them. One such poison is saxitoxin, which is a powerful paralytic, causing paralytic shellfish poisoning. It was once used as suicide injection for U-2 spyplane pilots.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain’ tingling or burning of lips, tongue, gums, face, neck, arms, legs, and toes. First symptoms occur within 10 to 30 minutes. This is followed by shortness of breath, dry mouth, choking feeling, confused or slurred speech, and lack of coordination. In extreme cases, it culminates with flaccid paralysis that leaves victims calm but conscious. Death could come from respiratory arrest. Treatment of symptoms as necessary. Artificial respiration in extreme cases.

Poison Dart Frogs: Aside from the deadly golden poison frog listed above, there are several others that are toxic thanks to their diet of beetles. All are located in Central and South America in lowland forests, shrublands, and wetlands. The golden poison frog is the most deadly, with the phantasmal poison dart frog considered up there in lethality. Other frogs generally are not as dangerous to humans (use entry for golden poison frog, but reduce lethality), but there are many wild species that can be fatal to humans if handled. Some frogs even have variable poison, such as the green-and-black poison frog and dying dart frog; they can be handled as long as the frog and handler are kept calm. Poison dart frogs lose their toxicity over time when placed into activity (can still be toxic for up to a year), and those bred in captivity are safe. Only the Phyllobates family is used by aborigines for poison dart making, but all poison dart frogs have the name due to their coloring. Most poison dart frogs are currently threatened by habitat loss.

Marine Turtle: An uncommon type of poisoning caused by eating sea turtles can be severe enough to cause death. Called chelonitoxin, the poison found in both sea turtles and their eggs can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, burning sensation of lips, tongue, and mouth, chest tightness, difficulty swallowing, hypersalivation, skin rash, coma, and death. Likely the toxic is found in the sea turtles’ diet, such as poisonous algae.

Pitohuis, ifritas: Species of poisonous birds all native to New Guinea, with toxins similar to poison frogs’ toxins, making it likely that they obtain the poison from their food supply. The toxin is found on the birds’ skin and on the feathers, causing numbness and tingling in those that touch the bird.

Porcupine Fish: Related to pufferfish but with larger spines, some species contain tetradotoxins that are capable of symptoms similar to pufferfish and can be just as lethal.

Skunk: There are ten species of skunk, eight of which inhabit the Americas. The other two, called stink badgers, inhabit Indonesia and the Philippines. Although not poisonous or venomous, the sulfuric fluids that they can spray from their anal glands are used as a defensive weapon, and not only smells offensive, but can cause irritation and temporary blindness. This smell is difficult to remove from fur or clothing. Skunks only carry enough fluids for five to ten sprays, and need ten days to fully replenish; they will therefore avoid spraying unless necessary. Skunks are also vectors for rabies.

Slow Loris: These primates range from Borneo to the Philippines, through to India and southern China. This mammal will produce a toxin from glands near its elbows that it mixes with its saliva and then licks onto its fur. The loris can suck this toxin into its mouth and use it when it bites. Loris bites cause painful swelling but is similar to cat dander in composition and can cause fatal anaphylaxis in some people.

Corroboree Frog: Very rare species of frog from Australia with only two species, it is believed to be the only frog that makes its own poison instead of obtaining it from its environment, like the poison dart frogs. Unknown how toxic the skin is but treat like poison dart frogs for now.

Colorado River Toad: This is a psychoactive toad found in the southwestern United States. The toxin is potent enough to kill a full-sized dog. Some people catch and milk the frogs with the intent to smoke its venom. Some describe the feelings as being like a near-death experience—others say it felt like they were sat on by an elephant. It’s an illegal substance regardless, and the venom can kill in large enough doses.

Cane Toad: The cane toad of Central and South America, as well as portions of the Caribbean, has poison glands and the tadpoles are highly toxic. It was introduced to Australia in the hopes of reducing local pests and has since become a dangerous invasive species itself. The substance bufotenin is a class 1 drug under Australian law. Because it emits other more fatal toxins from its skin as well, people have died trying to obtain the hallucinogenic high.

Taricha: Also known as Pacific newts, they are all found on the west coast of North America. All species carry tetrodotoxin, the rough-skinned newt being the most toxic. Pacific newts in British Columbia contain almost no toxin at all. Taricha can be lethal to humans if ingested and humans can become ill if they handle taricha with cuts or wounds on their skin. Some individuals show an allergy to contact with the toxin. See blue-ringed octopus or pufferfish for effects.

Flamboyant Cuttlefish: The flamboyant cuttlefish of tropical Indo-Pacific waters is toxic to eat and as lethal as the pufferfish.

