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AnimalsTranscript
00:00 It takes more than just guts to go after animals larger than yourself, whether it's for food
00:10 or a fight. In the case of food, smaller predators need to develop some crazy hunting techniques
00:15 or possess a powerful weapon to bring down animals that outrank them in size. Yet, these
00:21 little fighters never back down from a challenge, determined to get their big animal meals one
00:25 way or another. Other small animals attack bigger ones if they threaten their young or
00:31 if the bigger animals are just being bullies. Welcome back to Forever Green. Before we dive
00:36 in, we've got a question for you. Is the toad eating the beetle or is the beetle eating
00:41 the toad? Take a good look. Put your guesses in the comments below and stick around to
00:45 find the answer. Alright, let's dive in.
00:48 #15 Otter Giant otters can be very territorial, especially
01:03 when it comes to protecting their young. So, when these jaguars encroach on their space,
01:09 it can mean only one thing - trouble. Otters are generally about 5.6 feet in length and
01:15 have incredible aquatic agility. On the other hand, jaguars can pierce a turtle shell with
01:21 their powerful jaws and are 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to 220 pounds. But none of that
01:28 means anything to the otter, apparently. Otters might look soft and cuddly, but remain dangerous
01:35 wild animals. They have strong teeth and a powerful bite. A top predator, the otter,
01:41 is known to some local people in Brazil as the aquatic jaguar. And you can see in this
01:47 showdown how the otter's noises and movements force the real big cats to take a step back.
01:54 Otters have even been spotted taking down caimans, the giant alligators that terrorize
01:58 the Amazon. So, whether you see an otter on land or at sea, be sure to maintain a safe
02:04 distance of at least 50 yards while you admire their cuteness.
02:16 Number 14. Praying Mantis. Mantises are surprisingly ferocious insects. It sounds crazy to say
02:26 that not one but two tiny insects are challenging the natural order and preying on birds, but
02:32 it's true. Praying mantises all around the world do just that. Researchers observe these
02:39 predators preying on a variety of different songbirds and hummingbirds in dozens of countries.
02:46 Scientists have previously observed them attacking and feasting on various small bird species,
02:50 and the stories are brutal. Mantises have been seen impaling the bird's chest, dangling
02:56 it by its legs, or in the case of this photo, grabbing it by the skull and feeding on its
03:01 head. Other descriptions of mantises eating hummingbirds say that the insect usually starts
03:08 by grabbing the bird by the neck, surprising it while feeding on a flower or at a feeder.
03:15 They deal with lizards the same way, going for the head. The praying mantis will either
03:26 scalp the creature or dig through the eye sockets to get to its favorite part, the brain.
03:40 Number 13. Goliath Birdeater. As you may have guessed from its name, the Goliath Birdeater
03:49 is a tarantula that eats large adult birds. Despite the name though, they don't exclusively
03:55 stick to birds. They will essentially attack anything that they encounter. They have that
04:03 name because of an early 18th century copper engraving by Maria Sibylla Marien that shows
04:08 one eating a hummingbird. The spider hunts in leaf litter on the ground at night, so
04:14 the chances of encountering a bird are pretty slim. However, if it found a nest, it could
04:20 easily kill the parents and the chicks and puncture and drink bird eggs. The ambushed
04:25 predator usually chooses to eat smaller prey like toads and rodents, but will gladly eat
04:30 things much larger should they dare stumble across it. This albatron ground snake, for
04:36 example, made the mistake of crossing the Goliath's path and suffered for it. Ground
04:42 snakes are easily over 3 feet long, while Goliath spiders weigh 175 grams and have a
04:47 length of 13 cm. Despite its hunting prowess, this spider rarely harms humans. That said,
04:55 you still shouldn't mess with them. They carry venom in their fangs, and while they won't
05:01 eat you, they will cause you pain for a few hours.
