(Debra Nuzzi holds Master Herbalist degrees from Dominion
Herbal College and the School of Natural Healing. She has been a
student of herbal medicine for 22 years and has taught herbology
since 1984. She is the author of the herbal video series, Herbal
Preparations and Natural Therapies-Creating and Using a Home
Herbal Medicine Chest She is president of Nature's Apothecary
Inc, a fresh plant herbal extract company, and Essential Aromath
erapy, which manufactures aromatherapy inhalers. Both are in
Boulder, Colorado - The editors.)
By Debra Nuzzi, MH
ONE hundred years ago, the kitchen garden was also the medicine
garden, and plants which produced medicinal benefit were part of
the working knowledge of the common people. Those plants which
were difficult to cultivate were sought in the surrounding fields
and meadows, then preserved and added to the harvest storehouse
to soothe and heal the illnesses of winter.
With the advent of the chemically synthesized drugs, the
home pharmacy has all but disappeared, and with it the knowledge
of simple herbal remedies for common ailments. This knowledge is
now resurfacing: researched and regenerated by people who want to
take an active and independent role in their own health care.
A very necessary part of this renaissance is self-education.
Starting is easy. Just familiarize yourself with a few key
herbs and begin to use them in your daily life. As you see how
effective they are it will spark your desire to learn more, and
you're on your way!
Following is a list of 10 commonly available herbs and simple
ways to use them in personal health maintenance. These herbs are
easily available and fulfill a wide range of benefits with a
minimum amount of effort.
ALOE LEAF (Aloe Vera) - This plant has hundreds of uses, the
most popular being its ability to alleviate the pain of burns and
to speed their healing. It is very easily cultivated as a house
plant, and should be in every kitchen. It is the best remedy for
sunburn, often preventing later peeling. Immediately immerse the
burn in cold water or apply ice until the heat subsides, then
generously apply the aloe. It is best to trim the prickly sides
off the succulent leaf, then split the leaf in half and gently
rub the exposed gel onto the affected area. Aloe may also be ap
plied to any cut or skin abrasion, and onto skin eruptions, re
markably speeding healing. To relieve the pain and itching of
hemorrhoids, carve out a suppository sized chunk of the inner
leaf gel and insert into the rectum.
BURDOCK ROOT (Arcticum lappa) - Well know as a blood detoxifica
tion agent and eaten as a vegetable known as Gobo in oriental
cuisine, Burdock root is available throughout the U.S. It is used
for skin eruptions and dry scaly skin conditions. Burdock is also
used as a digestive stimulant and to lower blood sugar. Its seed
is used as a diuretic and kidney tonic. The root is now found in
supermarkets and can be cooked as a vegetable or made into a
decoction. Fresh plant fluid extracts of the root and seed are
also available in health food stores.
COMFREY LEAF/ROOT (Symphytum officinalis) - Comfrey should be
grown as a house plant in every home. Like Aloe, it is a natural
herbal bandaid, useful for cuts, scrapes and burns. It is styp
tic, which means that it will stop bleeding. Commonly known as
"knit-bone," it stimulates tissue regeneration. Used externally
as a poultice, it helps heal bone fractures and deep wounds.
Recovery rate is accelerated with use of this fresh plant poul
tice on muscle, tendon and ligamentous injuries. Thoroughly
cleanse the wound with an antiseptic first,because Comfrey is so
quick to regenerate the tissue that it will seal over the wound
with the bacteria still inside.
DANDELION ROOT (Taraxacum officinalis) - Dandelion is naturally
high in potassium, making it a safe diuretic, increasing the
ability to eliminate waste products through the urinary channels.
It helps restore kidney function and relieves liver and spleen
congestion. It is extremely beneficial as a spring tonic which
stimulates sluggish liver function. The root should be made into
a strong decoction, which means that it should be cut into small
pieces and simmered in a glass or enamel vessel for at least 10
minutes before straining and drinking. The fresh plant fluid
extract can also be used. set 20-30 drops into a cup of hot water
and drink as a tea.
ECHINACEA ROOT (Echinacea angustifolia) - A powerful immune
stimulant, Echinacea has become increasingly popular in recent
years. Its antiseptic and anti-viral properties are used for sore
throats, flu, colds, infections and allergies. It also has tumor
inhibiting properties. The most potent form is a fresh plant
fluid extract,however, medicinal benefit can also] be derived by
mixing a decoction, as explained under Dandelion.