Biting Animals that Usually Aren’t Venomous

Bedbug: Bedbugs have been human parasites for thousands of years, mentioned in texts dating to 400 BCE. Believed up to the 18th century to be of medical use for snakebites, ear infections, and hysteria. Nearly eliminated with the introduction of DDT and vacuum cleaners during the 1940s, major resurgence since 1995. All insects from this family suck blood from warm-blooded creatures. The bite can cause no little symptoms to blistering skin rashes, possible allergy can cause rare anaphylaxis (throat-closing). Chronic or severe infestation can lead to anemia, especially in infants. Scratching can cause bacterial infection. Numerous bites can cause systemic poisoning.

Blackfly: Over 1800 species, also called gnats, different species prefer different sources for their blood meal. Can cause weight loss or death in cattle. Some (such as those in England) cause painful lesions with their bite; judge sensitivity. Can transmit parasitic nematode that causes disease called “river blindness.”

Deerfly: Belonging to the horsefly family, deerflies have patterned gold or green eyes and pester cows, horses, and humans. Only female deerflies drink blood. The bite can be extremely painful and can cause allergic reaction that causes itching or swelling, and sometimes severe reaction. Adults are potential carriers for tularemia, anthrax, and loa loa filariasis

Fire Ants: Over 280 species worldwide, native to South and North America, with some species found in Europe. The Fire Ant are introduced pests in the United States, Australia, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan. Most colonies are built near water supplies and are usually invisible, hidden under logs, rocks, or other objects. If there is no sheltering stones or logs, the ants produce a dome in the middle of a clearing reaching heights of 40 centimeters. These mounds can be as deep as 1.5 meters. The bite is filled with venom and causes a bump that is painful and irritating—more so if there are multiple bites. The bump often turns into a white pustule. The pustules are very maddening and irritating but are also susceptible to secondary infections if scratched. If they get infected the pustules scar readily. Some people are allergic to the venom and have anaphylactic shock.

Horsefly: One of the large of the true flies, and noisy in flight. There are 4,500 species worldwide. The bite is very painful and then becomes itchy as it swells, sometimes getting rather large. Horseflies are vectors for Equine Infectious Anaemia Virus, Trypanosomes, loa loa (parasitic worm), and anthrax. Blood loss from numerous flies can be as high as 300 ml in a single day among herd animals, which can severely weaken or kill them.

Housefly: Accounts for 90% of all flies in human populations. In colder climates, flies only survive with the help of humans. They are capable of carrying over 100 pathogens, including typhoid, cholera, Salmonella, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, and parasitic worms. Some strains have become immune to pesticides. Myiasis is a disease caused by fly larva (maggots) feeding on necrotic or living tissue; rarely are housefly larva involved, although it can happen.

Mosquitoes: There are about 3,500 species worldwide and in some species the females feed on humans. While many species are native to tropical and subtropical locations, some have adapted to cooler temperatures and hibernate over the winter. Sea transport has allowed mosquitoes to be distributed throughout the world. Mosquitoes are vectors for blood-borne diseases, infecting about 700 million people annually around the world. Such infections include malaria, the filariasis worm, yellow fever and dengue fever, epidemic polyarthritis, Rift Valley fever, Ross River fever, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, and several other encephalitis, including the highly deadly US Eastern equine encephalitis and Western equine encephalitis. Mosquitoes prefer some people over others. The saliva itself causes an immune response by the body, resulting in visible irritating bites; there are both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions, including asthma or anaphylaxis, as well as contact dermatitis that develops later.

Sand Fly: Also called sandfleas, sometimes a sand fly is simply another species of biting fly found in a sandy region, like a desert or beach. There are species exclusive known as sand flies or sand fleas, found in Florida, South Carolina, the Caribbean, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Bites leave large red, itchy bumps that may turn into a rash. Considered several times as itchy and tend to last longer than mosquito bites. Aside from sensitivity, allergies, and secondary infections from scratching, sandfly bites are vectors for leishmaniasis and pappataci fever, as well as the Chandipura virus, which is related to rabies.

Stable Fly: A member of the housefly family that is unique in that they feed off mammal blood. Found worldwide, stable flies feed mainly on herd animals’ legs, causing the animals to stomp their feet. Stable flies can cause weight loss, anemia, and reduced milk production. Consider a vector of Trypansoma 2or ox, horses, and sheep, causing the diseases souma. For domestic animals and human it transmits anthrax. Can also transmit microbes that cause Surra, brucellosis, ERF, swine erysipelas, equine swamp fever, African horse sickness, and fowl pox.

Wounding Animals

Sea Urchin: The long spines can cause painful wounds if they pierce skin, although on average sea urchin spines do not get bigger than 3 centimeters in length. There are exceptions; the black sea urchin of the Caribbean can grow spines 30 cm long. Injuries are characterized by puncture wounds inflicted by the brittle spines. Sea urchin spines can be poisonous or cause infection. The natural dye of the urchin can stain or tattoo the skin, or cause granuloma (inflammations) to occur. May cause anaphylaxis in some.