What is the world's most venomous animal? Imagine you’re out in the garden on a lovely summer day when you spot a yellow fluffy caterpillar crawling on a leaf. You look closer and notice it has 5 black tufts of longer hair sticking out. You think, “how cute!” and reach out to pet the fuzzy little guy. But hold it right there! That’s an American Dagger, and it’s anything but harmless! Those seemingly soft pleasant hairs are more like stingers! When they get embedded in your skin, it causes a painful rash and welts.

But scarier than that is a Puss Caterpillar. You’ll know immediately when this one gets its fluffy hairs in you: it feels worse than a bee sting! Then comes the rash, swelling, fever, and even muscle cramps and joint pain! It’s the most poisonous caterpillar in the US. Young ones are yellow and they get browner and hairier as they grow. Can you believe that a snail can be full of enough venom for 20 adults or that touching an octopus poses a serious danger to any living thing it meets? Some of these creatures are as beautiful as dangerous. So, here are the most venomous creatures on Earth.

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