GARLIC BULB (Allium sativum) - Best known for its antibiotic
effect, garlic bulbs or the milder garlic greens can be eaten raw
at the onset of a cold or flu. A small piece of bread may be
necessary to make the spicyness more palatable. You can grow
garlic greens by planting the bulbs in a 4-inch-deep pot, and
trimming them to use in salads or stir fry dishes. Garlic oil is
effectively used for ear infections. It is easily made by finely
chopping enough fresh organic garlic bulbs to fill a jelly jar,
and covering them with organic olive oil. Cover the jar with
cheesecloth held on with a rubber band. Let the mixture sit in a
warm room for a week or a sunny window for several hours (if you
need it right away). Strain the oil and store it in an amber
glass jar. The warmed oil is then placed in the ear and plugged
with a cotton ball. Leave in overnight and treat nightly until
the infection is gone. This therapy is not to be used in cases of
eardrum perforation. A wonderful garlic cough syrup can be made
by simmering freshly chopped garlic in apple cider vinegar for 10
minutes. Strain the resulting liquid, add honey and simmer down
until the mixture is thick and syrupy. The vinegar neutralizes
the garlic taste, making it much more tolerable, yet preserving
the antibiotic effect.
GINGER ROOT (Zinziber officiale) - Ginger has a carminative ef
fect, which means that it will help relieve digestive problems
which result in gas formation. It is also a diaphoretic, used
both as a tea and added to a soaking bath to stimulate sweating
and reduce fevers. In cases of abdominal menstrual cramping, a
ginger fomentation can be made. A fomentation is prepared by
slicing 1-3 large roots into a half gallon of water and simmering
in a covered pan for at least 30 minutes. A cotton cloth is then
dipped in the mixture, wrung out (wear rubber gloves, it's hot!)
and applied to the abdomen as hot as can be withstood. Two folded
bath towels are placed on top to help maintain the heat of the
fomentation as the therapy progresses. Internally, 1/4 teaspoon
of ginger or one dropperful of the fluid extract can be added to
1 cup of warm water to alleviate nausea/morning sickness/motion
sickness and to aid digestion.
KELP (Nereocystis leutkeana) The kelp family, which includes
kombu, wakame, arame and hijiki, is known for its ability to
combat the effects of radiation in the body. Radioactive stron
tium-90, one of the more prevalent sources of radiation, is
stored in our bones, and contributes to long term diseases such
as leukemia, bone cancer, Hodgkins disease, anemia, and decreased
production of red and white blood cells. The sodium alginate
found in the kelp family binds with the radioactive isotope in
the gastrointestinal tract and forms an insoluble gel like salt
called strontium alginate, which is safely excreted in the feces.
(For more information on radiation detoxification, see Fighting
Radiation with Foods, Herbs and Vitamins, by Steven Schechter,
ND. Kelp is recommended as a daily addition to the diet)
ST. JOHN'S WORT (Hypericum perforatum) - The extract and oil are
used externally for bruises, strains, sprains, contusions and
wounds. The extract is used internally as an immune system stimu
lant, for retro-viral infections, as an expectorant and antibac
terial. It speeds the healing of wounds and burns and aids the
regeneration of damaged nerve tissue. It is used as an anti-de
pressant and to treat bed wetting and children's nightmares. It
is also known as Klamath weed, a common pasture plant, and is
found throughout the U.S.
VALERIAN ROOT (Valeriana officinalis) - Valerian is classed as a
nervine and sedative with mild pain relieving properties, which
makes it a good candidate for stress, anxiety and restless insom
nia. It has also been used for intestinal colic, menstrual
cramps, migraine headache, and rheumatic pain. Although it smells
like well used socks, the extract and tea are both recommended.
It is vitally important to properly identify the plant you are
harvesting before you use it. Forest Service visitor centers
carry plant identification books for their region, and the
Petersen Field Guide series plus a range of medicinal plant hand
books are also sources of botanical identification. Most of
these books can be found in local bookstores. It is wise to take
classes or go with an experienced guide when you are in the early
learning stages. Herbs are precious natural resources, and should
be ecologically harvested. The following guidelines for harvest
ing help insure herb potency and purity and help preserve the
species for further enjoyment.
Medicinal herbs should be:
1) Gathered in the proper season. General rules are: Barks in
the spring; leaves before the plant flowers; flowers on the first
day of opening; roots are best in the fall (although they are
sometimes harvested in spring, previous to aerial plant develop
ment).
2) Gathered in wild habitats where the plants naturally grow or
should be organically grown according to certification standards
established by the state in which they were harvested.
3) Harvested in an area free of chemical/industrial pollution
of air, water and soil.
4) Gathered at least 1/4 mile from any traveled roads, and at
least 10 miles from any waste disposal or toxic dumping areas.
5) Protected from over-harvesting by leaving at least 3/4 of
the stand intact for reproduction and continuance of the species.
If roots are dug, root crowns and seeds must be replanted to
perpetuate the growth and proliferation of the plant.
Survival Information
Sunday, January 8, 2012
DANGEROUS FISH AND MOLLUSKS
Since fish and mollusks may be one of your major sources of food, it is wise to know which ones are dangerous to you should you catch them. Know which ones are dangerous, what the dangers of the various fish are, what precautions to take, and what to do if you are injured by one of these fish.
Fish and mollusks will present a danger in one of three ways: by attacking and biting you, by injecting toxic venom into you through its venomous spines or tentacles, and through eating fish or mollusks whose flesh is toxic.
The danger of actually encountering one of these dangerous fish is relatively small, but it is still significant. Any one of these fish can kill you. Avoid them if at all possible.
FISH THAT ATTACK MAN
The shark is usually the first fish that comes to mind when considering fish that attack man. Other fish also fall in this category, such as the barracuda, the moray eel, and the piranha. Sharks
Sharks are potentially the most dangerous fish that attack people. The obvious danger of sharks is that they are capable of seriously maiming or killing you with their bite. Of the many shark species, only a relative few are dangerous. Of these, four species are responsible for most cases of shark attacks on humans. These are the white, tiger, hammerhead, and blue sharks. There are also records of attacks by ground, gray nurse, and mako sharks. See Figure F-1 for illustrations of sharks.
Sharks vary in size, but there is no relationship between the size of the shark and likelihood of attack. Even the smaller sharks can be dangerous, especially when they are traveling in schools.
If bitten by a shark, the most important measure for you to take is to stop the bleeding quickly. Blood in the water attracts sharks. Get yourself or the victim into a raft or to shore as soon as possible. If in the water, form a circle around the victim (if not alone), and stop the bleeding with a tourniquet.
Other Ferocious Fish
In salt water, other ferocious fish include the barracuda, sea bass, and moray eel (Figure F-2). The sea bass is usually an open water fish. It is dangerous due to its large size. It can remove large pieces of flesh from a human. Barracudas and moray eels have been known to attack man and inflict vicious bites. Be careful of these two species when near reefs and in shallow water. Moray eels are very aggressive when disturbed.
VENOMOUS FISH AND INVERTEBRATES
There are several species of venomous fish and invertebrates, all of which live in salt water. All of these are capable of injecting poisonous venom through spines located in their fins, tentacles, or bites. Their venoms cause intense pain and are potentially fatal. If injured by one of these fish or invertebrates, treat the injury as for snakebite. 
Dasyatidae species
Stingrays inhabit shallow water, especially in the tropics and in temperate regions as well. All have a distinctive ray shape but coloration may make them hard to spot unless they are swimming. The venomous, barbed spines in their tails can cause severe or fatal injury.
Siganidae species
Rabbitfish are found predominantly on the reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They average about 30 centimeters long and have very sharp spines in their fins. The spines are venomous and can inflict intense pain.
Scorpaenidae species
Scorpion fish live mainly in the reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They vary from 30 to 90 centimeters long, are usually reddish in coloration, and have long wavy fins and spines. They inflict an intensely painful sting.
The siganus fish is small, about 10 to 15 centimeters long, and looks much like a small tuna. It has venemous spines in its dorsal and ventral fins. These spines can inflict painful stings.
Synanceja species
Stonefish are found in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. Averaging about 30 centimeters in length, their subdued colors and lumpy shape provide them with exceptional camoflauge. When stepped on, the fins in the dorsal spine inflict an extremely painful and sometimes fatal wound.
Acanthuridae species
Tang or surgeonfish average 20 to 25 centimeters in length, with a deep body, small mouth, and bright coloration. They have needlelike spines on the side of the tail that cause extremely painful wounds. This fish is found in all tropical waters.
