They bite, they scratch, they can tear you
limb from limb if you let them. Nature has the largest and fiercest collection
of dangerous creatures from the smallest to the largest that are the stuff of nightmares
should you find yourself in their way. And we are not just talking about lions and
bears. While they may be part of the big leagues,
there still are animals and creatures out there that, unbeknownst to us, are actually
some of the most dangerous that you will ever find – some of them are even unlikely suspects. So, in today’s list, we are counting down
to nature’s 10 most dangerous creatures that you should look out for when you decide
to make that nature walk or book that safari holiday. 10. ASCARIS ROUNDWORM
Let’s start small and work our way up. First up is the Ascaris Roundworm. You didn’t actually think that we are just
going to focus on four legged predators, right? Parasites such as the Ascaris Roundworms are
one of nature’s silent and deadly killers that take the lives of 4500 people each year
according to a 2013 study due to an intestinal infection called aschariasis. What’s even more unsettling about these
microscopic killers is that, according to the World Health Organisation, these parasites
affects more children than adults who are exposed to unsanitary environments or conditions
where these worms are more likely to breed and propagate. 9. MOSQUITOES
Malaria and Dengue are two of the plethora of diseases and viruses that these little
bloodsuckers can infect humans and animals with. In Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria alone is responsible
for more than half of mosquito-related deaths because these insects are quick. The way a disease is transmitted by mosquitoes
to humans is through their bite. Enzymes from the mosquito’s needle-like
proboscis enter the body as it feeds and it is in these enzymes where bacteria and viruses
thrive and enter our bloodstream. In many Asian and Latin American countries,
Dengue-carrying mosquitoes are responsible for the hospitalization and sometimes death
of many children. 8. SIAFU ANTS
It’s one for all and all for one for these ants; and though they may be small, these
little critters are fierce and deadly when they start working together. Also known as Driver Ants, they usually come
in a swarm of 50,000,000 individuals and work as a single unit especially when threatened. Accidentally stepping on one of them on a
leisurely walk might cost you when the other 49,000,000 ants come after you. Ferocious fighters, these ants will not let
go when they bite. Even if you manage to split their bodies from
their heads, their mandibles will still keep locked onto your skin and the pain is no joke. In some cases, hunters use these ants as a
way of temporarily stitching a wound by agitating them and forcing them to clamp their jaws
hard on the skin like angry staple wires. They are absolutely dangerous even for their
size as they are notorious for bringing down prey that are much larger than they. 7. CONE SNAIL
With no known anti-venom, the cone snail makes it easily on this list. Found in shallow tropical waters such as those
of Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Indonesia, these snails are instantly recognisable due to the
marble-like colouring on their shells that are, well, cone shaped. They make their home underneath sandy shoals
as well as near coral reefs and rock formations. Despite their seemingly harmless exterior,
touching or accidentally stepping on any of these gastropods will earn you a quick trip
to the emergency room. Concealed beneath their flesh is a harpoon-like
tooth that juts out like a spring-loaded spear. This tooth contains conotoxin that immediately
prevents nerve cells from sending signals and communicating with each other which leads
any unlucky individual paralysed. Even scarier is that, after being paralysed,
the venom works its way rapidly into the bloodstream causing death. 6. POISON DART FROG
The next creature on our list earned its name from its unusual use to the indigenous peoples
of South America where its species is largely endemic. The poison dart frog is a species of brightly
coloured frogs, some of which are deadly to human beings. One such species is the Golden Poison Dart
frog that is a native of the Colombian rain forests. Its bright, neon colour is enough to draw
attention and lure unsuspecting individuals but just beneath its skin are poison glands
that secrete potent amounts of batrachotoxin. The poison, in fact, is extremely potent that
there is enough of it in one frog to kill 10 adult humans with only 2 micrograms – a
drop that is roughly the size of a pinhead - of the toxin needed to do in a single person. The poison enters the bloodstream either through
ingestion or through open wounds which is why these frogs’ toxins are a favourite
among indigenous hunters and tribesmen to coat their weapons and arrows with to use
on unsuspecting trespassers or rivals. 5. BLACK MAMBA
When we talk of deadly snakes, we would picture either a cobra or a rattlesnake. While they are undoubtedly deadly with their
lethal bites, their combined reputations dwarf in comparison to the African Black Mamba. For one, the black mamba is the only venomous
snake that can travel at speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour which makes running away from
them a little bit more difficult – and with their immense length of up to 14 feet, you
can only hope that it tires out before you do in a chase. And the other reason is that, unlike any venomous
snakes that only strike once to deliver their cocktail of toxins, the black mamba will strike
