Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
1976 c. 38
An Act to regulate the keeping of certain kinds of dangerous wild animals.
[22nd July 1976]
 Licences
1 

(1) Subject to section 5 of this Act, no person shall keep any dangerous wild animal except under the authority of a licence granted in accordance with the provisions of this Act by a local authority.
(2) A local authority shall not grant a licence under this Act unless an application for it—
(a) specifies the species (whether one or more) of animal, and the number of animals of each species, proposed to be kept under the authority of the licence;
(b) specifies the premises where any animal concerned will normally be held;
(c) is made to the local authority in whose area those premises are situated;
(d) is made by a person who is neither under the age of 18 nor disqualified under this Act from keeping any dangerous wild animal; and
(e) is accompanied by such fee as the authority may stipulate (being a fee which is in the authority’s opinion sufficient to meet the direct and indirect costs which it may incur as a result of the application).
(3) A local authority shall not grant a licence under this Act unless it is satisfied that—
(a) it is not contrary to the public interest on the grounds of safety, nuisance or otherwise to grant the licence;
(b) the applicant for the licence is a suitable person to hold a licence under this Act;
(c) any animal concerned will at all times of its being kept only under the authority of the licence—
(i) be held in accommodation which secures that the animal will not escape, which is suitable as regards construction, size, temperature, lighting, ventilation, drainage and cleanliness and which is suitable for the number of animals proposed to be held in the accommodation, and
(ii) be supplied with adequate and suitable food, drink and bedding material and be visited at suitable intervals;
(d) appropriate steps will at all such times be taken for the protection of any animal concerned in case of fire or other emergency;
(e) all reasonable precautions will be taken at all such times to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases;
(f) while any animal concerned is at the premises where it will normally be held, its accommodation is such that it can take adequate exercise.
(4) A local authority shall not grant a licence under this Act unless the application for it is made by a person who both owns and possesses, or proposes both to own and to possess, any animal concerned, except where the circumstances are in the authority’s opinion exceptional.
(5) A local authority shall not grant a licence under this Act unless a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner authorised by the authority to do so under section 3 of this Act has inspected the premises where any animal will normally be held in pursuance of the licence and the authority has received and considered a report by the surgeon or practitioner, containing such particulars as in the authority’s opinion enable it to decide whether the premises are such that any animal proposed to be kept under the authority of the licence may suitably be held there, and describing the condition of the premises and of any animal or other thing found there.
(6) Subject to subsections (2) to (5) of this section, a local authority may grant or refuse a licence under this Act as it thinks fit, but where it decides to grant such a licence it shall specify as conditions of the licence—
(a) conditions that, while any animal concerned is being kept only under the authority of the licence,—
(i) the animal shall be kept by no person other than such person or persons as is or are specified (whether by name or description) in the licence;
(ii) the animal shall normally be held at such premises as are specified in the licence;
(iii) the animal shall not be moved from those premises or shall only be moved from them in such circumstances as are specified in the licence;
(iv) the person to whom the licence is granted shall hold a current insurance policy which insures him and any other person entitled to keep the animal under the authority of the licence against liability for any damage which may be caused by the animal; and
(v) the terms of any such policy shall be satisfactory in the opinion of the authority;
(b) conditions restricting the species (whether one or more) of animal, and number of animals of each species, which may be kept under the authority of the licence;
(c) a condition that the person to whom the licence is granted shall at all reasonable times make available a copy of the licence to any person entitled to keep any animal under the authority of the licence;
(d) such other conditions as in the opinion of the authority are necessary or desirable for the purpose of securing the objects specified in paragraphs (c) to (f) of subsection (3) of this section.
(7) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, a local authority may, in granting a licence under this Act, specify such conditions of the licence as it thinks fit.
(8) Where a local authority proposes to insert in a licence under this Act a provision permitting any animal to be, for any continuous period exceeding 72 hours, at premises outside the area of the authority, the authority shall consult the local authority in whose area those premises are situated.
(9) A local authority which grants a licence under this Act may at any time vary the licence by specifying any new condition of the licence or varying or revoking any condition of it (including any condition specified, or previously varied, under this subsection); but any condition of a licence specified by virtue of subsection (6) of this section may not be revoked and any condition specified by virtue of paragraph (a)(ii) of that subsection may not be varied.
(10) Where a local authority varies a licence under subsection (9) of this section, then—
(a) if the variation was requested by the person to whom the licence was granted, the variation shall take effect immediately after the authority decides to make it;
(b) in any other case, the variation shall not take effect until the person to whom the licence was granted has become aware of the variation and had a reasonable time to comply with it.
 Provisions supplementary to section 1.
2 

