Biodiversity of Alabama: Biodiversity of Alabama: Poisonous and Parasitic SpeciesPoisonous and Parasitic Species

79. Copperhead 79. Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrixAgkistrodon contortrix

hourglass markingshourglass markingsmost common poisonous most common poisonous snake in the woods of snake in the woods of north Alabamanorth AlabamaAmbush predatorAmbush predatorLeast poisonous venom of Least poisonous venom of all North America snakes, all North America snakes, but bite is painfulbut bite is painfulNot aggressive, but Not aggressive, but camouflage is so good that camouflage is so good that people can get bitten if people can get bitten if they come upon it without they come upon it without seeing itseeing it

80. Timber Rattlesnake80. Timber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridusCrotalus horridus

chevrons on back are characteristicchevrons on back are characteristicOne of the pit vipers – has heat-seeking organs on One of the pit vipers – has heat-seeking organs on head to detect prey, such as small mammalshead to detect prey, such as small mammalsNumbers are decliningNumbers are decliningPowerful venom, but not aggressive, usually gives Powerful venom, but not aggressive, usually gives warning display before attackingwarning display before attacking

81. Cottonmouth or water moccasin81. Cottonmouth or water moccasinAgkistrodon piscivorusAgkistrodon piscivorus (name means fish-eater) (name means fish-eater)

pattern or solid black, pattern or solid black, inside of mouth white, shows open mouth in inside of mouth white, shows open mouth in threat displaythreat displayfound near waterfound near wateraggressiveaggressive

82. Coral snake82. Coral snake south Alabama only south Alabama only ““red on yellow, kill a red on yellow, kill a fellow”fellow”Not much of a threat to Not much of a threat to humans because they humans because they are so shy and fangs are are so shy and fangs are shortshort

Compare to Scarlet Compare to Scarlet Kingsnake – “red on Kingsnake – “red on black, venom lack” black, venom lack”

83. Black Widow 83. Black Widow

found in undisturbed protected areas (old found in undisturbed protected areas (old woodpiles, stumps, dry drains, old stacks woodpiles, stumps, dry drains, old stacks of newspapers, etc.)of newspapers, etc.)

red hourglass on abdomenred hourglass on abdomen

neurotoxin affects nervous systemneurotoxin affects nervous system

84. Brown Recluse 84. Brown Recluse also found in undisturbed areas like the black also found in undisturbed areas like the black widow widow

dark brown violin shape on thorax dark brown violin shape on thorax (“fiddleback”)(“fiddleback”)

Necrotic effect of poison (eats away tissue)Necrotic effect of poison (eats away tissue)

85. Order Hymenoptera 85. Order Hymenoptera

Flying stinging insects: bees, wasps, Flying stinging insects: bees, wasps, yellowjacketsyellowjackets

Includes fire ants (also invasive)Includes fire ants (also invasive)

86. Poison Ivy86. Poison Ivy

grows as a low weedy plant, a climbing vine or a shrubgrows as a low weedy plant, a climbing vine or a shrub

““Leaves of three, let it be.”Leaves of three, let it be.”

Hairy vines on trees are also poisonous Hairy vines on trees are also poisonous

87. Poison Sumac87. Poison Sumac

a woody shrub or small tree growing a woody shrub or small tree growing 20 ft tall.20 ft tall.

Grows only in wet areas, such as Grows only in wet areas, such as swamps, bogs swamps, bogs

All parts of the plant contain a resin All parts of the plant contain a resin that causes skin and mucous that causes skin and mucous membrane irritation to humans. membrane irritation to humans.

When burned, inhalation of the smoke When burned, inhalation of the smoke may cause the rash to appear on the may cause the rash to appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficultyand possibly fatal respiratory difficulty

Has compound leaves, with 7-13 Has compound leaves, with 7-13 leaflets per “leaf”leaflets per “leaf”

88. Leech88. Leech

parasite on freshwater organismsparasite on freshwater organisms

produces an antisthetic (numbs site) and produces an antisthetic (numbs site) and anticoagulant (keeps blood from clotting)anticoagulant (keeps blood from clotting)

89. Deer tick89. Deer tick

very small (adults are the two on the left below)very small (adults are the two on the left below)

Bites host to get a blood meal before reproducingBites host to get a blood meal before reproducing

may transmit Lyme disease – causes bull’s eye-may transmit Lyme disease – causes bull’s eye-shaped rash, then joint pain, fever, flu-like symptomsshaped rash, then joint pain, fever, flu-like symptoms