At Terra Natura Benidorm we have set out to debunk the myths undeservedly attached to some species of animals, which have historically been associated with the world of magic, esotericism and horror. To put an end to this black legend, and coinciding with the celebration of Halloween, we have launched an informative campaign with posters and talks about the characteristics of some animals such as flying foxes, scorpions, tarantulas or poisonous toads.

The initiative aims to bring truthful information about these animals to visitors so that they can get to know them up close and lose the bad image and fear that they arouse in some people. Flying foxes, as stated in this information campaign, are animals that feed on fruit and not on blood, as many people mistakenly believe. They are also very skittish in the presence of humans.

We also talk about scorpions with bioluminescence. These animals are able to glow in the dark thanks to the chemistry of their exoskeleton, which is activated in the absence of light. This bioluminescent property is used by scorpions for hunting, as their glow attracts their victims to them.

Depending on the size of the scorpions’ pincers, you can tell if they are very venomous. The smaller the pincers, the more powerful the venom. As they have less gripping capacity with small pincers, the specimens develop a more powerful venom to compensate for this factor. In general, they tend to have a bad reputation for being very venomous animals, but in certain civilisations they were considered a symbol of bravery.

In the case of the golden toad, it projects a poison through its glands to protect itself, which it is better not to touch because it is hallucinogenic. On the other hand, species such as the Chilean tarantula, which is surprising because of its hairy legs, is completely harmless, because it has no venom and does not release stinging hairs.

The Herpetology department of Terra Natura Benidorm, through the Reptile Experience, insists that you should not be afraid of these animals, and stresses the great benefit they generate in the conservation of their ecosystems.