Some of the most dangerous creatures in the world are also the most colorful. That’s because when animals have lots of colors, there’s usually a reason. Animals can use their appearances to communicate something to other species, and for many toxic animals, that message is, “Don’t eat me – I’m dangerous!”
Animals have learned to associate bright colors with a threat. So, they usually steer clear of colorful prey because it’s probably poisonous. In many cases, that’s true, but all poisonous animals use colors differently. They may use colors to deter predators, distinguish themselves from similar species, or lure animals toward them.
It’s important to note that poisonous and venomous are different. Venomous animals bite or sting to inject toxins, but eating and touching them may not cause major issues. However, poisonous animals are toxic if eaten. Some animals are both poisonous and venomous, but animals that are solely venomous usually don’t need bold colors to warn anyone.
1. Poison Dart Frog
Poison dart frogs are often the first animals people think of when it comes to colors. They come in a wide range of color patterns, including blue, yellow, red, green, and black. These colorful frogs usually stick out like a sore thumb next to their environment, but predators know to avoid them because of their bold coloring.
If an animal eats a poison dart frog, the toxins will attack the nervous system, leading to sudden muscle contractions, convulsions, and salivation. In extreme cases, this can be fatal. Even just touching a poison dart frog could cause swelling, nausea, paralysis, or even death. While many frogs are colorful, poison dart frogs are brighter than the average frog, making it clear that their poison is extremely dangerous.
Indigenous people used to use poison dart frogs to their advantage. They would rub their arrows on poison dart frogs’ backs to make them poisonous and more deadly when hunting.
2. Corroboree Frog
Corroboree frogs look like poison dart frogs because of their vibrant colors. Like poison dart frogs, it’s dangerous to eat or touch these frogs. If a predator eats this frog, the toxins can attack its skin and heart. So, corroboree frogs have a bold yellow and black pattern to warn predators to stay away.
While other poisonous frogs, like poison dart frogs, obtain their poison from the food they eat, corroboree frogs produce their own toxins. They can secrete toxins from their skin to protect themselves. However, their bold coloring seems enough to keep other animals away because they have no known predators. Since their coloring has such a significant impact, they typically walk instead of hopping, as they rarely need to escape quickly.
3. Coral Snake
Coral snakes are extremely dangerous if they bite. So, both humans and animals need to steer clear of these reptiles. A coral snake bite could cause muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, paralysis, and, in extreme cases, death if left untreated.
These snakes have bright bands of red, black, and yellow to warn predators to stay away. However, many other snake species, such as kingsnakes, have similar stripe patterns to confuse predators into thinking they’re toxic. There’s a common saying to help people remember the difference: “Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. Red touches black, venom lack.” In other words, if the snake has red and yellow stripes touching each other, it’s probably dangerous.
The yellow stripes make coral snakes stand out from similar species, indicating that they’re a threat. However, if you’re ever unsure if a snake is toxic or not, it’s best to keep a distance just to be safe.
4. Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterflies are gorgeous, so many people don’t realize that they’re poisonous. Luckily, most people wouldn’t try to eat them anyway, but it’s good to know. If animals eat monarch butterflies, they could quickly become ill. Their toxins are much more dangerous to small animals like mice and birds than large creatures.
The orange coloring of a monarch butterfly’s wings warns predators that they’re poisonous. Monarch butterflies get toxins from the milkweed they eat, which is a plant they need to survive. Their being poisonous is extra beneficial since they’re an endangered species.
Luckily, monarch butterflies pose little to no risk for humans if you don’t ingest them. Touching them has no negative effects but should still be avoided as you can harm the delicate scales that cover them.
5. Box Jellyfish
This jellyfish species uses color differently than most toxic animals. They’re both venomous and poisonous because they can inject you, but you could also get hurt by ingesting their tentacles. Instead of using colors to deter predators, they mostly use their appearance to attract prey. They appear as a light blue, semi-transparent hue, causing them to blend in with their surroundings.
Box jellyfish have tiny poisonous darts on their tentacles. Prey may swim into their tentacles unknowingly because the jellyfish are difficult to see in the water. Animals that swim into the tentacles get injected with poison and may quickly experience paralysis or cardiac arrest. In extreme cases, it leads to death.
While a box jellyfish’s blue coloring is great for camouflaging and catching prey, it can also harm people and other animals. All creatures have difficulty spotting these animals in the water, so box jellyfish may sometimes injure people and large animals by mistake.
6. Blue-Ringed Octopus
Blue-ringed octopuses are very small, but that doesn’t stop them from being incredibly dangerous. Eating one of these creatures or getting bitten by one can be deadly to humans and animals. It’s especially scary because you might not notice any pain at first, but the poison can quickly cause respiratory issues and paralysis.
Luckily, these octopuses typically hide in crevices and stay up to 60 feet below the surface. So, it’s not impossible for humans to come into contact with them, but it’s not super likely either.
These cephalopods can change colors, which allows them to communicate with other creatures. When they feel threatened, bright blue rings appear across their bodies, warning predators to stay away. These bold colors could indicate that they’re toxic, but the sudden color shift could also just be startling for predators, causing them to swim off.
7. Pfeffer’s Flamboyant Cuttlefish
These creatures aren’t called flamboyant for no reason. They can change their skin to a variety of colors, such as dark brown, white, red, yellow, and purple. While their appearance is intriguing, they’re extremely poisonous and should be avoided. If an animal ingests a Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish, the toxins could kill that predator.
These cuttlefish can use their color-changing abilities to warn predators not to eat them. When a threat comes close, they can display brighter colors than usual to surprise the other animals or alert them of toxins. Since they can utilize color for protection, they don’t need to dart away quickly when something is hunting them.
8. Hooded Pitohui
Very few bird species are poisonous, but one of the most notable is the hooded pitohui. Their diets are the reason they’re toxic. They eat some toxic insects, similar to how poison dart frogs obtain toxins from their food. The toxins settle in the bird’s feathers, skin, and dander. So, while it’s definitely unsafe to eat these birds, it can be unpleasant to even touch them.
Touching or eating a hooded pitohui could result in numbing, unpleasant tingling, burning sensations, excessive sneezing, and watery eyes. The hooded pitohui’s body is a striking orange/reddish-brown hue, which stands out from the contrasting black feathers on its head, wings, and tail. These bold feathers will likely warn predators of the unpleasant results that hunting this bird will cause.
9. Fire Salamander
While many people adore fire salamanders and even keep them as pets, it’s best not to touch them. Not only is their skin sensitive, but they have glands on the sides of their heads that can release toxins if a predator tries to eat them. This poison can sicken or even kill an animal that comes into contact with it. It’s also very unpleasant for humans and could cause a burning sensation.
Fire salamanders are black with bold yellow patches. While the amount of yellow varies, it’s often located on the poison glands. This bright yellow coloring stands out against the black background, working as a signal to scare predators away. Many predators avoid pursuing fire salamanders because they see the warning colors and keep a distance.
10. Cinnabar Moth
As caterpillars, cinnabar moths have striking orange/yellow and black stripes. Then, they grow up to be beautiful moths with red and black wings. These colors stand out from the green and brown plants around them, making it easy for other creatures to spot them. Yet, when predators see the bold red coloring of cinnabar moths, they’ll back off because they can tell they’re toxic.
Surprisingly, these critters aren’t born poisonous. The caterpillars feed on ragwort plants, which causes them to build up poison in their bodies over time. They can cause rashes and discomfort if eaten or touched, but those effects are worse for small animals than humans. Even so, keeping a distance from these beautiful moths is best.
