Black Widow Spider
A black widow’s venom is far more potent than a rattlesnake’s, drop for drop, but it injects so little that deaths are extremely rare.
Arachnid
Deathstalker Scorpion
A molecule from deathstalker venom, called chlorotoxin, has been developed into a ‘tumour paint’ that makes brain tumours glow so surgeons can remove them more precisely.
Goliath Birdeater
The goliath birdeater is the heaviest spider in the world, about the size of a dinner plate, and can hiss by rubbing its legs together.
Jumping Spider
Jumping spiders have some of the sharpest eyesight of any animal their size, and some species plan detours to reach prey they cannot see directly.
Peacock Spider
Male peacock spiders raise a brilliantly coloured flap on their abdomen and perform a waving, leg-raising dance to court females.