its victim repeatedly to deliver enough venom and then some into the bloodstream to shut
down the body’s neuro and cardiovascular functions. A single bite from the black mamba, whose
name comes from its inky black inner mouth, can easily kill at least ten people. The mamba’s venom is quite potent that it
leads to fatal ends if a victim fails to have anti-venom administered
within 20 minutes after being bitten. 4. CAPE BUFFALO
Normally, we would imagine bovines and buffalos as gentle creatures that really don’t mind
when we hang around them. The Cape buffalo, however, seems to be an
exception to that assumption. They are inhabitants of the African grasslands
who are known to be extremely territorial and equally aggressive. There have been occasions when cape buffalos
would charge at any animal or person without provocation. Though they do not have sharp claws or venomous
bites, cape buffalos are built like body-builders. With 2000 pounds of muscle, these giants will
charge at 40 miles per hour. Some of them are even known to charge victims
even after being shot in vital organs. And did we mention the massive horns on their
heads that they use to gore their unfortunate victims with? There is no stopping them once they get really
worked up and these fearsome bovines are also know to not only charge at vehicles, but at
dangerous predators like lions. 3. SALTWATER CROCODILE
Crocodiles are scary and deadly and we can all agree on that. However, crocodile attacks only happen when
these giant reptiles are provoked or you wander around aimlessly into their territory despite
the fact that there are more crocodile fatalities than shark-related deaths annually. Their short-tempered and much more aggressive
cousin, the saltwater crocodile, however is far less to let you pass its territory without
losing a few limbs here and there – if you’re lucky. Native to the waters of the Indo-Pacific,
saltwater crocodiles are easily provoked and sometimes attack without reason. They can grow up to 23 feet in length and
can weigh more than a ton. These giants are known to kill hundreds of
people per year. While their name may imply that they only
thrive in saltwater, they can also make a comfortable home in freshwater and – compared
to their cousins – they are swift swimmers that can deliver a bone crushing bite of 3700
pounds per square inch. The only other known reptile to deliver such
a crushing bite is the now extinct Tyrannosaurus Rex. 2. BOX JELLYFISH
We did mention that we are going through this list and counting down to the biggest, baddest
and most dangerous creature on earth and putting the Box Jellyfish in the number 2 spot may
be counter-intuitive but hear us out. Relative to their size, Box Jellyfish contribute
to hundreds of human deaths per year. These invertebrates are found mainly in the
waters north of Australia and are considered to be the most venomous marine animal in the
world by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Getting their namesake from their shape, each
box jellyfish has up to 15 tentacles that can grow up to 10 feet long. In each tentacle can be found thousands of
stinging cells called nematocysts that resemble microscopic barbs. The box jellyfish does not even need to do
anything to deliver its cocktail of venom. Simply brushing against a tentacle is enough
to deliver a deadly dose of toxins that will target the heart, nervous system, and skin. Practically invisible in the water, you won’t
even know that you’ve been stung by one of them until you feel the sharp pain of the
toxins working their way into your body. Anti-venoms for box jellyfish stings do exist. However, in severe cases, victims may die
from heart failure due to the poison even before they can reach shore. To survivors, many of them have to wrestle
with excruciating pain even after treatment. What’s more, the stings leave scars that
will constantly remind you of your unfortunate brush with these invisible assassins. 1. HUMAN BEINGS
It should come as no surprise that Human Beings take the top spot of the most dangerous creatures
on earth. Despite the fact that we don’t have poison
glands, or sharp teeth, or venomous barbs sticking out of our bodies, we – as a species
– have caused fatalities between 150 million to 1 billion within just the past decade. We have waged wars and fought crusades for
thousands of years and with that we have taken the lives of our own kind, most of the time
indiscriminately. Despite that we are all living in a comparatively
peaceful era, many of us still choose to assault and attack each other violently to lethal
ends. Terrorism, crime, and gun violence are just
a few of the things we can name that make us perhaps the most dangerous species to have
populated the planet. Not only are we a threat to ourselves and
animal life, we have – as a species – been able to develop means to practically reduce
the planet to dust with our obsession to one up each other when it comes to nuclear devices
and other weapons of mass destruction. And don’t even get us started on genetically-modified
“super bugs” or diseases. Even in the best of intentions, the human
race has inadvertently made its habitat – the planet earth – a toxic place to live in
with its continued use of harmful chemicals and the destruction of plant and animal life
resulting in global issues like Climate Change. While we would like to think that we are at
the top of the food chain and remain in control of our planet, the truth is that we are the
only species to have been able to continuously destroy the only ecosystem we have that may
eventually lead to our extinction. That is, if we don’t start nuking each other.
