Horrible Biology

By Arnold Lawson

Delve into the eerie aspects of nature with this well-illustrated and enlightening book, unveiling the ghastly facets of life that thrive amidst us. From deadly poisonous frogs to plants that can drive one mad, from minuscule spiders residing on the skin to flies feasting on human flesh, and parasitic worms inhabiting human bodies to fungi annihilating frogs – discover these and more in the realm of Horrible Biology.

As you traverse through the chilling accounts, you’ll come to realize that biology – the study of living organisms, encompassing an estimated 8.5 million distinct species – holds dark secrets within its vast expanse. While not all of these species incite revulsion, a significant number indeed harbour attributes many would find appalling.

However, Horrible Biology isn’t solely a journey through grotesque organisms; it also honours lesser-known individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the field of biology, enriching our comprehension of the living world, despite its grim constituents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9781398495012

Arnold Lawson

Arnold Lawson, a retired teacher, was the head of biology and head of the science faculty in a large comprehensive school in Sheffield. From an early age and living on the edge of the English Lake District with its outstanding landscapes and its diversity of flora and fauna, he has always had an interest in natural history. This interest has taken him from the forests of New Zealand to the Amazonian jungle of Brazil. His other interests include gardening, fell walking and landscape photography.

Book preview

Horrible Biology

Arnold Lawson

Austin Macauley Publishers

Horrible Biology

About the Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

Acknowledgement

Introduction

1. Demodex

2. Captain James Lind and Scurvy

3. How to Measure the Blood Pressure of a Horse

4. The Flesh-Eating Human Bot Fly

5. The Most Dangerous Plant in the Country – The Giant Hogweed

6. No Anaesthetic or Pain Killers

7. Alexis St. Martin – A Human Test Tube

8. The Bullet Ant

9. Small but with a Deadly Sting – Scorpions

10. Sea Wasp Box Jellyfish – The Most Dangerous Sea Creature

11. The Blue Ringed Octopus – Small but Deadly

12. Poison Dart Frogs

13. Gympie-Gympie or the Suicide Plant

14. Mawson and Vitamin A

15. Devil’s Cherries and Beautiful Lady

16. Plants That Eat Animals – Giant Malaysian Pitcher Plant

17. Plants That Eat Animals – Venus Fly Trap

18. Plants That Eat Animals – The Bladderwort – The Quickest Moving Carnivorous Plant

19. Plants That Eat Animals –Sundew

20. Parasites

21. Parasites in the United Kingdom

22. Horrible Parasites

23. Fungi – Very Useful – Very Nasty

24. The Doomsday Fungus

Websites

About the Author

Arnold Lawson, a retired teacher, was the head of biology and head of the science faculty in a large comprehensive school in Sheffield. From an early age and living on the edge of the English Lake District with its outstanding landscapes and its diversity of flora and fauna, he has always had an interest in natural history. This interest has taken him from the forests of New Zealand to the Amazonian jungle of Brazil. His other interests include gardening, fell walking and landscape photography.

Dedication

For Madeline, Kathryn and Hazel

Copyright Information ©

Arnold Lawson 2024

The right of Arnold Lawson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398495005 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398495012 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

The author wishes to acknowledge with greatest thanks, the encouragement, kindness and assistance the production team of Austin Macauley Publisher. I also wish to thank the help given by wife, Madeline, in encouraging me in times of Covid-19 to continue to research and write the book. Also, to Hazel, for sorting out computer problems and Kathryn, for reading and suggesting changes to the manuscript and topics.

Introduction

Do you know how many different kinds (or species) of living things (or organisms) there are on earth? You don’t know? The author doesn’t know and neither does anyone else! There about 1.2 million ANIMAL species, but biologists believe there could be as many as 8 million different species. New animal species are found every year. In 2018, biologists discovered 120 new species of wasp, 34 sea slugs, 19 fish, 7 spiders, 3 sharks, 1 frog and 1 snake. In 2021, over 550 new species were discovered, including 52 new species of wasp, 7 crabs, 6 flies, 13 moths, 91 beetles and 10 new species of amphibians and reptiles. A new species of carnivorous plant was discovered and named the killer tobacco plant, and another animal was the screaming tree frog. However, the UN (United Nations) have suggested that between 150–235 species become extinct every day due to climate change and the destruction of the environment.

So far, 10,500 species of bird have been identified, 33,600 species of fish, 18,500 species of butterfly, 2,500 fleas and 2,500 species of earthworm. There are two main reasons why many species remain undiscovered. Firstly, many live in very inhospitable areas, for example the bottom of deep oceans or unexplored areas of jungle, and secondly, many are extremely small and microscopic in size.

Another group of organisms are PLANTS which include about 390,000 different species. In 2016, 2,000 new species of plant were discovered.

Another group is called FUNGI, and this includes mushrooms, toadstools, and yeasts and about 75,000 different species have been identified.