(1) Where—
(a) a person is aggrieved by the refusal of a local authority to grant a licence under this Act, or
(b) a person to whom such a licence has been granted is aggrieved by a condition of the licence (whether specified at the time the licence is granted or later) or by the variation or revocation of any condition of the licence,
he may appeal to a magistrates’ court; and the court may on such appeal give such directions with respect to the grant of a licence or, as the case may be, with respect to the conditions of the licence as it thinks proper, having regard to the provisions of this Act.
(2) Any licence under this Act shall (according to the applicant’s requirements) relate to the calendar year in which it is granted or to the next following year.In the former case, the licence shall come into force at the beginning of the day on which it is granted, and in the latter case it shall come into force at the beginning of the next following year.
(3) Subject to the provisions hereinafter contained with respect to cancellation, any licence under this Act shall remain in force until the end of the year to which it relates and shall then expire:Provided that if application is made for a further licence before the said date of expiry the licence shall be deemed to be still in force pending the grant or refusal of the said application, and if it is granted the new licence shall commence from the date of the expiry of the last licence.
(2) Subject to subsection (3A)(a) of this section, any licence under this Act shall come into force immediately upon being granted.
(3) Subject to subsection (3A)(b) of this section and the provisions of this Act with respect to cancellation, any licence granted under this Act shall remain in force for two years and shall then expire.
(3A) Where, before the expiry of a licence granted under this Act (“the existing licence”), an application is made for a licence to be granted by way of renewal of the existing licence—
(a) if a licence is so granted, it shall come into force from the date of expiry of the existing licence, whether it is granted before, on or after that date;
(b) if the grant or refusal of that application occurs after the date of expiry of the existing licence, the existing licence shall be deemed to be still in force until the grant or refusal.
(3B) For the purposes of subsection (3A) of this section, a licence is not granted by way of renewal of an existing licence unless it is granted in respect of any species in respect of which the existing licence was granted (whether or not either licence also relates to some other species).
(4) In the event of the death of anyone to whom a licence has been granted under this Act the said licence shall continue in force for a period of twenty-eight days as if it had been granted to the personal representatives of the deceased and if application is made for a new licence within the said period the said licence shall be deemed to be still in force pending the grant or refusal of that application.
(5) Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 1(1) of this Act shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) If any condition of a licence under this Act is contravened or not complied with, then,—
(a) the person to whom the licence was granted, and
(b) any other person who is entitled to keep any animal under the authority of the licence and who was primarily responsible for the contravention or failure to comply,
shall, subject to subsection (7) of this section, be guilty of an offence.
(7) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (6) of this section, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence.
(8) In the application of this section to Scotland, in subsection (1) for any reference to a magistrates’ court there shall be substituted a reference to the sheriff.
 Inspection by local authority.
3 

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a local authority to which an application has been made for a licence under this Act, or which has granted such a licence, may authorise in writing any veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner or such other person as it may deem competent to do so to inspect any premises where any animal is proposed to be held in pursuance of a licence for which an application has been made under this Act, or where any animal is or may be held in pursuance of a licence which has been granted under this Act; and any persons authorised under this section may, on producing their authority if so required, enter any such premises at all reasonable times and inspect them and any animal or other thing found there, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not a licence should be granted or varied or whether an offence has been or is being committed against this Act.
(2) A local authority shall not give an authority under subsection (1) of this section to inspect premises situated outside its area unless it has obtained the approval of the local authority in whose area those premises are situated.
(3) The local authority may require the person who has applied for a licence under this Act or, as the case may be, to whom the licence concerned has been granted under this Act to pay the local authority the reasonable costs of the inspection.
(4) Any person who wilfully obstructs or delays any person in the exercise of his power of entry or inspection under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
 Power to seize and to dispose of animals without compensation.
4 

