Gila Monsters, like the one visible behind Howell, produce a venom under study for its ability to stimulate insulin secretion in humans. The venomous bite of a blue-ringed octopus, a beaked mollusk the size of a kumquat, can kill a human within minutes.
Stonefishes can be deadly to humans, as can California native northern Pacific rattlesnakes.
But most venoms are not lethal to humans, and most venomous animals have little interest in killing us. It's simply not true. It takes energy to produce venom. Howell coordinates the live animal portion of the exhibit. Jellyfishes, corals, spiders, scorpions, snakes, and lizards have been imported from all over the world.