Batrachoididae species
Toadfish are found in the tropical waters off the coasts of South and Central America. They are between 17.5 and 25 centimeters long and have a dull color and large mouths. They bury themselves in the sand and may be easily stepped on. They have very sharp, extremely poisonous spines on the dorsal fin (back).
Trachinidae species
The weever fish is a tropical fish that is fairly slim and about 30 centimeters long. All its fins have venomous spines that cause a painful wound.
Hapalochlaena species
This small octopus is usually found on the Great Barrier Reef off eastern Australia. It is grayish-white with iridescent blue ringlike markings. This octopus usually will not bite unless stepped on or handled. Its bite s extremely poisonous and frequently lethal.
Physalis species
Although it resembles a jellyfish, the Portuguese man-of-war is actually a colony of sea animals. Mainly found in tropical regions, the Gulf stream current can carry it as far as Europe. It is also found as far south as Australia. The floating portion of the man-of-war may be as small as 15 centimeters, but the tentacles can reach 12 meters in length. These tentacles inflict a painful and incapacitating sting, but the sting is rarely fatal.
Conidae species
These cone-shaped shells have smooth, colorful mottling and long, narrow openings in the base of the shell. They live under rocks, in crevices and coral reefs, and along rocky shores and protected bays in tropical areas. All have tiny teeth that are similar to hypodermic needles. They can inject an extremely poisonous venom that acts very swiftly, causing acute pain, swelling, paralysis, blindness, and possible death within hours. Avoid handling all cone shells.
Terebridae species
These shells are found in both temperate and tropical waters. They are similar to cone shells but much thinner and longer. They poison in the same way as cone shells, but their venom is not as poisonous.
There are no simple rules to tell edible fish from those with poisonous flesh. The most common toxic fish are shown in Figure 8-2. All of these fish contain various types of poisonous substances or toxins in their flesh and are dangerous to eat. They have the following common characteristics:
- Most live in shallow water around reefs or lagoons.
- Many have boxy or round bodies with hard shell-like skins covered with bony plates or spines. They have small parrotlike mouths, small gills, and small or absent belly fins. Their names suggest their shape.
Without specific local information, take the following precautions:
- Be very careful with fish taken from normally shallow lagoons with sandy or broken coral bottoms. Reef-feeding species predominate and some may be poisonous.
- Avoid poisonous fish on the leeward side of an island. This area of shallow water consists of patches of living corals mixed with open spaces and may extend seaward for some distance. Many different types of fish inhabit these shallow waters, some of which are poisonous.
- Do not eat fish caught in any area where the water is unnaturally discolored. This may be indicative of plankton that cause various types of toxicity in plankton-feeding fish.
- Try fishing on the windward side or in deep passages leading from the open sea to the lagoon, but be careful of currents and waves. Live coral reefs drop off sharply into deep water and form a dividing line between the suspected fish of the shallows and the desirable deep-water species. Deepwater fish are usually not poisonous. You can catch the various toxic fish even in deep water. Discard all suspected reef fish, whether caught on the ocean or the reef side.
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
Animals rarely are as threatening to the survivor as the rest of the environment. Common sense tells the survivor to avoid encounters with lions, bears, and other large or dangerous animals. You should also avoid large grazing animals with horns, hooves, and great weight. Your actions may prevent unexpected meetings. Move carefully through their environment. Do not attract large predators by leaving food lying around your camp. Carefully survey the scene before entering water or forests.
Smaller animals actually present more of a threat to the survivor than large animals. To compensate for their size, nature has given many small animals weapons such as fangs and stingers to defend themselves. Each year, a few people are bitten by sharks, mauled by alligators, and attacked by bears. Most of these incidents were in some way the victim's fault. However, each year more victims die from bites by relatively small venomous snakes than by large dangerous animals. Even more victims die from allergic reactions to bee stings. For this reason, we will pay more attention to smaller and potentially more dangerous creatures. These are the animals you are more likely to meet as you unwittingly move into their habitat, or they slip into your environment unnoticed.
Keeping a level head and an awareness of your surroundings will keep you alive if you use a few simple safety procedures. Do not let curiosity and carelessness kill or injure you.
INSECTS AND ARACHNIDS
You recognize and identify insects, except centipedes and millipedes, by their six legs while arachnids have eight. All these small creatures become pests when they bite, sting, or irritate you.Although their venom can be quite painful, bee, wasp, and hornet stings rarely kill a survivor unless he is allergic to that particular toxin. Even the most dangerous spiders rarely kill, and the effects of tick-borne diseases are very slow-acting. However, in all cases, avoidance is the best defense. In environments known to have spiders and scorpions, check your footgear and clothing every morning. Also check your bedding and shelter for them. Use care when turning over rocks and logs. See Appendix D for examples of dangerous insects and arachnids.
