The most dangerous animals in the world are not as easily identifiable as one might think. While some animals, such as sharks and wolves, appear overtly menacing, others, like moths and snails, are commonly overlooked as threats due to their tiny stature or docile nature. There are many factors to take into consideration when identifying the world’s most dangerous animals, including physical traits, diet, habitat and locations where they live. In order to determine what makes these creatures so deadly, you must understand their eating habits and habitats so that you can recognize them in the wild or avoid them altogether.
Spider
A spider is an arachnid, a class of joint-legged invertebrates with two body segments and eight legs. Although most spiders are harmless to humans, some are quite dangerous. One of these is South America’s Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus), which is identified by its shiny black color and characteristic red hourglass marking on its abdomen.
Mosquito
In terms of number of people killed, mosquitoes are not only one of the deadliest animals in the world, but they’re also one of the deadliest organisms period. Mosquitoes—which are, technically speaking, a type of fly—bite humans and suck our blood while transmitting diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever and more.
Shark
If a shark attacks, your best chance of survival is to punch it on the nose—but you don’t want to do that. The shark’s skin is extremely sensitive, so if you even brush up against one, it will bite you. Even more scary: If a shark bites your arm off, there’s still an 80 percent chance it will continue to attack (because sharks are territorial and have a keen sense of smell), says Conklin.
Snake
Why are there so many different species of snakes? Because each one evolved to find a niche where it could survive and thrive. Snakes do just that through their keen sense of smell, hearing, touch, and sight—all of which have helped make them one of nature’s most dangerous animals. Even those considered nonvenomous can deliver a deadly bite; venom isn’t required for some species to inflict serious damage.
Jellyfish
The Box Jellyfish and its many relatives, for example, pack more venom than any other creature on Earth. Their neurotoxin sends victims into shock with excruciating pain as their heart, kidneys and central nervous system shut down. Death can come within minutes if an antidote isn’t administered immediately.
Bat
It may seem odd to include bats, since they are generally harmless to humans. But, in some parts of Asia and Africa, there is a type of bat that carries a virus called Japanese B Encephalitis (JE), which can infect and even kill people. Although JE isn’t common in North America or Europe, it’s still important to know how dangerous these creatures can be. Remember: If you find an injured or sick bat on your property, contact animal control immediately.
Crocodile
Although they live around humans, their behavior is unpredictable and can be dangerous. They tend to attack when provoked by people or other animals. Crocodiles are comfortable both on land and water and will hunt for prey both in water and on land. They’re often found near ponds, swamps, lakes, rivers, and marshes. Their main diet consists of fish and animals that are often found near a riverbank.
Bee or Wasp
If you think of a bee or wasp as just an insect, you’re missing something. These insects are among nature’s most perfect killing machines, and their stingers are covered with tiny hooked barbs that anchor them to their victims. If stung by a bee or wasp, don’t run around. These little menaces can chase you down and continue stinging even after they detach from your body!
Deer
They may look cute and harmless, but don’t be fooled—deer are responsible for hundreds of human deaths every year. Deer can run up to speeds of 50 miles per hour and have been known to attack humans unprovoked. According to one source, deer attack more people than sharks. In fact, when it comes to deadly animal attacks on humans, deer are considered a major risk, causing more deaths than bears, alligators or rattlesnakes combined.
Lion
The lion is one of Africa’s most ferocious animals. It is known to ambush its prey without hesitation and shows no mercy once it strikes. The majority of a lion’s diet consists of zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and impalas, although they can survive on smaller animals like mice and birds. In spite of its physical strength, however, lions are often vulnerable to other predators like hyenas.
