Poisonous Animals In Belize: What You Need To Know

Belize is home to a wide variety of dangerous and venomous animals. While it is unlikely that you will encounter any of these creatures during your visit, it is important to be aware of their existence and take precautions to avoid any potential harm. From snakes and spiders to scorpions and sharks, here is a glimpse into the poisonous animals that call Belize home.

Poisonous snakes

Belize is home to a variety of venomous snakes. Out of the 56+ species of snakes found in the country, only 8 are considered dangerous to humans. While these snakes possess deadly venom, most of them are not aggressive and will only bite if stepped on or threatened. The Fer de Lance is the exception, as it is an aggressive serpent that will strike if disturbed. Here are some of the venomous snakes found in Belize:

Fer de Lance (Tommy Goff)

Also known as "Yellowjaw" by Belizeans, the Fer de Lance is an aggressive snake with strong, fast-acting hemotoxic venom. It is commonly found throughout Central America and is responsible for a large portion of fatal snake bites in the region. This viper is fairly common in Belize and can be hard to spot. It is known for its willingness to venture into areas with high human populations in search of prey. The Fer de Lance has a strong bite that can cause tissue degradation, sometimes necessitating amputation.

Central American Coral Snake

The Central American Coral Snake is one of the two species of coral snakes found in Belize. It has brightly coloured bands of red, yellow, and black, with a maximum length of three feet. This snake is usually mild-tempered, but caution should be exercised as its bite can be fatal. It possesses strong neurotoxic venom and primarily feeds on other snakes, lizards, and frogs.

Eyelash Viper

The Eyelash Viper is a beautiful pit viper that is uniquely camouflaged, blending in with the moss often found on trees in humid forests. It has a typical viper-shaped head and a pair of facial pits or heat-sensing organs. Its overall body colour is green, with irregular blotches of brown, yellow, and white. The Eyelash Viper is not aggressive but will bite if threatened. It spends most of its time in trees and is rarely seen on the ground.

Jumping Viper

The Jumping Viper, also known as the Jumping Tommygoff, is found primarily in the high elevations of Belize's southern hardwood forests. It has a distinctive pattern of adjoining saddles down its entire dorsal surface. This species is mild-tempered compared to other pit vipers, but its bite may result in extreme pain and severe haemorrhaging, which can be fatal. The Jumping Viper is primarily nocturnal but is sometimes seen in the early mornings, basking in the sun.

Mayan Coral Snake

The Mayan Coral Snake is a beautiful snake with large red, yellow, and black bands. It is known for having the most toxic poison of any snake in Belize. Fortunately, they are shy around humans and bites are rare. This snake is terrestrial and sub-terrestrial, primarily nocturnal, and feeds mainly on other snakes and lizards. Its neurotoxic venom is extremely dangerous to humans.

Mexican Cantil Moccasin

The Mexican Cantil Moccasin, or Mexican Moccasin, is a viper found in the northern hardwood forests of Belize. It has brown colouring with irregular blotches of white down its dorsal surface. Its tail varies from pale white to yellow, and its tongue is reddish. This snake has strong, fast-acting hemotoxic venom. The Mexican Cantil Moccasin is not aggressive but will strike if threatened.

While encountering these venomous snakes is unlikely, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and identify potential dangers when exploring the wild areas of Belize.

Poisonous spiders

Belize is home to several species of venomous spiders, including the black widow and the brown recluse.

The black widow spider is one of the most poisonous spiders in North and Central America. They are usually identified by their black colour and red marking on the underside of their abdomen, which is typically shaped like an hourglass. The female black widow is darker and larger than the male. The female can grow to about half an inch long, with a leg span of about one and a half inches, while the male is typically half the size of the female. Black widows are found in warm and temperate climates all around the world, and live in dark places such as drain pipes, under logs and rocks. Their venom is said to be 15 times as poisonous as that of the prairie rattlesnake, and while fatalities from black widow bites are incredibly low, a bite will require immediate medical attention.

The brown recluse spider is shy and non-aggressive, and will only bite when pressed against the skin, such as when tangled up within clothes or bedding. A minority of brown recluse spider bites form a necrotising ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months to heal, leaving deep scars. The initial bite is often painless and may go unnoticed, but the wound can grow to as large as 10 inches in extreme cases. Brown recluses are found in dark corners and places inside the house, and also live under furniture, boxes and books. They are mostly only active from March through October.

Poisonous insects

Belize is home to a variety of insects that can cause harm to humans. Here is a list of poisonous insects that you may encounter in the country:

Black Widow Spiders

These spiders are extremely venomous arachnids commonly found in warm and temperate climates worldwide, including Belize. They live in dark places such as drain pipes, under logs, and rocks. The venom of a black widow spider is approximately 15 times more poisonous than that of a prairie rattlesnake. While black widow bites rarely result in fatalities, they can cause severe pain, swelling, and even anaphylactic shock in humans.

Bullet Ants (Paraponera)

Locally known as "Hormiga Veinticuatro" or "24-hour ant", the bullet ant is infamous for its powerful and intensely painful sting, which is said to be comparable to being shot with a bullet. The pain can last for up to 24 hours and is described as "waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain". Fortunately, bullet ant stings are rarely lethal unless the person bitten has an allergy.

Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse spider is not aggressive and usually bites only when pressed against the skin, such as when tangled in clothing or bedding. However, its bite can cause necrosis, destroying soft tissue and leaving deep scars. The initial bite is often painless and may go unnoticed, but over time, the wound can grow up to 10 inches in extreme cases. While fatalities are rare, the brown recluse spider's bite can be dangerous and may require medical attention.

Bees, Wasps, and Hornets

Bees, wasps, and hornets are familiar insects that can be found in various habitats. Nearly all honeybees in Belize are Africanized, except for the native stingless bee. It is important to avoid these insects as much as possible, especially when they are feeding on flowers or fruit.

In addition to the insects mentioned above, it is worth noting that scorpions, tarantulas, and centipedes are also present in Belize and can inflict venomous bites or stings. While their stings may not always be life-threatening, they can cause pain, swelling, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Poisonous frogs

Poison dart frogs are among the most poisonous animals on Earth. There are over 170 species and 13 genera of poison dart frogs, though only four species are considered poisonous. These frogs are very small, with adult frogs ranging from half an inch to just under two and a half inches in length, weighing about one ounce. The bright yellow, orange, red, blue, and green colours of the poison dart frog serve as a warning to potential predators that it is highly toxic. Poison dart frogs secrete a defensive toxin from tiny pores in their skin that can kill if injected into a human or other animal.

The poison dart frog's poison comes from its diet. Alkaloids from arthropods accumulate and are secreted through the frog's skin. The toxins vary in potency, with the most toxic poison dart frog being the golden poison frog. Each frog contains about one milligram of poison, which is enough to kill between 10 and 20 people or 10,000 mice. The poison prevents nerve impulses from transmitting the signal to relax muscles, causing heart failure. There are no antidotes for poison dart frog exposure.

Poison dart frogs are native to the tropical and subtropical rainforests and wetlands of Central and South America. They are found in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Suriname, French Guiana, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, and Brazil. The frogs have also been introduced into Hawaii.

Poisonous bats

While there are no poisonous bats in Belize, there are a few species of vampire bats that can be dangerous to humans. Vampire bats are known to spread diseases such as rabies. They typically feed on livestock, but the disease can affect their sense of rationality and cause them to target other creatures, including humans. However, bat bites are very rare in Belize, and there is no need for excessive concern.

Belize is home to a wide variety of bat species, with over 50 researchers gathering near the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve to study them. These bats include frugivorous, nectarivorous, insectivorous, and carnivorous species. During a research trip, the team captured 950 individual bats and started a new system of tagging the bats with microchips to track them over time.

The bats in Belize exhibit a diverse range of characteristics, from brightly coloured fur to large ears and intricate facial features. Some bats have wings spanning up to six feet, while others are as small as the bumblebee bat of Thailand. The country's bat population includes free-tailed bats, leaf-chinned bats, funnel-eared bats, leaf-nosed bats, and plain-nosed bats, among others.

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