Scorpions
You find scorpions (Buthotus species) in deserts, jungles, and forests of tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate areas of the world. They are mostly nocturnal in habit. You can find desert scorpions from below sea level in Death Valley to elevations as high as 3,600 meters in the Andes. Typically brown or black in moist areas, they may be yellow or light green in the desert. Their average size is about 2.5 centimeters. However, there are 20-centimeter giants in the jungles of Central America, New Guinea, and southern Africa. Fatalities from scorpion stings are rare, but they can occur in children, the elderly, and ill persons. Scorpions resemble small lobsters with raised, jointed tails bearing a stinger in the tip. Nature mimics the scorpions with whip scorpions or vinegar-roons. These are harmless and have a tail like a wire or whip, rather than the jointed tail and stinger of true scorpions.Spiders
You recognize the brown recluse or fiddleback spider of North America (Loxosceles reclusa) by a prominent violin-shaped light spot on the back of its body. As its name suggests, this spider likes to hide in dark places. Though rarely fatal, its bite causes excessive tissue degeneration around the wound and can even lead to amputation of the digits if left untreated.You find members of the widow family (Latrodectus species) worldwide, though the black widow of North America is perhaps the most well-known. Found in warmer areas of the world, the widows are small, dark spiders with often hourglass-shaped white, red, or orange spots on their abdomens.
Funnelwebs (Atrax species) are large, gray or brown Australian spiders. Chunky, with short legs, they are able to move easily up and down the cone-shaped webs from which they get their name. The local populace considers them deadly. Avoid them as they move about, usually at night, in search of prey. Symptoms of their bite are similar to those of the widow's--severe pain accompanied by sweating and shivering, weakness, and disabling episodes that can last a week.
Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders (Theraphosidae and Lycosa species) best known because they are often sold in pet stores. There is one species in Europe, but most come from tropical America. Some South American species do inject a dangerous toxin, but most simply produce a painful bite. Some tarantulas can be as large as a dinner plate. They all have large fangs for capturing food such as birds, mice, and lizards. If bitten by a tarantula, pain and bleeding are certain, and infection is likely.
Centipedes and Millipedes
Centipedes and millipedes are mostly small and harmless, although some tropical and desert species may reach 25 centimeters. A few varieties of centipedes have a poisonous bite, but infection is the greatest danger, as their sharp claws dig in and puncture the skin. To prevent skin punctures, brush them off in the direction they are traveling, if you find them crawling on your skin.Bees, Wasps, and Hornets
We are all familiar with bees, wasps, and hornets. They come in many varieties and have a wide diversity of habits and habitats. You recognize bees by their hairy and usually thick body, while the wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets have more slender, nearly hairless, bodies. Some bees, such as honeybees, live in colonies. They may be either domesticated or living wild in caves or hollow trees. You may find other bees, such as carpenter bees, in individual nest holes in wood, or in the ground, like bumblebees. The main danger from bees is their barbed stinger located on their abdomens. When the bee stings you, it rips its stinger out of its abdomen along with the venom sac, and the bee dies. Except for killer bees, most bees tend to be more docile than wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets that have smooth stingers and are capable of repeated attacks.Avoidance is the best tactic for self-protection. Watch out for flowers or fruit where bees may be feeding. Be careful of meat-eating yellow jackets when cleaning fish or game. The average person has a relatively minor and temporary reaction to bee stings and recovers in a couple of hours when the pain and headache go away. Those who are allergic to bee venom have severe reactions including anaphylactic shock, coma, and death. If antihistamine medicine is not available and you cannot find a substitute, an allergy sufferer in a survival situation is in grave danger.
