Includes bibliographical references (p. 156) and index.

Brutal toxin -- What is venom? -- The evolution of venom -- How venom works -- Overkill? Venom strength and power -- Valuable venom -- Antivenin: miracle antidote? -- What to do if you are bitten -- Myths about venom -- Facts and statistics -- Europe -- Violin, fiddleback and recluse spiders -- Fat-tailed scorpion -- Weeverfish -- Dog whelk -- Mauve stinger -- Black widow spiders -- European vipers -- Fire salamander -- Water shrew -- Water boatman -- Blister beetle or Spanish fly -- Devil's coach horse beetle -- Lepidoptera larvae -- North America -- Solenodon -- Bark scorpion -- Portuguese man-of-war -- Stingrays -- California newt -- Gila monster -- Beaded lizard -- Rattlesnakes -- Latin America -- Bushmaster -- Giant centipedes -- Brazilian wandering or Banana spider -- Tarantulas -- Poison dart frogs -- Tropical lanceheads -- Assassin bugs -- Bullet ant -- Tang or Surgeonfish -- Sponges -- Coral snakes --

Africa -- Giant millipedes -- Killer bee -- Stonefish -- African bombardier beetle -- Lionfish, Zebrafish, Scorpionfish, Butterfly cod -- Scorpions -- Black mamba -- African cobras -- Puff adder -- Gaboon viper -- Australasia -- Box jellyfish -- Irukandji -- Sea anemones, corals and hydroids -- Australian paralysis tick -- Sydney funnel-web spider -- Redback spider -- Blue-ringed octopus -- Hooded pitohui -- Platypus -- Australian venomous snakes -- Cane toad -- Asia -- King cobra -- Other cobras -- Russell's viper -- Saw-scaled viper -- Deathstalker scorpion -- Crown-of-thorns starfish -- Red tides and Ciguatoxins -- Cone shells -- Pufferfish -- Yellow-bellied or Pelagic seasnake -- Slow loris -- Komodo dragon -- Asian giant hornet -- The future for venomous wildlife -- The pressure builds.