The 15 deadliest animals on Earth

The 15 deadliest animals on Earth

The prospect of being fatally attacked by an animal is a gruesome one, but do you know which species are most likely to kill you? We've culled data from sources ranging from the Gates Foundation to National Geographic to provide a comprehensive list of the 15 creatures that kill the most humans each year.

1. Mosquitoes: 1 million people per year

According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites kill 1 million people each year. Most of these are caused by malaria, though West Nile virus and dengue fever are also potentially deadly mosquito-borne diseases.

2. Humans: 475,000 people per year

Humans check in as the second-most deadly animal in terms of killing humans, thanks in no small part to gun violence.

3. Snakes: 50,000 people per year

Indiana Jones' healthy fear of snakes was totally warranted, as serpents are the third most-deadly creatures in the world. Though the chances of dying from a snake bite in the United States are near zero, other regions don't have immediate access to high-quality medical care.

4. Dogs: 25,000 people per year

Man's best friend can also be a nightmare. Maulings and bites from rabid dogs are both to blame for the 25,000 dog-related deaths each year.

(Tie) 7. Tsetse Flies: 10,000 people per year

African sleeping sickness is caused by a parasite transmitted by the tsetse fly. There is a treatment for the parasite, but because the disease primarily infects those in rural areas, proper treatment can be hard to find. Death will eventually occur after several years of infection.

(Tie) 7. Assassin Bugs: 10,000 people per year

The assassin bug transmits a dangerous parasite through its feces. The parasite, which causes a condition known as Chagas disease, immediately unleashes acute symptoms which can include severe swelling of the heart or brain. This deadly phase of Chagas disease causes around 10,000 fatalities annually.

(Tie) 7. Freshwater Snails: 10,000 people per year

It's a three-way tie for seventh place on this list of fearsome fauna. Freshwater snails release the parasite that causes schistosomiasis in tropical and subtropical freshwater. Schistosomiasis causes all sorts of problems, from rashes and digestive problems to infertility and bladder cancer.

8. Scorpions: 3,250 people per year

Avoiding the scorpion is common sense, right? Only two kinds of scorpions have venom potent enough to kill a human being: the Israeli deathstalker and the Brazilian yellow scorpion. Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to the potent neurotoxins delivered by these two arachnids.

9. Ascaris Roundworms: 2,500 people per year

These parasites have tiny eggs easily transferred from contaminated dirt into human mouths. The roundworm takes up residence in the small intestine and can interfere with nutritional uptake, cause tissue reactions and even lead to intestinal blockage as the worms grow larger.

10. Tapeworms: 2,000 people per year

A tapeworm usually makes its way into a human host through food or water contaminated with eggs. People may go years with no symptoms before the infection suddenly becomes serious.

11. Crocodiles: 1,000 people per year

Crocodiles are opportunistic hunters and any animal that moves in their habitat is fair game. Around 1,000 people each year are fatally attacked by crocodiles, but because crocodiles hunt in generally poorer and more remote regions, each death receives far less media attention than other, less common animal attacks.

(Tie) 13. Hippos: 500 people per year

Don't be fooled by their sleepy nature or their portrayal as comical characters in cartoons; hippopotami are some of the most aggressive animals on the planet and will not hesitate to charge humans who get too close. More than one human per day, on average, is killed by a hippo every year.

(Tie) 13. Elephants: 500 people per year

Elephants will respect your space if you respect theirs, but elephants who feel threatened by poachers or overly aggressive tourists are known for bouts of rage; they will charge animals they view as a threat.

14. Lions: 250 people per year

Lions are predators and will view humans as prey, especially lions not raised in captivity. Understanding that hunting is instinctive for lions is the best way to avoid death by Simba.

15. African Cape buffalo: 200 people per year

Big-game hunters sell Cape buffalo hunting adventures online. The problem is that large male buffalo wander from the herd to keep watch from a distance, attacking any threats from behind.

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