Mother Nature does what she wants, when she wants – hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and more. These are just a number of major adverse events that Mother Nature inflicts on us, but then there’s one thing we haven’t considered here either. Animal species. I know, I know, the two are seemingly unrelated. Until you really pick it apart and notice that no one can indict when a natural disaster is going to strike, all we know is the results are disastrous. At the end of the day, the same can be said about the world’s most dangerous species. We don’t know when they’ll strike and the results are almost-always devastating. Take a look at the list we’ve compiled showcasing the world’s most dangerous species that you need to steer clear of – let’s hope it’s on your health insurance coverage.
Watch Out
If you’re ever in the Middle East and Africa, or in the desert and scrubland habitats, then no doubt you’ll encounter the Deathstalker Scorpion. While rarely dangerous to adults, a bite alone contains enough venom to seriously endanger children and the elderly. Filled with neurotoxins, the poison can send victims into anaphylactic shock; if the anti-venom is received in time, chances of survival are dramatically improved.
Deathstalker Scorpion
Literally A Floating Terror
First things first, the Portuguese Man of War might look gorgeous but it’s known as ‘blue bottle’ or a ‘floating terror’. Which as first glance might also sound cute but considering that it isn’t technically a jellyfish and is a siphonphore should sound the alarm. Why? When stung, you’ll have large welts that look like whip-marks. Aside from the welts, the extraordinary, searing agony is excruciating and most times, the venom can effect the lymph nodes causing flu-like symptoms. So beware when you’re in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Portuguese Man Of War
Da-nuh da-nuh danuhdanuhdanuh
Did you ever doubt that the Great White Shark would wind up on our list? Typically found in coastal sea waters, this shark may not always eat humans, but it does however have an extraordinary appetite. Furthermore, it’s known for the largest percentage of attacks on people – females alone can weigh in at more than 4,000 lbs. Yeah, let that sink in. Once it does, call up and find out if it’s covered on your health insurance coverage ASAP.
Great White Shark
Smarter Than A 5th Grader
Primarily located in Sub-Saharan Africa, Cape Buffalo are extremely intelligent and stealthy. Not only will they kill humans, lions, and other large prey – they are able to remember an animal or human they have encountered from years before. (Meanwhile I can’t remember what I had for dinner last night.) In addition, they weigh in at more than a ton, roughly 2,000 pounds.
Cape Buffalo
Seven Plus One
Out of any octopus species out there, the Giant Pacific Octopus has been around the longest. Often they weigh around 600 lbs and are known to be formidable predators – cause that’s not already intimidating. Moreover, they have sucker-covered legs to catch prey, which they use to then feed into its massive mouth which contain radula, or a ‘toothed-tongue’. No thanks.
Giant Pacific Octopus
Health Insurance Coverage For One, Please
No doubt Sea Snails appear cute and sweet, but they belong to a predatory species. Coupled with the fact that currently no anti-venom exists, and whose venom causes total paralysis, it’s a massive concern. One that isn’t in your health insurance coverage plan no doubt. Furthermore, if you live near warm and tropical seas, keep a sharp eye out.
Cone Snail
Hip-Hip-Hippo
When you think Hippo, we can assume you don’t immediately think ‘dangerous’ – it’s not an idea that goes hand in hand. However as they weigh at more than 3,000 pounds, hippos are known as one of the largest land mammals that roam the earth. Even though they’re largely herbivorous, hippos do have an impeccable set of teeth and can sometimes turn aggressive and territorial.
Hippo
Swiper No Swiping
When it comes to the Saw-Scaled Snake, they prefer to live dry habitats, like Africa and India. Plus they tend to hunt for prey in the night so be on extra alert if you encounter one in the dark. Just note that they deliver a bite SO poisonous, it causes blood disorders and hemorrhaging in the brain. Additionally, each year the viper kills more people than any other snake alive. Before you ask, health insurance coverage isn’t your ally here.
Saw Scaled Viper
Mosquito Moscato
Laugh Mosquitoes away all you want but here’s the kicker – according to the World Health Organization, those suckers are responsible for ¾ of a million deaths globally. How is that even possible? Well mosquitoes carry diseases like malaria and yellow fever so all it takes one bite. Who’s laughing now?
Mosquitoes
Ultimate Baddie
Popular to contrary belief, Hyenas are actually smart! Not only are they capable of leading coordinated group attacks, but they’re strong and fast, with jaws that can literally break bones.
Hyena
Mamba Number 5
Not even health insurance coverage could save you from a Black Mamba Snake bite – the antivenin is your best choice, but only if you get to it in time. (Sorry, too morbid?) Considering the black mamba grows to 14 feet long and is the quickest snake in the entire world (it can slither 12 miles an hour), it easily makes the list. Need we mention that its venom can easily kill a dozen people in one bite? #savage
Black Mamba
Unfortunately, A Parasite
Head on over to all of tropical Africa, yah know if you want to come face to face with the Tse Tse. Don’t let this fly fool you though – it is actually a parasite that requires the blood of vertebrate, so yes people or buffaloes or what have you, in order to survive. Furthermore they’re a major ‘vector’ for transmission of numerous ailments and diseases, such as sleeping sickness in humans and animals.
Tse Tse
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stonefish, if you must know, are THE most venomous fish in the entire world. Seriously. They actually give off their own special neurotoxin, and yes, an anti-venom exists. Primarily located around coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Oceans, you don’t even see ’em coming – their rock-ish exterior offers the ~perfect~ camouflage.
Stonefish
Killer Bees
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: in the 50’s, Brazil introduced the Africanized Honey Bee, a hybrid of various African and European bee species, intended to increase honey production. However, the result was more of Frankenstein-like nature and is repeatedly known as the “Killer Bee” due to its highly aggressive behavior. These tiny fellas buzzed their way to escape captivity and quickly spread throughout the Americas – they’re known to chase down and kill horses, humans, and a few other animals.
Africanized Honey Bee
After A While, Crocodile
Salty, fresh, or the Indian-Pacific Ocean makes no difference to the Saltwater Crocodile, they’ll swim around anywhere. Additionally these crocs can reach over 20 feet and weigh over a ton – some even say it has a bite as powerful as that of a Tyrannosaurus Rex!
Saltwater Croc
Not What You Think
Before you ask, yes the Tarantula Hawk is indeed a spider wasp which hunts tarantulas. Among the largest of all wasps, it has what is considered one of the most painful insect stings worldwide. And no, health insurance coverage doesn’t even begin to come into play here.
Tarantula Hawk
No Teddy Bear’s Round Here
Sorry but your health insurance coverage probably doesn’t cover Polar Bear attacks. Moreover you’re not often vacationing in the Arctic either so chances of attack are slim. Just note that polar bears are likelier than any other bear to attack humans. So next time you come face to face with a 2,000 pound, meat eater polar bear – run.
Polar Bear
Pufferfish – Say What?
Stop looking at us like we’re crazy because Pufferfish really are dangerous. Here’s why: they’re considered the “second most poisonous animal in the entire world.” When they inflate, pufferfish release a chemical known as tetrodotoxin – this chemical immediately harms your nervous system and causes all communication or messages transmitted between the brain and the body to become blocked. Nope, not in anyone’s health insurance coverage either.
Pufferfish
Poison Jelly Sounds Fun, Oh Wait
Great, we’ve arrived to the most toxic species of jellyfish, oh wait. Box Jellyfish have poison-lined tentacles which can inject a potent mix of toxins into the victims which attacks the skin, heart, and nervous system cells. Furthermore, while an anti-venom exists, most people wind up going straight into shock and dying – so shy away from the tropical Indo-Pacific region or tropical and subtropical oceans.
Box Jellyfish
Unsuspecting Killer
With a name like Golden Poison Frog, it’s not hard to conclude that this slimy critter is perilous. In fact, this frog has enough venom to stop an animal’s heart – furthermore it doesn’t hide the poison, it literally sits on the frog’s skin. Plus, remember how we said the pufferfish was second most poisonous animal in the entire world? The golden poison frog is FIRST.
Golden Poison Frog
SSSSSSSSidewinder
Up next is the Sidewinder, a member of the rattlesnake family that typically lives in desert areas (like southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico). Just one bite isn’t fatal but it can produce some nasty side effects – which we can assure you aren’t on your health insurance coverage plan.
Sidewinder
Kind Of Like A House Cat
So the Lynx is in many ways similar to a regular house cat, aside from the fact that they’re quite deadly. (Okay, so very similar to a house cat). Lynx tend to live mainly in Eurasia, Canada and Western Europe, but regardless of location, they will attack if provoked.
Lynx
Dem Nasty Vultures
Typically the New World and Old World Vultures reside in parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Not just Saturday cartoons. They make the list as they’re known to viciously attack for food, sometimes even leading to death.
Vultures
Michael Phelps, Watch Out
Looks like Michael Phelps may have just met his match – Water Monitors are especially quick swimmers while they’re not strong hunters, they do have one deadly weapon. Their saliva is extremely poisonous saliva and they will bite to kill. Keep your health insurance coverage details nearby, just in case.
Water Monitors
Vampires Exist
Move over, Edward Cullen, Vampire Bats are the next big bad. Known to aggressively pursue their victims by any means to bite and their bites quickly spread infection so that’s cute.
