Yellow scorpion 7-11 cm. Slender pincers, thick stinger tail. Considered the most venomous scorpion in the world by neurotoxin potency.

Powerful neurotoxin cocktail — drop for drop one of nature's deadliest substances. Mortality in children up to 70% without antivenom. 1-2 mg of venom worth $39,000 on research market.

Deserts and scrubland from North Africa across Middle East — Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan.

Nocturnal. Hides under stones, in burrows, in shoes left outdoors. Aggressive — strikes repeatedly when disturbed. Glows green under UV.

Small (50-90 cm), sandy-coloured viper with serrated scales that rasp together producing a warning sound. Despite size, considered the world's deadliest snake by total kill count.

Estimated to cause 20,000+ deaths annually across its range — more than any other snake. Hemotoxin causes uncontrolled bleeding. Highly aggressive — strikes without provocation.

Dry regions from West Africa across Middle East to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Sand, scrub, rocky desert.

Nocturnal. Makes a distinctive 'sizzling' sound by rubbing serrated scales — a warning. Strikes faster than human reflexes — multiple times per second.

Up to 1.3 m. Grey-brown with darker zigzag. Israel's national reptile and main cause of envenomation in the Levant.

Hemotoxic venom causes severe local damage, hemorrhage, hypotension. About 200 bites/year in Israel. Mortality <1% with antivenom; previously 5-7%.

Mediterranean coastal regions of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, southern Turkey. Coastal plains, forest edges, agricultural land.

Crepuscular in summer. Often found in cultivated areas. Strikes when threatened — quick to defend itself.

Yellow-brown, up to 8 cm. Found in Spain, southern France, Italy, the Balkans. The largest scorpion in Europe.

Sting is intensely painful — comparable to a wasp — and can cause swelling, fever, vomiting. Healthy adults recover in 24 hours; risk for children and allergics.

Dry rocky terrain, vineyards, ruins, and old stone walls of the Mediterranean.

Nocturnal. Hides under stones and bark by day. Stings when stepped on, sat on, or while putting on shoes left outside overnight.