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Don't Mess with Me: The Strange Lives of Venomous Sea Creatures
The role of venoms in nature … and in human medicine Why are toxins so advantageous to their possessors as to evolve over and over again? What is it about watery environments that favors so many venomous creatures? Marine biologist Paul Erickson explores these and other questions with astounding images from Andrew Martinez and other top underwater photographers. GREAT for teaching STEM Marine Biology
Scorpions and brown recluse spiders are fine as far as they go, but if you want daily contact with venomous creatures, the ocean is the place to be. Blue-ringed octopi, stony corals, sea jellies, stonefish, lionfish, poison-fanged blennies, stingrays, cone snails, blind remipedes, fire urchins―you can choose your poison in the ocean. Venoms are often but not always defensive weapons. The banded sea krait, an aquatic snake, wriggles into undersea caves to prey on vicious moray eels, killing them with one of the world’s most deadly neurotoxins, which it injects through fangs that resemble hypodermic needles. color photographs
Scorpions and brown recluse spiders are fine as far as they go, but if you want daily contact with venomous creatures, the ocean is the place to be. Blue-ringed octopi, stony corals, sea jellies, stonefish, lionfish, poison-fanged blennies, stingrays, cone snails, blind remipedes, fire urchins―you can choose your poison in the ocean. Venoms are often but not always defensive weapons. The banded sea krait, an aquatic snake, wriggles into undersea caves to prey on vicious moray eels, killing them with one of the world’s most deadly neurotoxins, which it injects through fangs that resemble hypodermic needles. color photographs
- GenresNonfiction
48 pages, Hardcover
Published December 4, 2018
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 28, 2018
This book tells all about the venomous creatures of the sea, with beautiful photographs of each type of fish, coral, and worm. Each page has wonderful explanations of how the creatures feed on their prey, how they deliver their venom to their victims, and how they protect themselves from other predators.
The information is interesting and memorable, but uses many big words and technical terms that children might find too heavy for enjoyable reading.
I loved the colorful photographs, and curious facts about each animal, and I found it very informative and impressive.
However, I was disappointed that the book often referred to the evolutionary process, citing "millions of years", etc... as though it were empirical fact, instead of a theory. I found that to be a little dishonest, as if the authors were purposefully misleading the reader to think that a theory is actual verified fact. Other than that, the information seemed knowledgeable and reliable.
This cover is so ugly! Why couldn't the publishers have put a beautiful-but-deadly picture of an anemone, or coral, clown fish, jellyfish, stingray, sea star, or any of the other gorgeous creatures featured in this book? Why choose the ugliest, nastiest-looking fish in the entire book, and put THAT one on the cover? Seriously. It's so unappealing that I did not want to pick up this book after having seen the nasty fish on the front staring at me with bug eyes. Ugh. Although, maybe boys, who love nasty things, would find it attractive, and would enjoy looking at gross creatures with bug eyes. To each his own, I guess.
This would be a good book for children doing a book report or research project on venomous creatures, where they need some technical information, but also want to have fun reading about it!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
The information is interesting and memorable, but uses many big words and technical terms that children might find too heavy for enjoyable reading.
I loved the colorful photographs, and curious facts about each animal, and I found it very informative and impressive.
However, I was disappointed that the book often referred to the evolutionary process, citing "millions of years", etc... as though it were empirical fact, instead of a theory. I found that to be a little dishonest, as if the authors were purposefully misleading the reader to think that a theory is actual verified fact. Other than that, the information seemed knowledgeable and reliable.
This cover is so ugly! Why couldn't the publishers have put a beautiful-but-deadly picture of an anemone, or coral, clown fish, jellyfish, stingray, sea star, or any of the other gorgeous creatures featured in this book? Why choose the ugliest, nastiest-looking fish in the entire book, and put THAT one on the cover? Seriously. It's so unappealing that I did not want to pick up this book after having seen the nasty fish on the front staring at me with bug eyes. Ugh. Although, maybe boys, who love nasty things, would find it attractive, and would enjoy looking at gross creatures with bug eyes. To each his own, I guess.