05:12 Number 12. Stoat. Many predators eat prey larger than them, but the most exceptional
05:21 one is probably the stoat. Stoats are essentially cousins of the weasel, and their diet consists
05:27 of small rodents and fish, and sometimes, it's rabbits. Now, what's so impressive about
05:34 eating a rabbit, you ask? Well, stoats are only around 260 grams, but they hunt huge
05:41 animals like hares that weigh more than 3.6 kilograms or 8 grams, which is up to 10 times
05:47 their size. They often go in for the kill by biting the back of the neck, and they have
05:54 quite the reputation as fearsome, efficient predators.
06:00 Number 11. Golden Eagles. There's no doubt about it, eagles are one of the most effective
06:09 predators on the planet. We've seen them effortlessly pluck fish out of the water or
06:15 a snake from the ground and fly off. The golden eagle is one of the largest, fastest, nimblest
06:22 raptors in North America. Lustrous gold feathers gleam on the back of its head and neck, a
06:28 powerful beak and talons showcase its hunting prowess. With a wide-ranging diet, they will
06:34 eat almost anything they can kill, including other birds, small mammals, and reptiles.
06:40 But it doesn't stop there. Golden eagles have been seen even killing goats and deer by flying
06:46 into them to knock them off cliffs. In terms of actual size, goats and other similar mammals
06:53 are not that big compared to the golden eagle. However, when you consider that even the biggest
06:59 of these birds generally weighs less than 15 pounds, you realize these birds confidently
07:03 go after prey very far outside their weight class.
07:09 Number 10. Wolverine. Nope, not that wolverine. We're talking about this little guy. Basically
07:18 a weasel on steroids. Along with a voracious appetite, it has a reputation for unmatched
07:24 ferocity and apparently fears nothing. It has strength wildly out of proportion to its
07:29 size and is known to kill prey many times larger than itself. They are opportunistic
07:36 hunters who typically feed on carrion and smaller prey like rabbits and rodents. But,
07:42 as you can see here, they are willing to risk their lives against more formidable adversaries
07:47 when food is scarce. They can even be seen driving bears and mountain lions off their
07:52 kills, two or three at a time in fact. They can even take down a bear in a fight, with
07:59 bone-cracking jaws and an excellent sense of smell, these guys are not ones to back
08:03 down from a fight. Before we move on, here's a quick challenge
08:08 for you. If you can leave a like on this video, smash that subscribe button and turn on the
08:13 notifications in less than 5 seconds, you will have 10 years of amazing luck. Hurry
08:18 up and try it, it actually works.
08:23 Number 9. Baboon. As omnivores, baboons eat a wide array of
08:31 meats and plants. Typical foods in a baboon's diet include grasses, fruits, rodents, birds,
08:38 and the young of antelopes, sheep, and other mammals. Sometimes they'll even eat other
08:44 monkeys. Baboons are not usually out looking for a fight unless you wander into their territory.
08:51 Baboons can be very territorial and will threaten you with their 4 inch fangs. Just see what
08:56 happens when this cheetah enters the home base of the kakma baboons. They all go on
09:02 high alert and watch the intruder like hawks. They move in quickly and the cheetah, noticing
09:07 this, moves away. But the retreat it seems was a bad move. It's not about territory anymore,
09:13 it's about sending a message to keep away. So, the baboons all give chase until the cheetah
09:19 is out of their turf. Not many would challenge an apex predator like that.
09:26 Number 8. Dragonfly. Or more specifically, dragonfly larvae. Dragonfly
09:35 larvae are major aquatic predators that often eat tadpoles. And this has forced the tadpoles
09:40 to come up with devious defense strategies. The tadpoles of leopard frogs will speed up
09:47 their maturation if they are in a pod with dragonfly larvae. Other species of tadpoles
09:53 hide or develop ornamentations on their tails to trick the larvae into striking the less
09:57 vulnerable parts of their bodies. They were not thought to attack adult frogs, but new
10:02 studies have shown they do. The voracious larvae would climb out of their ponds onto
10:07 water plants, then leap onto the frogs and eat them alive while the frogs would try to
10:12 escape only to fail. Now and again, adult dragonflies also get
10:18 in on the act. For instance, check out this photo of a Canadian dragonfly called a dragon
10:23 hunter catching a ruby-throated hummingbird by the neck and feeding on it. The photographer
10:29 Daryl Farris picked up the pair and separated the dragonfly from the hummingbird. Once he
10:35 finally got them separated, the dragonfly flew away instantly, but the hummingbird took
10:39 a few minutes to get over the shock.
10:44 Number 7. Piranha. Piranhas developed a reputation as rabid flesh-eaters
10:53 who consume anything that comes into their water, and that's not entirely false. Piranhas
10:59 can strip a fish down to the bone in minutes. A piranha has powerful jaws with sharp teeth
11:06 and is a formidable predator, and with a bite stronger than that of a great white shark,
11:10 these guys are built to cause damage. But the truth is, they generally do not hunt anything
11:16 much bigger than they are, since they don't live in big enough schools to tackle sizable
11:21 prey. These fish usually only feed on other fish or wounded animals. But a hungry piranha
11:28 will bite at almost anything, even other piranhas. So, ducks and baby birds aren't much of a
11:34 stretch.
11:46 Number 6. Snapping Turtle. The common snapping turtle, the omnivore that
11:53 it is, will eat almost anything it comes across. It can be birds or watermelon, or even something
12:00 as risky as a piranha. While most of its food comes from vegetation and small fish, it will
12:06 even take advantage of larger animals that let their guard down around them. They are
12:19 known for their combative disposition when out of the water with their powerful beak-like
12:23 jaws and highly mobile head and neck. Snapping turtles are almost entirely aquatic,
12:30 and can be found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, preferably with slow-moving water
12:35 and a soft muddy or sandy bottom. Once they zero in on a kill, they use their strong jaws
12:42 and powerful grip to easily grab onto the necks of birds and small mammals and drag
12:46 them into the water. Since their victims can't swim, they make an easy meal for the turtle,
12:53 cutting chunks out of the floating corpses.
13:03 Number 5. Spider Wasp. Spider wasps take their name after the prey
13:11 that they hunt. They have long legs and dark wings that may look oily. You're most likely
13:18 to see them on or around flowers as they feed on nectar. What gives spider wasps their name
13:24 is the fact that the females of the species prey on spiders. When she catches one, she
13:31 stings and paralyzes the spider. She then drags it to her nest, where she'll lay eggs.
13:36 The spider provides a food source for when they hatch. But it will also gladly kill even
13:42 bigger species like tarantulas, which tower over them in size. Using their venomous stinger,
13:50 the wasp injects a toxin into its prey that quickly paralyzes them, leaving them completely
13:55 vulnerable to the wasp. In most cases, it will then lay a single larvae egg into the
14:02 spider's body that will then develop and eat the spider from inside out. So technically,
14:09 the wasp's larvae also take down a being much larger than itself.
14:16 Number 4. Scolopendra Centipedes. Centipedes are mostly carnivorous, and contrary to belief,
14:25 they are not insects but arthropods. The scolopendra is also commonly referred to as the giant
14:32 centipede, and they have been known to cause fatalities. Centipedes in general will eat
14:38 small vertebrates such as mice, but the scolopendra goes for slightly bigger creatures as part
14:43 of its diet. Specifically, roosting bats that live in caves. They scuttle across the top
14:51 of the caves and then plant their legs into the roof. Anchored to the spot, they then
14:56 use their large fang-like forcipules to grab a bat sleeping on the wall or one that happens
15:02 to be flying by. As if that weren't impressive enough, scolopendra centipedes also go after
15:07 snakes, including the highly venomous coral snake.
15:15 Number 3. Snakes. With unblinking eyes that seem bigger than their stomachs, snakes swallow
15:24 some of the largest prey imaginable compared to their slender figures. We're sure you've
15:29 seen footage of pythons devouring deer and crocodiles. Snakes attack either with venom
15:36 or by wrapping themselves tightly around their prey. The snake will seize the prey with its
15:41 mouth, throw itself around it, and then start constriction. When prey exhales, the snake
15:47 will tighten its coils so it can't inhale. This goes on till the prey meets a gruesome
15:51 end. Their expandable jaws and flexible bone structures allow snakes to eat prey many times
15:58 their own size and weight. Their bodies simply expand to allow large animals to pass through,
16:05 and when a snake eats a large mammal or even a crocodile, it won't need to feed again for
16:09 several weeks. Of course, some snakes can't take it all in and end up exploding. It sounds
16:17 disgusting, but that's what you get for overeating.
16:22 It is now time to check out today's subscriber pick. Remember, if you ever come across some
16:27 bizarre or fascinating image, you can send it to us and we'll investigate. Today's picture
16:32 seems to be of a badger going head to head with a lion. Now, while that's a poorly photoshopped
16:37 image, there are instances where honey badgers have gone up against the king of the jungle.
16:42 Check out our number 2 spot on the list.
16:45 Number 2 - Honey Badger
16:51 This ferocious little creature may not be much in size, but it definitely has more heart
16:56 than some of the biggest predators out there. The honey badger is a strong, intelligent,
17:02 and fierce mammal. Its stocky, flattened body has short, strong legs and claws on the front
17:08 feet that are perfect for digging. The honey badger's skin is not only tough, it's also
17:14 loose enough so the honey badger can turn around in it and bite its attacker. And speaking
17:20 of bites, they can survive the bites of some dangerous creatures. They eat scorpions and
17:25 snakes with no care in the world and have unusually high immunity to venom. They're
17:31 so brave that honey badgers have been seen chasing young lions off their kills and attacking
17:36 buffaloes, wildebeest, and waterbucks. All of these species have been found dead due
17:42 to blood loss as a result of honey badgers attacking their genitals, the badger's prime
17:47 attack target. A honey badger has even been spotted fighting off six lions at a time.
17:56 Honey badgers are primarily carnivorous and will eat anything from birds and lizards to
18:00 deadly snakes. A honey badger has been documented being bitten by a highly venomous puff adder
18:06 while killing it. It then laid down next to the dead snake, slept for a few hours, and
18:11 woke up to devour its meal with no apparent ill effect from the venom. Well, nothing a
18:15 good nap can't solve.
18:25 Number 1 - Epimus Beetle
18:31 At the beginning of the video, we asked you if this toad is eating the insect or if the
18:35 insect is eating the toad. We hope you have put your answers in the comments. Amphibians
18:41 are usually much larger than their helpless prey. They snatch up everything that looks
18:45 to be of manageable size, but one beetle has evolved to put them in their place. The epimus
18:52 species of beetle remains one of the most unique ever discovered. In the larvae stage,
18:57 the creatures perform a kind of dance that attracts passing toads and frogs larger than
19:02 them. Once the amphibian comes close enough to try to eat the larvae, it dodges out of
19:08 the way and quickly latches onto the skin of its prey. Here, it can essentially suck
19:14 the creature dry, leaving just bones behind. And what if the toad is fast enough and manages
19:21 to actually swallow the beetle? Well, let's hope that doesn't happen.
19:27 Scientists once watched a toad nab and successfully eat an epimus larva, only to throw it up two
19:33 hours later. At first, the larva lay motionless, but then suddenly it snapped up and attacked
19:39 the toad again. Just imagine if the food you just ate came back out and attacked you. Researchers
19:48 found that out of hundreds of tests, no frog or toad successfully ate the larvae or escaped.
19:55 Adult beetles are often more adventurous, jumping on a toad's rear and sinking its jaws
19:59 into the flesh. So basically, amphibians can go ahead and climb down off their high horses.
20:07 Some of the hunters in this list are literally infants, and they almost always get their
20:11 prey. Even in the natural realm, size, as it turns out, doesn't matter.
20:22 If you enjoyed this video, don't forget to hit the like button and check out more
20:25 videos on nature and animals on the 4evergreen channel. We'll be back soon with another
20:30 video but until then, thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.