Vampire Bat
Hey, Down Here
Get this, ants make the list. Although in this Siafu Ants, or driver ants as they’re sometimes called, will attack if they threatened. Oh, ant they don’t just attack in massive swarms, but with a bite so serious, not even the Hulk can compare. Additionally, once it sinks its teeth into you, chances are slim of you pulling it off. Better get that health insurance coverage form out.
Siafu Ant
Makes The Cut
As far the Inland Taipan is concerned, its venom includes neurotoxins, hemotoxins, and mycotoxins. Which can instantly affect the nervous system, blood, and the muscles beyond your worst nightmare. Oh, yeah, their bite is strong enough to kill an adult human – within 45 minutes. Best get to that anti-venom Flash style.
Inland Taipan
Move Over, Khalessi
Patient? Willing to kill whatever lies in its wake? Yeah, we’re talking about the Komodo Dragon. Komodo dragons will strike an attack, and wait until its victim bleeds to death before they devour it. So that’s nice. Usually found in the Indonesian islands, some weigh around 150lbs.
Komodo Dragon
Lion King Times 10
We won’t try to harm the love you most likely have for the Lion King but when talking about an African Lion, things get intensely dangerous. Some cats weigh around 400 pounds and are quick when hunting prey. You guessed it, not on the health insurance coverage if attacked.
Lion
Swipe Left
Found globally, the Black Widow Spider is freaky and dangerous beyond comprehension. With a bite that’s oozing with latrotoxin – an illness that infects its victim to painful and even fatal levels. If only health insurance coverage could lend a hand here.
Black Widow Spider
Woof?
Look, I am a huge Dog lover and always have been. However, sometimes we fail to remember that dog bites can sometimes lead to death. For instance, around 20,000 people in India have died from dog bites, whereas Europe and America see slightly lower figures. No one wants to be infected from a rabies bite, it’s not pretty.
Dog
Beware, Blowfish
First things first, Blowfish are up there as one the most poisonous vertebrates found on earth. Yes, their poison, known as tetrodotoxin, is actually more powerful than cyanide. So just wrap your head around that. Then note that they have little predators too.
Blowfish
Don’t Smell The Roses
Kind of similar to regular flowers in appearance only though. See, the Flower Urchin is a spiky creature that lives underwater and it goes by another name. Toxopneustes. What’s that mean? Oh, you know, just ‘poison breath’. YEAH. It has a string so powerful and painful that even a grown man will burst into tears.
Flower Urchin
On The Prowl
Gray Wolf are the largest in the whole wolf family and some can reach weights of 100 pounds. No doubt you know that they’re exceptionally skilled hunters and that an attack from one can prove fatal. Sorry but not even health insurance coverage could do something about that bite.
Gray Wolf
Roar.
Call it what you want, Grizzly Bear or Ursus horribilis, it’s still a dangerous species. Located especially in North America, Scandinavia and Asia, grizzlies are much more aggressive than any other bears in the region, like black bears, and they’re one of the biggest and strongest bear species. Doesn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy at all, does it?
Grizzly
So Not Dumbo
Ugh, sorry Dumbo fans but African Elephants can be rather aggressive and fierce. Known as the largest land animal, their brains alone weigh 11 pounds so when you stop to think what they weigh in entirety, it’s not pretty.
African Elephant
I’m a Piranha – They live in the Amazon
Finding Nemo fans can attest to how dangerous Piranhas are. Sharp teeth and strong jaws are reason alone to steer clear. Just think that in 2011, more than 100 people were viciously bitten by the fish, and deadly attacks like that are pretty rare. Moreover Piranhas tend to strike the most when they’re “hangry.” (Spirit animal, anyone?)
Piranha
Strangler Octopus
Blue-Ringed octopus are usually found in Indian and Pacific Oceans but they’re known as the most venomous sea creatures. Oh. Furthermore if they feel under attack even slightly, they will strike. On top of that, they are known to asphyxiate their victims with just their venom – which paralyzes the respiratory muscles. Kind of feel like this should be on health insurance coverage though.
Blue Ringed Octopus
Bang – Bang
Bullet Shark, or Zambezi shark, are known for its stocky shape, flat nose, and aggressive, totally unpredictable behavior. So that’s nice but not really. See, they can survive in salt and fresh water, AND they can travel up rivers. As if that wasn’t intimidating enough, the bullet shark is responsible for most of the near-shore shark attacks. GULP.
Bull Shark
They’rrrreeeee *not* Great
Sorry guys, but looks like Tony the Tiger is only nice “tiger” on Earth. Located in southern regions of Australia, the Tiger Snake has a venom loaded with neurotoxins, coagulants, haemolysins, and myotoxins. None of which are good things either. Furthermore if a bite is left untreated, the mortality rate is around 40 and 60% – best call your health insurance coverage plan right away.
Tiger Snake