This would be a good book for children doing a book report or research project on venomous creatures, where they need some technical information, but also want to have fun reading about it!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
February 20, 2019
Having grown up along the coast of North Carolina and having a love of the beach and ocean, I grew to have a healthy respect for stinging critters in the sea. I never appreciated sea grass and plants of various types wrapping itself around my legs in the surf. Then, of course, there were the tiny fish that was churned up in the waves, too.
But the biggest fear in those days were jelly fish and it seems that sometimes they were everywhere. You seriously avoided the water because you knew the sting was fearsome.
In Don't Mess With Me the author and photographer have captured the essence of a sea full of a variety of fish and critters that are poisonous or venomous. These creatures seem to be in abundance everywhere in the sea. So beware and don't mess with them.
I like that the author explains the difference between poisonous and venomous sea creatures. I also like that they point out that some are invasive species so you don't want them in your aquarium or released into the sea.
I recommend this non-fiction book for classroom libraries, school libraries, and public libraries everywhere.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of Tilbury House Publishers and the author to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and freely given.
But the biggest fear in those days were jelly fish and it seems that sometimes they were everywhere. You seriously avoided the water because you knew the sting was fearsome.
In Don't Mess With Me the author and photographer have captured the essence of a sea full of a variety of fish and critters that are poisonous or venomous. These creatures seem to be in abundance everywhere in the sea. So beware and don't mess with them.
I like that the author explains the difference between poisonous and venomous sea creatures. I also like that they point out that some are invasive species so you don't want them in your aquarium or released into the sea.
I recommend this non-fiction book for classroom libraries, school libraries, and public libraries everywhere.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of Tilbury House Publishers and the author to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and freely given.
January 24, 2019
Oh my goodness, this book was really cool. My son loves the creatures of the ocean, so this book was right up his alley. It was really something to learn about these venomous creatures. The facts in this are really very strange, which makes it all the more intriguing. With amazing photographs and facts this book is sure to be a hit for kids and adults alike! A must for home and school library.
January 9, 2019
Did you know that there are over 9,000 varieties of stinging jelly fish, anemones and corals? Did you know that there are nearly 3,000 venomous fish?
The blue-ringed octopus injects its victims with venom and can shut down its nervous system. Ther northern red anemone is beautiful to look at but its venom can paralyze a victim. The bloodworm’s bite feels like a bee sting. The crown of thorns seastar is beautiful and prickly. Its venom can cause pain and destroy blood cells. Remember Dora, the palette surgeon fish, from finding Nemo? Well, this pretty blue fish with its yellow fin can cut like a scapel if you get to close.
If you are a fan of fish you will love this special guide about venomous sea creatures. Phenomenal photos show these creatures in their natural habitats. Brief descriptions share how the venom works, how bright colors can mean danger and how some creatures attach themselves to their prey. There is even a timeline of earth’s history with these creatures. Parents and teachers can use this guide to teach science and sea-life. There are plenty of resources on the back pages too.
The blue-ringed octopus injects its victims with venom and can shut down its nervous system. Ther northern red anemone is beautiful to look at but its venom can paralyze a victim. The bloodworm’s bite feels like a bee sting. The crown of thorns seastar is beautiful and prickly. Its venom can cause pain and destroy blood cells. Remember Dora, the palette surgeon fish, from finding Nemo? Well, this pretty blue fish with its yellow fin can cut like a scapel if you get to close.
If you are a fan of fish you will love this special guide about venomous sea creatures. Phenomenal photos show these creatures in their natural habitats. Brief descriptions share how the venom works, how bright colors can mean danger and how some creatures attach themselves to their prey. There is even a timeline of earth’s history with these creatures. Parents and teachers can use this guide to teach science and sea-life. There are plenty of resources on the back pages too.
January 21, 2019
Best for MS/HS. If purchased for elementary, kids will definitely checkout. However, most will only be looking at photos. Vocab too high for most 3-5th. Great photos. Fascinating. Good gift for future marine biologists??
February 1, 2019
Watch out! These creatures of the deep are dangerous. Just looking at the cover photo will let you know that these guys mean business.
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
March 31, 2019
Don’t Mess with Me is a step up on the reading ladder from basic nonfiction books about undersea life because it takes the basic information about these venomous sea creatures and dives deeply (pun intended) into the actually whys and hows of their existence.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews