Kids ASK! about Pets & Animals

It is rather hard to answer this question because there are actually a number of very poisonous spiders in the world, all of which have caused human deaths- the most famous being the female Black Widow Spider (Lactrodectus mactans) of North America. The venom of a black widow spider is said to be 15 times more poisonous than a rattlesnake.

But actually the correct word to use here is not “poisonous”, but “venomous”, as spiders inject venom into their prey.

An Internet search shows that the most venomous spider in the world is the Brazilian wandering spider, also known under its Latin name Phoneutria nigriventer. The venom from the Brazilian wandering spider is so toxic, that 0.006 mg. of its venom kills a mouse.

For a picture of this spider you can visit this website: http://venomous-spiders.nanders.dk/mostpoisonous.htm

The brown recluse spiders are also considered as one of the world’s most deadly. A bite from it will cause your flesh to rot and die.
Source: Littlefield, A., & Littlefield, J. (2007). The 10 grossest bugs. New York: Franklin Watts.

For more information, here are some recommended library books on spiders:

Freaky facts about spiders by Christine Morley ; illustrated by Phillip Morrison.
Publisher: Minnetonka, Minn. : Two-Can, 2007
Summary: “Introduces a variety of arachnids and the amazing ways they live, hunt, breed, and defend themselves.”
Call No.: J 595.4 MOR

Venom by Marilyn Singer
Publisher: Plain City, OH : Darby Creek Pub., c2007
Summary: Learn about venom and the animals that produce it and use it to survive, including spiders, insects, snakes and other reptiles, frogs and toads, fish, and ocean invertebrates.
Call No.: J 592.16 SIN

Spider biters by Therese Shea
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : PowerKids Press, 2007
Series Title: Big bad biters
Summary: Examines some of the coolest spiders in nature.
Call No.: J 595.4 SHE

Black widow spiders by Jason Cooper.
Publisher: Vero Beach, Fla. : Rourke Pub., c2006.
Series Title: Spiders discovery library
Call No.: J 595.4 COO

Spiders by Marc Zabludoff
Publisher: New York : Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2006
Series Title: AnimalWays
Call No.: J 595.4 ZAB

You can also visit these websites for more information on venomous spiders:

1) http://arachnophiliac.info/burrow/
most_venomous_spider.htm
2) http://www.arachnology.be/Arachnology.html
3) http://www.essortment.com/
all/poisonousspider_rlpt.htm

All websites were last accessed on 9 October 2008. Please check the websites’ homepages for the terms and conditions of use. All book summaries were taken from the book descriptions. All images were extracted from www.amazon.com.

For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Answered by Ms Goh Mei Ming
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Posted by Ms Elizabeth Lee
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

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