(1) Where—
(a) an animal is being kept contrary to section 1(1) of this Act, or
(b) any condition of a licence under this Act is contravened or not complied with,
the local authority in whose area any animal concerned is for the time being may seize the animal, and either retain it in the authority’s possession or destroy or otherwise dispose of it, and shall not be liable to pay compensation to any person in respect of the exercise of its powers under this subsection.
(2) A local authority which incurs any expenditure in exercising its powers under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be entitled to recover the amount of the expenditure summarily as a civil debt from any person who was at the time of the seizure a keeper of the animal concerned.
(3) A local authority which incurs any expenditure in exercising its powers under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall be entitled to recover the amount of the expenditure summarily as a civil debt from the person to whom the licence concerned was granted.
 Exemptions.
5 
The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any dangerous wild animal kept in:— 
(1) a zoo within the meaning of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 for which a licence is in force (or is not for the time being required) under that Act;
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2A) premises in England on which the activity described in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (read with paragraph 3 of that Schedule: selling animals as pets etc) is carried on under a licence under those Regulations;
(3) premises in Wales  licensed as a pet shop under the Pet Animals Act 1951;
(3) Premises at which the licensable activity described in paragraph 1 of schedule 1 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (selling animals as pets) is carried on under licence;
(4) a place which is the place specified in a section 2C licence within the meaning of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
 Penalties.
6 

(1) Any person guilty of an offence under any provision of this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(2) Where a person is convicted of any offence under this Act or of any offence under the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 to 1964,                    Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Acts 1912 to 1964,                     the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925, the Pet Animals Act 1951,                     the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962, the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970, or the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973,                    or of an offence under any of sections 4, 5, 6(1) and (2), 7 to 9 and 11 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the court by which he is convicted may cancel any licence held by him under this Act, and may, whether or not he is the holder of such a licence, disqualify him from keeping any dangerous wild animal for such period as the court thinks fit.
(3) A court which has ordered the cancellation of a person’s licence, or his disqualification, in pursuance of the last foregoing subsection may, if it thinks fit, suspend the operation of the order pending an appeal.
(3A) 
Where a person is convicted of any offence under sections 28C or 28F(16) of the Animal Health Act 
1981 (c. 22), ... sections 19 to 24, 25(7), 29 or 40(11) of the 
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 11)or regulation 23 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, subsections (2) and (3) apply as they do to convictions under this Act.
(3B) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 13(6) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 arising from the contravention of section 13(1) of that Act in relation to dog breeding in Wales, or of an offence under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014, subsections (2) and (3) apply as they do to convictions under this Act.
(3C) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 13(6) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 arising from the contravention of section 13(1) of that Act in relation to the carrying on of an activity in England, or of an offence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, subsections (2) and (3) apply as they do to convictions under this Act.
 Interpretation.
7 

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, for the purposes of this Act a person is a keeper of an animal if he has it in his possession; and if at any time an animal ceases to be in the possession of a person, any person who immediately before that time was a keeper thereof by virtue of the preceding provisions of this subsection continues to be a keeper of the animal until another person becomes a keeper thereof by virtue of those provisions.
(2) Where an animal is in the possession of any person for the purpose of—
(a) preventing it from causing damage,
(b) restoring it to its owner,
(c) undergoing veterinary treatment, or
(d) being transported on behalf of another person,
the person having such possession shall not by virtue only of that possession be treated for the purposes of this Act as a keeper of the animal.
(3) In this Act expressions cognate with “keeper” shall be construed in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
(4) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say—
 “circus” includes any place where animals are kept or introduced wholly or mainly for the purpose of performing tricks or manoeuvres;
 “damage” includes the death of, or injury to, any person;
 “dangerous wild animal” means any animal of a kind for the time being specified in the first column of the Schedule to this Act;
 “local authority” means in relation to England . . . a district council, a London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London, in relation to Wales, a county council or county borough council, and, in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;
 “premises” includes any place;
 “veterinary practitioner” means a person who is for the time being registered in the supplementary veterinary register;
 “veterinary surgeon” means a person who is for the time being registered in the register of veterinary surgeons;
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
(5) The second column of the Schedule to this Act is included by way of explanation only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, only the first column is to be taken into account.
 Power of Secretary of State to modify the Schedule.
8 

