Whether you’re in the woods or in the water, you may think of animals that you do not want to come into contact with. The ones that come to mind may be those who have sharp teeth or claws, such as bears, sharks, wild cats or others that you imagine may attack you. But many of the most dangerous animals around the world look innocent or are small in size. Here is a list of dangerous animals that you should stay away from.
Cape Buffalo
The Cape buffalo is a large bovine-like animal which can grow 1.7 meters tall and 3.4 meters long. They weigh up to 900 kilograms. Cape buffalos are very dangerous to humans and are known to kill in excess of 200 people every year by ramming and trampling them. They are known to attack without being provoked, and have very thick skin that requires the use of a powerful rifle to slow them down.
The Cape buffalo kills more people in Africa on an annual basis than any other animal, making it one of the 10 most dangerous animals in the world.
Hippopotamus
The Hippopotamus lives in Africa in areas south of the Sahara desert, and is the third largest land animal in the world. It is an extremely large animal, weighing in at up to 1500 kilograms. Although they have short legs, they can run up to 30 km/hour.
The hippopotamus is very unpredictable and aggressive which makes it one of the 10 most dangerous animals in the world. Although they are primarily plant-eaters, they have been known to attack and kill people with their massive size, unexpectedly and without being provoked.
Boomslang
The boomslang is a deadly snake that resides south of the Sahara desert in Africa. These snakes normally only bite when they feel threatened. After being bitten, it takes a while for the effects of the venom to take place, so victims may experience a false sense of security, believing that they will not become sick, even while their blood ceases to clot.
These snakes can grow up to 160 cm in length and range in color from light green or blue to brown. They have 3 fangs that are 3-5 millimeters long with a 0.5 millimeter diameter.
Deathstalker Scorpion
The Deathstalker Scorpion lives in desert regions from North Africa to the Middle East. This yellow scorpion can grow up to 77 millimeters in length.
The scorpion's venom is lethal for adults, but its sting is extremely painful. This is not the case with old, sick or young people, whose risk of dying is much greater, even if antivenin is used as treatment. This type of scorpion is the 3rd most venomous worldwide and is responsible for 75% of deaths caused by scorpion stings each year.
Box-Jellyfish
There are a number of species of box jellyfish, but they are all quite dangerous. The sea wasp box jellyfish is perhaps the most deadly variety. This translucent sea-dweller may not look all that menacing, but it is the most venomous animal on planet Earth. Box jellyfish are deadly to many different animals, not the least of all, us. If you get stung by one of these animals, you are very likely to die. Even if you do not, you will be in tremendous pain for some time afterward.
Cone-Snail
Another ocean dweller to be wary of is the cone snail. It may not look like much, and you may easily mistake it for any other snail on the beach, but it is extremely deadly. Just one drop of its venom can kill twenty human adults. There is no antivenin, which means that if you are stung, you will almost certainly be dead within minutes
Great White Shark
The Great White Shark can be found in oceans around the world. It is a very large marine species that can grow up to 6.4 meters in length and weigh 3324 kilograms.
This shark attacks unprovoked and has killed more humans in water than any other species, making it one of the 10 most dangerous animals worldwide. The Great White Shark travels in clans of between two and six sharks, and tends to attack with surprise from below using great speed. They hunt most often in the morning when they are harder to be spotted by their prey.
Black Mamba
This snake may look less fearsome than the hooded cobra, but it is arguably more dangerous. It can strike very quickly and can also chase its victims at an incredible speed. It chooses to do this quite often without any provocation whatsoever.
Siafu Ants
These ants are also known as driver ants. They come in swarms of up to 50,000,000, and will react as if they are a single entity if even one driver ant is in danger. Crush one of these little critters underfoot while you are out on a walk and you will regret it as the other 50 million come swarming after you. The ones that latch on will be very hard to remove. Their jaws will remain clamped into your flesh even if you tear their bodies in half. While they may not be the most deadly critters on this list, they are certainly impressively dangerous for their size. They routinely take down and kill much larger things. Look up “ant attack" and you will find many photos of this phenomenon.
Puffer Fish
This is one of the most deadly animals inhabiting the ocean. They are deceptively cute, but quite dangerous. When threatened, they puff out their protruding spines. The venom from their spines can paralyze you, causing you to stop breathing, resulting in death. For that matter, if you eat improperly prepared puffer fish, you can also die.
Stonefish
These fish are dangerous not only because they are the most venomous fish on the planet, but also because they are incredibly fast and also very hard to see. They are camouflaged naturally to blend in with the ocean floor. While they are only aggressive toward their prey, it is easy to make the mistake of stepping on one. The venom from the spines can cost you a limb or even kill you.
Humans
Human beings may not stand to win in a fair fight against most of these species, but thanks to our ingenuity, we have learned how to arm ourselves with weapons and tools which have placed us at the top of the food chain (at least for the time being). We also get extra points on the deadly scale for our aggression, not only toward other animals, but toward each other. The scale to which we take our destruction is unique. No other animal starts worldwide wars or blasts whole regions of the earth into total ruin with nuclear weapons. Without a doubt, the most dangerous animal in the world is the face you see in the mirror each day.
Nonetheless, caught off our guard, it is easy for any of the animals on this list to overcome us. All it takes is one misstep on the sea floor, or a really angry buffalo. These animals all have some kind of physical advantage over us, whether it is strength, speed, or venom. Humans have developed quite a reputation though, which is why most of these animals will avoid us (only a couple of the animals on this list are actively aggressive). Most deadly animals will avoid you when you are out on a walk or going for a swim. All of these dangerous animals deserve your respect though, so always be careful and watch your step when you are out in the wild.
