Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! These species come to mind when thinking of the top predators in the animal kingdom. Deadly animals are all around us, but some of the most threatening creatures in the world aren’t as scary and ferocious as you might think.
Some animals, like the saltwater crocodile and black mamba, are extremely aggressive. Others, like the cone snail, seem a lot less threatening, but don’t underestimate their powerful venom. Here’s a list of some of the most dangerous animals in existence. If you encounter any of these in the wild, watch your back.
Chamberlain Smith is a science intern and a freelance writer based in Athens, Georgia.
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7. Saltwater Crocodile
Known to deliver the "death roll," saltwater crocodiles flip their prey over and over in the water until it ultimately drowns and becomes dismantled. These reptiles are the world's most aggressive crocodile. Adult males can reach up to 20 feet in length. Saltwater crocodile derived from Australia, but can now be found in many nearby countries because of their ability to travel thousands of miles by sea.
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6. Black Mamba
Infamous throughout Africa, black mambas are known to deliver the "kiss of death." Due to their aggression, lethal venom and speed, black mambas are widely feared. They are known to be the fastest land snake in the world. The grayish brown snake was named for the color of its mouth. When threatened, a mamba opens its mouth to reveal the black lining as a warning signal. It only takes two drops of black mamba venom to kill a human. Without antivenom, the fatality rate is 100 percent.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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5. Cone Snail
While they may look beautiful and non-threatening, cone snails are surprisingly deadly. The snail's toxic venom is powerful enough to instantly paralyze prey. Over 500 cone snail species are currently known to man, but the geographic cone is the most venomous. This creature is also referred to as the "cigarette snail," implying that once stung, a victim would have only enough time to smoke a cigarette before dying. And the worst part? There is no antivenom.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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4. Box Jellyfish
Among the most venomous of all marine animals, box jellyfish are responsible for more human deaths than sharks. This particular jellyfish contains toxins that attack the heart and nervous system. Their stings are so painful that human victims are likely to go into shock or heart failure before making it back to shore. Box jellies are most common around Australia and can grow up to 15 tentacles from each corner of their box-shaped bodies. Each tentacle houses around 5,000 stinging cells.
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3. Pufferfish
Pufferfish are one of the most poisonous vertebrates known to man. These ocean creatures contain tetrodotoxin, a lethal toxin that is up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. A single pufferfish can store enough toxin to kill 30 adult humans. Surprisingly, these fish are a delicacy in some parts of the world. But one bad cut of meat can lead to the death of the consumer; incidents like this happen annually.
Photo courtesy of NOAA
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2. Great White Shark
You probably saw this coming. Great White Sharks are notorious deep-sea killers. These sharks have been involved in more attacks on humans than any other type of shark. Because they cannot distinguish between what is and is not edible, Great Whites are known to bite into anything. They aren't natural predators of human beings however, so after the first bite of human flesh, they'll typically leave you alone to bleed out. Comforting.
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1. Mosquito
Easily the smallest animal on the list, mosquitos are also one of the most dangerous. Mosquitos carry deadly diseases like malaria and West Nile virus. West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-transmitted disease in the United States. Millions of people die each year from bites inflicted by these pesky creatures. The mosquito itself is not the killer, rather the lethal parasites it transmits.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia