The Most Dangerous Animals in the World

15. The hippopotamus

Although they appear to be enormous, foolish creatures, hippos are frequently regarded as Africa's most hazardous mammal. They have a mouthful of teeth that are sharp and powerful enough to cause fatal damage, and they are territorial and unpredictable. They will violently defend their territory if it is invaded, whether it is by a crocodile, another hippo, or a boat full of tourists. Hippos attack with approximately 2-foot-long canine teeth that produce pressure of 2000 pounds per square inch (a lion exerts half this much pressure when biting its hardest). Hippos hold the distinction of being the most metal animal on the earth, which should be enough of a warning to avoid them.

where to look for them Although they have traveled to Colombia, their native habitat is the Sub-Saharan African rivers and lakes.

14.Box Jellyfish

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regards these transparent, practically invisible invertebrates as the most dangerous marine animal in the world. They are frequently spotted floating—or very slowly moving—at speeds close to five miles per hour in Indo-Pacific waters. Up to 15 tentacles on their eponymous cube-shaped frames, which can reach a length of 10 feet, are present. Additionally, those tendrils are covered in nematocysts, a type of stinging cell that contains poisons that concurrently assault the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. Although there are antivenoms, many human victims have been known to go into shock and drown or pass away from heart failure before reaching the coast. (In the Philippines alone, they murder 20–40 people annually.) Those who are fortunate enough to survive and make it to the hospital in time to receive the antidote may experience severe pain for several weeks afterward and frequently have unsightly scars from the tentacles of the monster.

Box jellyfish are present off the northern coasts of Australia and the Philippines.

13.Cone Snail

These lovely creatures, which are found in the warm tropical waters, are easily recognized by their highly sought-after brown and white marbled shells. They can be found close to the shore in shallow depths, close to coral reefs and rock formations, and beneath sandy shoals. The four to six-inch long gastropods, however, should not be handled: One of the most poisonous species of snails, their covert, harpoon-like "teeth" contain a complex venom called a conotoxin (yes, there are other venomous snails). Despite the fact that very few individuals have ever been stung, there is no antivenom. Because the toxin prevents nerve cells from communicating with one another, the creature not only paralyzes you instantly but also gives you just enough time to smoke a stick before you pass away, earning it the nickname "cigarette snail."

Where to find them: Caribbean, Hawaiian, and Indonesian islands' surrounding waters are home to cone snails.

12.Golden Poison Dart Frog

Only a small number of the many different species of vividly colored frogs known as poison darts are particularly dangerous to people. The most lethal, a golden poison dart that grows to about two inches long, lives in a small area of rain forests along Colombia's Pacific coast (roughly the size of a paper clip). One frog contains enough of its deadly poison, known as batrachotoxin, to kill ten grown men, while only two micrograms—roughly the size of a pinhead—are required to kill a single person. The amphibian is particularly dangerous because its poison glands are located beneath its skin, making even a light touch dangerous. It should come as no surprise that the native Emberá people have been tainting their hunting blow dart tips with the frog's poison for centuries. Unfortunately, deforestation has placed the frog on numerous endangered species lists; however, if you're fortunate enough to spot one while hiking, don't go grabbing for it.

Where to find them: Colombian rainforests are the only place you can find golden poison dart frogs.

11.Cape Buffalo,

When left alone, cape buffalo, who number about 900,000 in the wild, are a reasonably calm species. They prefer to roam in large herds when grazing early in the morning and late in the afternoon, or they congregate near drinking holes. However, when a person (or its calf) is in danger or injured, they take on the characteristics that gave them the nickname "Black Death." These behemoths, which can grow up to nearly six feet tall and weigh close to a ton, circle and stalk their prey before charging at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. They are thought to have killed more hunters on the African continent than any other animal. Even when hurt, they have been known to keep charging and will attack moving vehicles without hesitation. It should go without saying that you shouldn't mess with those horns.

where to look for them Cape buffalo are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

Indian Saw-Scaled Viper 10.

