Take mosquitoes, for example. These tiny pests are well-known for their disease transmission, causing more than 750,000 deaths each year, compared with the larger, more aggressive hippo that causes around 500 deaths annually.
The list contains creatures that are poisonous and vicious, huge and small — proving that danger isn’t dependent on size. But don’t let us scare you away from your next adventure; just be on your guard!
1. Tapeworm
The tapeworm is usually found in raw, contaminated fish or meat. This parasite causes cysticercosis, an infection that spreads throughout the body’s tissue, and affects the muscles and the brain, causing seizures. It can kill up to 700 people yearly.
Being vegan doesn’t look so bad now, does it?
2. Black Mamba
The fastest snake there is, the black mamba can travel up to 12.5 miles an hour. Like the Golden Poison Dart Frog, one of the snake’s bites is poisonous enough to kill ten people. There is an antidote for the venom, but it must be taken within 20 minutes of the bite to prevent death. If you find yourself in the savannas of Eastern and Southern Africa, you might see one of these snakes. Don’t be too worried though, they only attack when threatened.
3. Box Jellyfish
Let’s hope you can swim at a fast pace if you come near these stinging jellyfish. If you happen to be in Australia and swimming the Indo-Pacific region, you might be able to catch a transparent box jellyfish. The sea creature has 15 tentacles, grows to approximately 10 feet long, and is transparent. Their long tentacles are coursing with nematocysts (stinging cells), and attack the skin cells, nervous system, and heart all at once. There are hundreds of stinging incidents — most fatal — annually.
The venom has an antidote, but most victims don’t make it to the hospital to receive it. Survivors are usually left with weeks of pain and scarring.
4. Cape Buffalo
With the nickname “black death,” there’s little guesswork around whether or not these African mammals are deadly. Although calm in a herd, when an individual cape buffalo is threatened or hurt, you better keep your distance. Six feet tall and weighing in at almost a ton, the animals are a force to reckon with, and are apparently the most deadly creatures dwelling on the African continent. You can’t outrun these animals either, as they can reach a charging speed of 35 mph.
5. Cone Snail
With a beautiful, small, and delicate appearance, these Caribbean sea creatures live close to the shore in shallow water and on coral reefs. But what’s a beauty without its beast? These 4-inch to 6-inch snails have poisonous venom within their concealed, teeth-like projectors. If the venom, called conotoxin, enters the victim, they face complete paralysis. Your best bet is heading to the emergency room ASAP. Better hurry because according to the snail’s nickname (“cigarette snail”), the poison will kill you in about the same amount of time it takes to smoke one.
6. Saltwater Crocodile
Unlike the black mamba, the saltwater crocodile is much more inclined to attack, as they’re easily provoked. The croc can be found in the oceans near India, Vietnam, and northern Australia.
Weighing more than a ton and stretching 23 feet in length mean it’s no match for mankind. Their bite delivers a pressure of 3,700 pounds per square inch compared with the 200 psi of a man’s bite into a piece of meat. The crocs cause hundreds of deaths annually — more than sharks.
7. Deathstalker
Found in the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa, this scorpion’s venom is the most deadliest of its kind. The sting can cause fever, coma, convulsions, paralysis, and ultimately drowning from fluid build up in the lungs. Seek medical help immediately to avoid the side effects of the sting!
8. Rabid Dogs
More than 30,000 people are killed by dogs each year, mostly due to the dog being infected with rabies. This usually occurs in areas where there’s a heavy stray dog population, such as India.
Don’t worry though, dogs are still a man’s best friend, just watch out for the stray ones!
9. Tsetse Fly
Flying around such sub-saharan countries as the Congo and Angola, the tsetse fly’s deadly punch comes from the parasites it carries. Trypanosomes cause what’s known as the “African sleeping sickness.” The disease disrupts the sleep cycle, as well as changes behavior, and can result in a lack of coordination. No vaccines or medicines exist, and death can be the final result. However, you can take precautions by wearing neutral colors, steering clear of bushes, and wearing permethrin-treated gear.
