List of poisonous animals

The following is a list of poisonous animals, which are animals that passively deliver toxins to their victims upon contact such as through inhalation, absorption through the skin, or after being ingested. They are often distinguished from venomous animals, which actively inject their toxins into their victims through a venom apparatus such as fangs or a stinger. The only difference between poisonous animals and venomous animals is how they deliver the toxins. This list deals exclusively with poisonous animals.

Poisonous animals

This list is a partial list of animals that are poisonous to humans and other animals in that their flesh is toxic if consumed, or in some cases if they are touched:

Frogs and toads

Frogs

Toads

Some of these toads are "milked" for their bufotoxins.

Mammals

Slow loris

Birds

Snakes

Salamanders

Pacific newts or Western newts

Fish

Cephalopods

Insects

Crustaceans

Gorilla crabs

Cnidarians

Some members of the genus Palythoa produce the highly toxic palytoxin
Rhodactis species

Echinoderms

It is common for sea cucumbers like Pearsonothuria graeffei to protect itself with toxins
Actinopyga agassizii a toxic sea cucumber
Some starfish, like Plectaster decanus, are poisonous

Annelids

The polychaete worm Hediste diversicolor
Halla parthenopeia

Nemerteans

Antarctonemertes valida is one of several nemerteans which make use of defensive toxic secretions

Flatworms

Bipalium kewense, the hammerhead flatworm, is coated in toxic mucus

Sponges

Negombata magnifica, the toxic finger-sponge, is one of many toxic species of sponges

Placozoans

Trichoplax use large specialized cells to release antipredatory toxins