While many snake species have venom potent enough to kill a human, not all of them exhibit the versatility of the Indian saw-scaled viper. These snakes, which are also known as little Indian vipers or saw-scaled vipers, can be found in some of the most populated parts of the region they call home, which extends well beyond India. However, they manage to mix in with the desert environment and remain unnoticeable by adopting their natural camouflage. It is advisable to listen for their protective sizzling sound because they are usually active at night. This sound is produced by a behavior known as stridulation, in which the snake coils up and rubs its scales together. Saw-scaled vipers are exceptionally aggressive and pack more than twice as much fatal poison into each bite even after being warned. (Fortunately, there is a potent antivenom.)

Where to find them: The Indian saw-scaled viper can be found throughout the Indian subcontinent as well as in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Pufferfish 9.

Blowfish, commonly referred to as pufferfish, are found in tropical seas all over the world. The fact that its neurotoxic, or tetrodotoxin, is present in the fish's skin, muscular tissue, liver, kidneys, and gonads, all of which must be avoided while processing the animal for human consumption, makes them the second most poisonous vertebrate on the earth (after the golden arrow dart frog). While eating pufferfish in nations like Japan, where it is regarded as a delicacy known as fugu and can only be prepared by professional, licensed chefs, poses a greater risk of death than doing so in the wild. Even though, a number of unintentional ingesting deaths happen every year. The tetrodotoxin can cause deadening of the tongue and lips, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and, if untreated, death. It is up to 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide.

Where to find them: Pufferfish can be found in the Philippines, China, and Japan.

7. Interior Taipan

Let's start with the good news: inland taipan snakes, also known as dandarabilla by Aboriginal Australians, are placid snakes that rarely bite people without provocation. The bad news is that inland taipans are well-prepared to defend themselves when people sneak up on them or attempt to handle them. When necessary, inland taipans attack rapidly and precisely because their venom is thought to be the most lethal of any snake on the globe. Did we also mention that they developed particularly to kill mammals? One bite can kill a hundred grown people, causing organ failure, convulsions, and paralysis before death. The only available antivenom is intended for the coastal relative of the inland taipan, and because to the snake's distant location, acquiring it fast is unlikely. The majority of inland taipan victims are herpetologists and expert snake handlers, however even the general public should use caution while traveling through the desert.

Where to find them: The semi-arid regions of central East Australia are home to inland tapians.

7. The wandering spider of Brazil

The highly deadly bite of this spider will cause a heart attack if its size—which may range from five to seven inches long—isn't enough to do so. Despite having toxic fangs, many spiders are not known to bite humans. The Brazilian wandering spider, however, is not one of these. And to make matters worse, this spider frequently embodies its name by ambling into heavily populated regions in search of shelter in dark, warm spaces like the interiors of shoes, garments, log heaps, vehicles, and other places where people might insert their hands. Within two to six hours of a bite, a human might pass away, usually from lung failure, though other symptoms including fever, vomiting, and paralysis can also happen. Although Brazilian wandering spider bites are rare, you shouldn't let your guard down when you're in their habitat. merely in case.

where to look for them Brazilian wandering spiders can be found in tropical areas of Central and South America, extending their range much beyond their namesake nation.

Stonefish 6.

The easiest to miss deadly fish known to humans is so on purpose. Stonefish, after all, got their name from the way they looked. They sat still and blended with the seafloor, where an unwary foot could easily step down on their dorsal fins, primed and prepared to attack with strong neurotoxins. The unluckiest clodhoppers will step forcefully, adding pressure and increasing the amount of venom injected; they may also activate the stonefish's secondary defense system known as a lachrymal saber, which has been compared to a switchblade of the face (yikes). Stonefish venom can be fatal within an hour, thus patients must obtain antivenom right away. In the interim, they should use water heated to over 113 °F (45 °C) to denature the venom. Simply monitoring where you step is much simpler.

Where to discover them: The Red Sea, the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and the Great Barrier Reef all assist to conceal these poisonous marine animals.

Saltwater Crocodile No. 5

Alligators in Florida may be frightening, but they can't compare to their dreadful cousin, the terrible crocodile, which is more irritable, easily angered, and hostile toward everything that comes in its way. The saltwater crocodile is the biggest and most dangerous species in the world. These vicious predators, which can reach lengths of up to 23 feet and weigh more than a ton, are known to take the lives of hundreds of people every year, with crocodiles as a whole being more deadly than sharks (then again, so are cars). Although their name is perplexing, saltwater crocodiles are particularly hazardous because they can strike swiftly and have bite pressure comparable to that of the T. Rex at 3,700 pounds per square inch (psi) when they bite. They are also good swimmers in both salt and freshwater. If that's not enough to frighten you, consider this in context: Around 200 psi, or 5% of a saltie's jaw strength, is used by humans to rip into a well-done steak.

Where to find them: Saltwater crocodiles can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from northern Australia to Vietnam.

4.Tsetse Fly

The tsetse fly, which is frequently regarded as the most hazardous fly in the world, is a tiny insect measuring 8 to 17 mm, or approximately the same size as a house fly. It is widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the countries in the middle of the continent. While flies are unpleasant bloodsucking insects that often feed during the hottest part of the day, their main danger comes from the protozoan parasites called trypanosomes that they disseminate. These tiny organisms are the cause of African sleeping sickness, a condition characterized by neurological and meningoencephalitic symptoms such as behavioral modifications, impaired coordination, and the irregular sleeping patterns that give the condition its name. The disorder can be lethal if left untreated. Although there are no vaccines or treatments to prevent infection, there are ways to protect yourself, such as donning neutral-colored clothing (the tsetse fly is drawn to bright and dark colors, especially blue), avoiding brush during the day, and traveling in more remote areas with equipment treated with permethrin.

Tsetse flies can be found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sudans.

3. Blue-Ringed Octopus

The appropriately titled blue-ringed octopus punches much above its weight despite being the size of a golf ball and embellished with magnificent iridescent rings of blue. With a neurotoxin 1,000 times more potent than cyanide and no known antidote—not that there would even be time to provide it before death occurs—this placid animal will attack when attacked. One may not even feel the blue-ringed octopus's bite because it is so painless (which makes it even more remarkable how often people share photos and videos with one in their hand). Even if they want to avoid the human touching them, the act of being handled drains a blue-ringed octopus' energy (as it does all other species), making it harder for them to survive.

where to look for them Around Australia and Japan, the Pacific Ocean is home to blue-ringed octopi.

2. Mosquito

The common mosquito, which is even smaller than the tsetse fly at three millimeters in length, is ranked as the second most deadly animal in the world. Our justification is the staggering number of deaths each year brought on by different infections that several mosquito species (among more than 3,000 in the globe) transmit to people. The annoying insects are the main carriers of diseases like malaria, Chikungunya, encephalitis, elephantiasis, yellow fever, dengue fever, West Nile virus, and the Zika virus, which collectively affect an estimated 700 million and kill over 725,000 people annually. According to the World Health Organization, diseases spread by mosquitoes are currently a threat to more than half of the global population. Our best defense against infection is the use of insect repellents with lots of active chemicals like DEET and picaridin since pests are drawn to our body temperatures and the CO2 we breath.

Where to find them: Mosquitoes may be found everywhere on Earth, with the exception of Antarctica.

1. People

Surprised? Since we are also animals and have been killing one other for 10,000 years, with an estimated 150 million to 1 billion deaths from war alone (and that was ten years ago), it should come as no surprise that we are at the top of the list. We engage in a staggering amount of mindless brutality against one another, from domestic terrorism to gun violence. We pose a threat to other animals as well; just consider the effects of global warming, the devastation of forests and coral reefs, and overtourism, to name a few. We are easily the most hazardous animal in the world, endangering innumerable other species in addition to our propensity for acting irrationally and our ability to wipe off the entire planet with a variety of terrifying weapons like nuclear bombs and genetically created superbugs.