Ticks
Ticks are common in the tropics and temperate regions. They are familiar to most of us. Ticks are small round arachnids with eight legs and can have either a soft or hard body. Ticks require a blood host to survive and reproduce. This makes them dangerous because they spread diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, encephalitis, and others that can ultimately be disabling or fatal. There is little you can do to treat these diseases once contracted, but time is your ally since they are slow-acting ailments. According to most authorities, it takes at least 6 hours of attachment to the host for the tick to transmit the disease organisms. Thus, you have time to thoroughly inspect your body for their presence. Beware of ticks when passing through the thick vegetation they cling to, when cleaning host animals for food, and when gathering natural materials to construct a shelter. Always use insect repellents, if possible.LEECHES
Leeches are blood-sucking creatures with a wormlike appearance. You find them in the tropics and in temperate zones. You will certainly encounter them when swimming in infested waters or making expedient water crossings. You can find them when passing through swampy, tropical vegetation and bogs. You can also find them while cleaning food animals, such as turtles, found in fresh water. Leeches can crawl into small openings; therefore, avoid camping in their habitats when possible. Keep your trousers tucked in your boots. Check yourself frequently for leeches. Swallowed or eaten, leeches can be a great hazard. It is therefore essential to treat water from questionable sources by boiling or using chemical water treatments. Survivors have developed severe infections from wounds inside the throat or nose when sores from swallowed leeches became infected.BATS
Despite the legends, bats (Desmodus species) are a relatively small hazard to the survivor. There are many bat varieties worldwide, but you find the true vampire bats only in Central and South America. They are small, agile fliers that land on their sleeping victims, mostly cows and horses, to lap a blood meal after biting their victim. Their saliva contains an anticoagulant that keeps the blood slowly flowing while they feed. Only a small percentage of these bats actually carry rabies; however, avoid any sick or injured bat. They can carry other diseases and infections and will bite readily when handled. Taking shelter in a cave occupied by bats, however, presents the much greater hazard of inhaling powdered bat dung, or guano. Bat dung carries many organisms that can cause diseases. Eating thoroughly cooked flying foxes or other bats presents no danger from rabies and other diseases, but again, the emphasis is on thorough cooking.POISONOUS SNAKES
There are no infallible rules for expedient identification of poisonous snakes in the field, because the guidelines all require close observation or manipulation of the snake's body. The best strategy is to leave all snakes alone. Where snakes are plentiful and poisonous species are present, the risk of their bites negates their food value. Apply the following safety rules when traveling in areas where there are poisonous snakes:- Walk carefully and watch where you step. Step onto logs rather than over them before looking and moving on.
- Look closely when picking fruit or moving around water.
- Do not tease, molest, or harass snakes. Snakes cannot close their eyes. Therefore, you cannot tell if they are asleep. Some snakes, such as mambas, cobras, and bushmasters, will attack aggressively when cornered or guarding a nest.
- Use sticks to turn logs and rocks.
- Wear proper footgear, particularly at night.
- Carefully check bedding, shelter, and clothing.
- Be calm when you encounter serpents. Snakes cannot hear and you can occasionally surprise them when they are sleeping or sunning. Normally, they will flee if given the opportunity.
- Use extreme care if you must kill snakes for food or safety. Although it is not common, warm, sleeping human bodies occasionally attract snakes.
Snake-Free Areas
The polar regions are free of snakes due to their inhospitable environments. Other areas considered to be free of poisonous snakes are New Zealand, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Polynesia, and Hawaii.- American Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
- Bushmaster (Lachesis mutus)
- Coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
- Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
- Fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox)
- Rattlesnake (Crotalus species)
| POISONOUS SNAKES OF EUROPE |
- Common adder (Vipers berus)
- Pallas' viper (Agkistrodon halys)
| POISONOUS SNAKES OF AFRICA AND ASIA |
- Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
- Cobra (Naja species)
- Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica)
- Green tree pit viper (Trimeresurus gramineus)
- Habu pit viper (Trimeresurus flavoviridis)
- Krait (Bungarus caeruleus)
- Malayan pit viper (Callaselasma rhodostoma)
- Mamba (Dendraspis species)
- Puff adder (Bitis arietans)
- Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis)
- Russell' s viper (Vipera russellii)
- Sand viper (Cerastes vipera)
- Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)
- Wagler's pit viper (Trimeresurus wagleri)
| POISONOUS SNAKES OF AUSTRALASIA |
- Death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)
- Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)
- Tiger snake (Notechis scutatus)
- Yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus)
DANGEROUS LIZARDS
The Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard are dangerous and poisonous lizards.Gila Monster