10. Golden Poison Dart Frog
Native to the northern Pacific coast of South America, these rain forest frogs have enough poison to kill up to 10 people. About 2 mcg, which would fit the top of a toothpick, is all it takes to kill one person.
The Emberá indigenous tribe would lace their blow darts with this venom, ensuring death upon contact. If you happen to be visiting the rainforest, don’t go touching these frogs. The venom is hidden under the frog’s skin, making for a poisonous surprise.
11. Hippopotamus
These animals are known as Africa’s deadliest. They need no provocation and will attack just because. They are especially aggressive toward humans, known for tipping over their boats and even causing up to 500 deaths each year. They also can weigh more than 6,000 pounds, so try not to get squished.
12. Humans
Humans have been killing each other since the beginning of time. Wars alone have resulted in an estimated 1 billion deaths. Gun violence and terror attacks are just some of the ways humanity faces death. Our effects on climate change —and threat to pretty much every living creature —make us the most deadly species in the world.
13. Mosquito
Mosquitoes carry various pathogens that cause a staggering amount of deaths each year. More than 3,000 species of the insect exist and can be found all around the world. The Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex genera are largely responsible for transmitting malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, chikungunya, elephantiasis, West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Zika. Together, these diseases have been responsible for 700 million deaths. Because they’re attracted to humans’ body temperature and the exhalation of carbon dioxide, more than half the human population faces infection. Insect repellents are your best bet against these blood-suckers.
14. Pufferfish
These blowfish can be found in such places as Japan, China, and the Philippines. They’re the second-most-poisonous vertebrate in the world and their neurotoxin — tetrodotoxin — is the most deadly. More poisonous than cyanide, tetrodotoxin causes paralysis, dizziness, vomiting arrhythmia, and breathing difficulty. The poison is spread throughout the fish’s skin, muscle tissue, and various organs. But that’s not enough to stop people from consuming the fish for a good meal. The poisonous parts are avoided in preparation and are uneaten, of course. In Japan, the meal is called “fugu,” and is prepared by trained professionals. However, deaths still result from not being careful enough preparing the fish.
15. Blue-Ringed Octopus
The last deadly sea creature on this list has venom that can kill up to 26 people in one bite. In minutes, the person bitten could be paralyzed and unable to breathe. If that isn’t painful enough, the victim — if breathing has been stabilized — could face hours of their body being neutralized.
16. Africanized Honey Bee
The dangers of Africanized honey bees, sometimes called killer bees, may seem obvious just by their nickname, but in all honesty their deadly moniker is actually underselling them.
Genetically engineered by a Brazilian beekeeper in the mid-20th century, the creatures are much more aggressive than their European counterparts.
They’re known and feared for their tendency to swarm in record numbers and relentlessly chase victims, sometimes for miles.
17. Great White Shark
While Great white sharks aren’t the killing machines that have been portrayed in media like Jaws, the creatures are still some of the most dangerous on Earth.
While they won’t knowingly hunt humans, great whites will often bite with their massive jaws to “test” if something is edible. Said bite can be instantly fatal to a human, and if not it will often cause them to quickly bleed.
18. Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragons are not generally thought of when people begin listing dangerous animals, however that probably has more to do with the fact that humans have limited contact with them in the wild.
The animals are deadly hunters who will track their prey, attack suddenly, and rip out their throats, then head back into the shadows until they bleed out. Only then will the Komodo feed.
19. Hyena
While hyenas are generally stereotyped as being cowardly scavengers, the truth is more complex.
Spotted hyenas kill over 95 percent of the food they eat. Striped hyenas are scavengers, however they are regularly able to chase away much larger animals, including lions, from their kills.
Hyenas don’t generally attack humans, however they have been known to on occasion in the past, especially at night.
20. African Lion
The king of the jungle is referred to as such for a reason.
The African lion is one of the world’s most accomplished predators, and while they’re not known to hunt humans, there have been several documented cases throughout history.
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