(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that the scope of this Act should be extended so as to include animals of a kind not for the time being specified in the Schedule to this Act or diminished so as to exclude animals of a kind for the time being specified in that Schedule, he may by order make the necessary modifications to that Schedule and any such order may be revoked by a subsequent order under this subsection.
(2) The power conferred by the foregoing subsection on the Secretary of State shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
 Protection of existing keepers.
9 
Notwithstanding anything in this Act, a person who immediately before the date of the commencement of this Act was keeping a dangerous wild animal at any premises and who is not disqualified as mentioned in section 6(2) of this Act, shall be entitled to keep such animal at those premises without a licence under this Act—
(a) for the period of 90 days beginning with that date; and
(b) if before the expiration of that period he applies for a licence under this Act, until the licence is granted or finally refused or the application is withdrawn.
 Short title, commencement and extent.
10 

(1) This Act may be cited as the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
(2) This Act shall come into operation at the expiration of a period of three months beginning with the date on which it is passed.
(3) This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

SCHEDULE

KINDS OF DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS
Section 7

NOTE: See section 7(5) of this Act for the effect of the second column of this Schedule

Scientific name Common name
MAMMALS
Marsupials

Family 
Dasyuridae
: the species 
Sarcophilus laniarius Tasmanian devil

Family 
Macropodidae
: the species 
Macropus fuliginosus, Macropus giganteus, Macropus robustus
 and 
Macropus rufus Western grey kangarooEastern grey kangarooWallarooRed kangaroo
Primates

Family 
Cebidae
: all species except those of the genera 
Aotus, Callicebus
 and 
Saimiri New-world monkeys (including capuchin, howler, saki, uacari, spider and woolly monkeys)Exceptions:Night monkeys (also known as owl monkeys)TitiSquirrel monkeys

Family 
Cercopithecidae
: all species
 Old-world monkeys (including baboons, the drill, colobus monkeys, the gelada, guenons, langurs, leaf monkeys, macaques, the mandrill, mangabeys, the patas monkey, the proboscis monkey and the talapoin)

Family 
Hominidae
: all species except those of the genus 
Homo Anthropoid apes (including the chimpanzee, the bonobo, the orang-utan and gorillas)Exception:Man

Family 
Hylobatidae
: all species
 GibbonsSiamangs

Family 
Indriidae
: all species except those of the genus 
Avahi Leaping lemurs (including the indri and sifakas)Exceptions:Woolly lemurs

Family 
Lemuridae
: all species except those of the genus 
Hapalemur Large lemursExceptions:Bamboo lemurs (also known as gentle lemurs)
Edentates

Family 
Dasypodidae
: the species 
Priodontes maximus Giant armadillo

Family 
Myrmecophagidae
: the species 
Myrmecophaga tridactyla Giant anteater
Carnivores

Family 
Canidae
: all species except–

(a) 
those of the genera 
Alopex, Cerdocyon, Dusicyon, Otocyon, Pseudalopex, Urocyon, Vulpes
 and 
Nyctereutes
(b) Canis familiaris, other than the subspecies Canis familiaris dingo Canids (including wild dogs, wolves, jackals, the maned wolf, the dhole, the bush dog, and the dingo) other than the excepted speciesExceptions:
(a) foxes, culpeo, grey zorro, raccoon dogs
(b) domestic dogs

Family 
Felidae
: all species except–

(a) 
Felis silvestris (including the subspecies 
Felis silvestris catus
), 
Felis margarita, Felis nigripes, Otocolobus manul, Leopardus tigrinus, Leopardus geoffroyi
 (also known as 
Oncifelis geoffroyi
), 
Leopardus guigna
 (also known as 
Oncifelis guigna
), 
Catopuma badia
 (also known as 
Pardofelis badia
) and 
Prionailurus rubiginosus
(b) a hybrid descended exclusively from two or more of the species described in paragraph (a)
(c) a hybrid of which–
(i) 
one parent is 
Felis silvestris catus
, and

(ii) 
the other parent is a first generation hybrid of 
Felis silvestris catus
 and any species not described in paragraph (a)

(d) a hybrid descended exclusively from hybrid cats as described in paragraph (c) (ignoring, for the purpose of determining exclusivity of descent, the parents and remoter ancestors of any hybrid within that paragraph)
(e) 
a hybrid descended exclusively from 
Felis silvestris catus
 and any one or more hybrid cat as described in paragraph (c) (ignoring, for the purpose of determining exclusivity of descent, the parents and remoter ancestors of any hybrid within that paragraph)
 Cats (including the bobcat, caracal, cheetah, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, ocelot, puma, serval and tiger) other than the excepted speciesExceptions:
(a) The wild cat (including the domestic cat), the sand cat, the black-footed cat, the pallas cat (also known as the manul), the little spotted cat (also known as the oncilla or tiger cat), the Geoffroy’s cat, the kodkod (also known as the guina) the bay cat (also known as the Borneo cat), and the rusty-spotted cat
(b) a cat descended exclusively from two or more of the species described in paragraph (a)
(c) a cat of which one parent is a domestic cat and the other parent is a first generation hybrid of a domestic cat and a cat that is a dangerous wild animal
(d) a cat descended exclusively from hybrid cats described in paragraph (c)
(e) a cat descended exclusively from the domestic cat and hybrids cats described in paragraph (c)

Family 
Hyaenidae
: all species except 
Proteles cristatus HyenasException:Aardwolf

Family 
Mustelidae
:

(a) 
all species of the genera 
Arctonyx, Melogale, Mydaus, Taxidea, Pteronura, Aonyx, Enhydra
 and 
Lontra
(b) 
the genus 
Lutra
 except the species 
Lutra lutra
(c) 
the species 
Eira barbara, Gulo gulo, Martes pennanti
 and 
Mellivora capensis 
(a) The hog badger, the ferret badger, the stink badger, the American badger, the giant otter, the African clawless otter, the oriental small-clawed otter, the sea otter, the river otters, and the marine otter
(b) the hairy-nosed otter
(c) the tayra, the wolverine, the fisher (also known as the peken or fisher cat) and the honey badgerException:European otter

Family 
Ursidae
: all species, including the species 
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
 and 
Ailurus fulgens Bears (including the giant panda and the red panda)

Family 
Viverridae
:

(a) 
all species of the genera 
Civettictis
 and 
Viverra
(b) 
the species 
Cryptoprocta ferox 
(a) Civets (including the African civet, the large-spotted civets, the Malayan civet and the Indian civets)
(b) the fossa
Pinnipedes

Family 
Odobenidae
: all species
 Walrus

Family 
Otariidae
: all species
 Eared seals

Family 
Phocidae
: all species except 
Phoca vitulina
 and 
Halichoerus grypus True seals (also known as earless seals) other than the excepted speciesExceptions:Common seal (also known as the harbour seal)Grey seal
Elephants

Family 
Elephantidae
: all species
 Elephants
Aardvark

Family 
Orycteropodidae
: the species 
Orycteropus afer Aardvark
Odd-toed ungulates

Family 
Equidae
: all species except 
Equus asinus
 and 
Equus caballus HorsesWild assesZebrasExceptions:Donkey (also known as the ass)Domestic horse