The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectrum) of the American southwest, including Mexico, is a large lizard with dark, highly textured skin marked by pinkish mottling. It averages 35 to 45 centimeters in length and has a thick, stumpy tail. Unlikely to bite unless molested, it has a poisonous bite.Mexican Beaded Lizard
The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) resembles its relative, the Gila monster. It has more uniform spots rather than bands of color (the Gila monster). It also is poisonous and has a docile nature. You find it from Mexico to Central America.Komodo Dragon
This giant lizard (Varanus komodoensis) grows to more than 3 meters in length and can be dangerous if you try to capture it. This Indonesian lizard can weigh more than 135 kilograms.DANGERS IN RIVERS
Common sense will tell you to avoid confrontations with hippopotami, alligators, crocodiles, and other large river creatures. There are, however, a few smaller river creatures with which you should be cautious.Electric Eel
Electric eels (Electrophorus electricus) may reach 2 meters in length and 20 centimeters in diameter. Avoid them. They are capable of generating up to 500 volts of electricity in certain organs in their body. They use this shock to stun prey and enemies. Normally, you find these eels in the Orinoco and Amazon River systems in South America. They seem to prefer shallow waters that are more highly oxygenated and provide more food. They are bulkier than our native eels. Their upper body is dark gray or black, with a lighter-colored underbelly.Piranha
Piranhas (Serrasalmo species) are another hazard of the Orinoco and Amazon River systems, as well as the Paraguay River Basin, where they are native. These fish vary greatly in size and coloration, but usually have a combination of orange undersides and dark tops. They have white, razor-sharp teeth that are clearly visible. They may be as long as 50 centimeters. Use great care when crossing waters where they live. Blood attracts them. They are most dangerous in shallow waters during the dry season.Turtle
Be careful when handling and capturing large freshwater turtles, such as the snapping turtles and soft-shelled turtles of North America and the matamata and other turtles of South America. All of these turtles will bite in self-defense and can amputate fingers and toes.Platypus
The platypus or duckbill (Ornithorhyncus anatinus) is the only member of its family and is easily recognized. It has a long body covered with grayish, short hair, a tail like a beaver, and a bill like a duck. Growing up to 60 centimeters in length, it may appear to be a good food source, but this egg-laying mammal, the only one in the world, is very dangerous. The male has a poisonous spur on each hind foot that can inflict intensely painful wounds. You find the platypus only in Australia, mainly along mud banks on waterways.DANGERS IN BAYS AND ESTUARIES
In areas where seas and rivers come together, there are dangers associated with both fresh and salt water. In shallow salt waters, there are many creatures that can inflict pain and cause infection to develop. Stepping on sea urchins, for example, can produce pain and infection. When moving about in shallow water, wear some form of footgear and shuffle your feet along the bottom, rather than picking up your feet and stepping.Stingrays (Dasyatidae species) are a real hazard in shallow waters, especially tropical waters. The type of bottom appears to be irrelevant. There is a great variance between species, but all have a sharp spike in their tail that may be venomous and can cause extremely painful wounds if stepped on. All rays have a typical shape that resembles a kite. You find them along the coasts of the Americas, Africa, and Australasia.
SALTWATER DANGERS
There are several fish that you should not handle, touch, or contact. There are others that you should not eat.Fish Dangerous to Handle, Touch, or Contact
There are several fish you should not handle, touch, or contact that are identified below.Shark
Sharks are the most feared animal in the sea. Usually, shark attacks cannot be avoided and are considered accidents. You, as a survivor, should take every precaution to avoid any contact with sharks. There are many shark species, but in general, dangerous sharks have wide mouths and visible teeth, while relatively harmless ones have small mouths on the underside of their heads. However, any shark can inflict painful and often fatal injuries, either through bites or through abrasions from their rough skin.
Rabbitfish
Rabbitfish or spinefoot (Siganidae species) occur mainly on coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. They have very sharp, possibly venomous spines in their fins. Handle them with care, if at all. This fish, like many others of the dangerous fish in this section, is considered edible by native peoples where the fish are found, but deaths occur from careless handling. Seek other nonpoisonous fish to eat if at all possible.
Tang
Tang or surgeonfish (Acanthuridae species) average 20 to 25 centimeters in length and often are beautifully colored. They are called surgeonfish because of the scalpellike spines located in the tail. The wounds inflicted by these spines can bring about death through infection, envenomation, and loss of blood, which may incidentally attract sharks.
Toadfish
Toadfish (Batrachoididae species) occur in tropical waters off the Gulf Coast of the United States and along both coasts of Central and South America. These dully colored fish average 18 to 25 centimeters in length. They typically bury themselves in the sand to await fish and other prey. They have sharp, very toxic spines along their backs.
