Florida and all the other areas in and around the Caribbean are subtropical and tropical wonderlands, filled with fascinating and beautiful plants and animals. It is wise to remember, however, that a few of them are best avoided since contact or consumption can be dangerous—with consequences ranging from mere annoyance to the possibility of death. By identifying such organisms, this book makes life safer for those who encounter the exuberant diversity of nature in the American tropics.

In Part One each poisonous plant and animal is richly illustrated and described in an informative and nontechnical manner. Part Two provides in-depth information for scientists and medical personnel or anyone else interested in the details of the toxins, symptoms, and treatments presently recorded in the scientific literature. Part Two also covers the beneficial uses and folklore associated with these organisms.