Family 
Rhinocerotidae
: all species
 Rhinoceroses

Family 
Tapiridae
: all species
 Tapirs
Even-toed ungulates

Family 
Antilocapridae
: the species 
Antilocapra Americana Pronghorn

Family 
Bovidae
: all species except domestic forms of the genera 
Bos, Bubalus, Capra
 and 
Ovis Antelopes, bison, buffalo, gazelles, goats and sheepExceptions:Domestic cattleDomestic buffaloDomestic goatsDomestic sheep

Family 
Camelidae
: all species of the genera 
Camelus Camels

Family 
Cervidae
: all species of the genera 
Alces
 and 
Rangifer
 except domestic forms of the species 
Rangifer tarandus Moose (also known as the elk)Caribou (also known as the reindeer)Exception:Domestic reindeer

Family 
Giraffidae
: all species
 GiraffeOkapi

Family 
Hippopotamidae
: all species
 HippopotamusPygmy hippopotamus

Family 
Suidae
: all species, except domestic forms of the species 
Sus scrofa
 other than farmed wild boar
 Old-world pigs other than animals of the excepted kindException:Domestic pig, other than farmed wild boar

Family 
Tayassuidae
: all species
 New-world pigs (also known as peccaries)
Hybrids

A hybrid of a mammal specified in the first column of this Schedule where one parent is, or both parents are, of a kind so specified, but not including an excepted hybrid of the family 
Felidae A hybrid animal with a dangerous wild animal as a parentException:A cat hybrid that is not a dangerous wild animal
BIRDS
Cassowaries

Family 
Casuariidae
: all species
 Cassowaries
Ostrich

Family 
Struthionidae
: all species
 Ostrich
REPTILES
Crocodilians

Family 
Alligatoridae
: all species
 AlligatorsCaimans

Family 
Crocodylidae
: all species
 CrocodilesFalse gharial

Family 
Gavialidae
: all species
 Gharial (also known as the gavial)
Lizards and snakes

Family 
Atractaspididae
: all species of the genera 
Atractaspis
.
 Burrowing asps (also known as mole vipers, or burrowing vipers)Stiletto snakes

Family 
Colubridae
:

(a) 
all species of the genera 
Malpolon
 and 
Thelotornis
(b) 
the species 
Dispholidus typus, Rhabdophis subminiatus, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Elapomorphus lemniscatus, Philodryas olfersii, Tachymenis peruviana, Xenodon severus 
(a) All rear-fanged venomous colubrid snakes of the specified genera (including montpellier snakes, the false cobra, and twig or bird snakes)
(b) the boomslang, the red-necked keelback, the tiger keelback (also known as the yamakagashi or the Japanese tiger-snake), the Argentine black-headed snake, the South American green racer, the Peruvian racer (also known as the Peru slender snake), the Amazon false viper (also known as the false fer-de-lance)

Family 
Elapidae
: all species
 Front-fanged venomous snakes of the specified family (including cobras, coral snakes, kraits, mambas, whipsnakes, death adders and all other Australian poisonous snakes)

Family 
Hydrophiidae
: all species
 Sea snakes

Family 
Helodermatidae
: all species
 Gila monsterMexican beaded lizard

Family 
Viperidae
: all species
 Front-fanged venomous snakes of the specified family (including adders, the barba amarilla, the bushmaster, the fer-de-lance, moccasins, rattlesnakes and vipers)
INVERTEBRATES
Spiders

Family 
Ctenidae
: all species of the genus 
Phoneutria Wandering spiders

Family 
Hexathelidae
: all species of the genus 
Atrax Sydney funnel-web spider and its close relatives

Family 
Sicariidae
: all species of the genus 
Loxosceles Brown recluse spiders (also known as violin spiders)

Family 
Theridiidae
: all species of the genus 
Latrodectus Widow spiders and close relatives
Scorpions

Family 
Buthidae
: all species
 Buthid scorpions

Family 
Hemioscorpiidae
: the species 
Hemiscorpius lepturus Middle Eastern thin-tailed scorpion.