Scorpion Fish
Poisonous scorpion fish or zebra fish (Scorpaenidae species) are mostly around reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans and occasionally in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. They average 30 to 75 centimeters in length. Their coloration is highly variable, from reddish brown to almost purple or brownish yellow. They have long, wavy fins and spines and their sting is intensively painful. Less poisonous relatives live in the Atlantic Ocean.
Stonefish
Stonefish (Synanceja species) are in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They can inject a painful venom from their dorsal spines when stepped on or handled carelessly. They are almost impossible to see because of their lumpy shape and drab colors. They range in size up to 40 centimeters.
Weever Fish
Weever fish (Trachinidae species) average 30 centimeters long. They are hard to see as they lie buried in the sand off the coasts of Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean. Their color is usually a dull brown. They have venomous spines on the back and gills.
See Appendix F for more details on these venomous fish.
Animals and Fish Poisonous to Eat
Survival manuals often mention that the livers of polar bears are toxic due to their high concentrations of vitamin A. For this reason, we mention the chance of death after eating this organ. Another toxic meat is the flesh of the hawksbill turtle. You recognize them by their down-turned bill and yellow polka dots on their neck and front flippers. They weigh more than 275 kilograms and are unlikely to be captured.Many fish living in reefs near shore, or in lagoons and estuaries, are poisonous to eat, though some are only seasonally dangerous. The majority are tropical fish; however, be wary of eating any unidentifiable fish wherever you are. Some predatory fish, such as barracuda and snapper, may become toxic if the fish they feed on in shallow waters are poisonous. The most poisonous types appear to have parrotlike beaks and hard shell-like skins with spines and often can inflate their bodies like balloons. However, at certain times of the year, indigenous populations consider the puffer a delicacy.
Blowfish
Blowfish or puffer (Tetraodontidae species) are more tolerant of cold water. You find them along tropical and temperate coasts worldwide, even in some of the rivers of Southeast Asia and Africa. Stout-bodied and round, many of these fish have short spines and can inflate themselves into a ball when alarmed or agitated. Their blood, liver, and gonads are so toxic that as little as 28 milligrams (1 ounce) can be fatal. These fish vary in color and size, growing up to 75 centimeters in length.
Triggerfish
The triggerfish (Balistidae species) occur in great variety, mostly in tropical seas. They are deep-bodied and compressed, resembling a seagoing pancake up to 60 centimeters in length, with large and sharp dorsal spines. Avoid them all, as many have poisonous flesh.
Barracuda
Although most people avoid them because of their ferocity, they occasionally eat barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda). These predators of mostly tropical seas can reach almost 1.5 meters in length and have attacked humans without provocation. They occasionally carry the poison ciguatera in their flesh, making them deadly if consumed.
See Appendix F for more details on toxic fish and toxic mollusks.
Other Dangerous Sea Creatures
The blue-ringed octopus, jellyfish, and the cone and auger shells are other dangerous sea creatures.Blue-Ringed Octopus
Most octopi are excellent when properly prepared. However, the blueringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) can inflict a deadly bite from its parrotlike beak. Fortunately, it is restricted to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia and is very small. It is easily recognized by its grayish white overall color and iridescent blue rings. Authorities warn that all tropical octopus species should be treated with caution, since many have poisonous bites, although the flesh is edible.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish-related deaths are rare, but the sting they inflict is extremely painful. The Portuguese man-of-war resembles a large pink or purple balloon floating on the sea. It has poisonous tentacles hanging up to 12 meters below its body. The huge tentacles are actually colonies of stinging cells. Most known deaths from jellyfish are attributed to the man-of-war. Other jellyfish can inflict very painful stings as well. Avoid the long tentacles of any jellyfish, even those washed up on the beach and apparently dead.
Cone Shell
The subtropical and tropical cone shells (Conidae species) have a venomous harpoonlike barb. All are cone-shaped and have a fine netlike pattern on the shell. A membrane may possibly obscure this coloration. There are some very poisonous cone shells, even some lethal ones in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Avoid any shell shaped like an ice cream cone.
Auger Shell
The auger shell or terebra (Terebridae species) are much longer and thinner than the cone shells, but can be nearly as deadly as the cone shells. They are found in temperate and tropical seas. Those in the Indian and Pacific oceans have a more toxic venom in their stinging barb. Do not eat these snails, as their flesh may be poisonous.
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