Excellent list for a spine-chilling countdown! Here's a refined list that features some of the deadliest creatures on Earth:
1. **Box Jellyfish**
2. **Saltwater Crocodile**
3. **African Elephant**
4. **Cape Buffalo**
5. **Bull Shark**
6. **Tiger**
7. **Anaconda**
8. **Indian Red Scorpion**
9. **Japanese Giant Hornet**
10. **Hippopotamus**
Each of these animals is known for being particularly dangerous due to their aggression, venom, or sheer size and strength.
The Japanese Giant Hornet definitely haunts my nightmares with its potent venom and aggressive nature! What about you?
1. **Box Jellyfish**
2. **Saltwater Crocodile**
3. **African Elephant**
4. **Cape Buffalo**
5. **Bull Shark**
6. **Tiger**
7. **Anaconda**
8. **Indian Red Scorpion**
9. **Japanese Giant Hornet**
10. **Hippopotamus**
Each of these animals is known for being particularly dangerous due to their aggression, venom, or sheer size and strength.
The Japanese Giant Hornet definitely haunts my nightmares with its potent venom and aggressive nature! What about you?
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The way they move, the way they hunt, the way they behave, there's no other snake that can touch a mamba.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the deadliest creatures and beasts to inhabit the planet.
00:12We won't be allowing humanity as part of our criteria for this list.
00:16And this is what a deadly sea wasp looks like.
00:21Number 30. Ticks.
00:23They may be small, but never underestimate the danger these tiny insects can pose to humans.
00:28Summertime means more time outdoors.
00:31And that means more chances for tick bites and the risk of Lyme disease.
00:35Ticks are a species of arachnid that can transmit a number of diseases to humans,
00:39including typhus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
00:42Additionally, certain subspecies of ticks, such as those found in Australia,
00:47can even cause temporary paralysis with their bites.
00:49After she found a tick buried in her hair.
00:52To make matters worse, the extremely tiny size of most ticks makes them difficult to find at first glance.
00:58This means that many victims of a tick's feeding process may not discover these parasites until it's too late.
01:04And a trip to the emergency room is on the horizon.
01:07Number 29. Nile Crocodile.
01:10There's a very good reason why certain mythological creatures from ancient Egypt so often take the forms of animals,
01:16such as the hippopotamus or a crocodile.
01:19This is because these sorts of animals were often seen as river killers, sources of fear and awe.
01:31Perhaps this also applies to the fearsome reputation of the Nile crocodile,
01:36which consumes more human victims than nearly every other example of its species.
01:40These man-eaters dwell primarily within African countries,
01:49including along the Nile in Egypt, albeit in historically smaller numbers.
01:54We can't personally think of any place we'd want to run into this toothy beast, however.
01:59This has been the most awesome thing in my entire life.
02:02Have a look at this. Check out behind me.
02:05If I was James Bond, I could run over. Check him out. Like Stephen Stirling.
02:08Number 28. Assassin Bugs.
02:11There are a lot of subdivisional categories out there of the reduvidae,
02:15a family of predatory bugs that are known for ambushing their prey and spreading disease.
02:20And this is the perpetrator.
02:28These assassin bugs are specifically known for passing along Chagas disease,
02:32a curious contagion with wide-ranging effects.
02:35Those afflicted with Chagas disease may not initially see symptoms
02:39greater than some swelling or pain at the bite point.
02:41Chagas disease does have some very recognizable signs, but they're rare.
02:46However, those that are left untreated could potentially see nerve damage
02:50or even heart disease later on in life, as a result of an assassin bug attack.
02:55Number 27. Indian Red Scorpion.
02:58An encounter with any kind of scorpion probably isn't ideal,
03:01but the Indian Red Scorpion is on a whole other level.
03:04This one, the Indian Red Scorpion, takes the prize as the most lethal of all.
03:10This dangerous arachnid is one of the deadliest of its kind,
03:13possessing a painful sting that afflicts its victims with multiple horrible symptoms.
03:18These include but are not limited to vomiting, sweating,
03:22shock, breathlessness, and a racing or abnormal heart rate.
03:26In countries like India, scorpion stings are a serious public health issue.
03:30Indian Red Scorpions have been known to tragically take the lives of children
03:34within their native India, although survival is achievable
03:37as long as the patient receives immediate medical attention.
03:41Number 26. Inland Taipan.
03:43Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
03:49The Inland Taipan is an extremely venomous serpent
03:52that's found primarily within Australia.
03:54But one bite from the Inland Taipan,
03:57which only releases about 44 milligrams of venom on average,
04:02could kill up to 220,000 mice.
04:05The toxicity of the Inland Taipan's venom is the strongest of its kind,
04:09with a single bite possessing enough lethal killing power to fell a hundred humans.
04:14Thankfully, the Inland Taipan's inherently reclusive nature
04:17means that it usually seeks to avoid a confrontation rather than instigate one.
04:22This latter approach can also be found in its cousin the Coastal Taipan,
04:25which actively acts aggressively towards human invaders.
04:33This essentially means that one should avoid any contact
04:36with either of these dangerous slithering animals.
04:39Number 25. Blue-Ringed Octopus.
04:42The world of dangerous octopi is one that's usually reserved for movies,
04:46such as the one designed by Ray Harryhausen for the film It Came From Beneath the Sea.
04:52The reality, however, is that the Blue-Ringed Octopus exists,
05:02and it arrives armed with a powerful neurotoxin.
05:05The demeanor of the Blue-Ringed Octopus is similar to that of the Inland Taipan
05:09in that it generally doesn't seek out attention.
05:12However, if it's disturbed, beware.
05:14You'll see I'm wearing gloves, guys, for a reason right now.
05:17This is a really good way to get a nip. That is not what I want.
05:21The bites of these underwater animals are not very painful,
05:24but this aforementioned neurotoxin is deadly and can cause paralysis,
05:29respiratory failure, and death only mere moments after contact.
05:36Number 24. Anacondas.
05:38The lethality of anacondas thankfully doesn't really apply to humans
05:41since these aggressive predators don't, as a rule, seek us out for confrontations.
05:54That said, these powerful serpents are still incredibly dangerous members
05:58of the animal kingdom thanks to their incredible constrictive prowess.
06:01They can hunt and kill animals much larger than they are,
06:04including sheep and even jungle cats such as jaguars.
06:11That's not too shabby considering anacondas actually aren't even venomous.
06:15Interactions between humans and anacondas may not occur as often as they do in the movies,
06:20but the curious can rest assured knowing that
06:22these apex predators almost always come out on top.
06:34Number 23. Komodo dragon.
06:37Speaking of apex predators, the Komodo dragon is the king of the hill
06:40when it comes to modern-day tyrant lizards.
06:47They are the largest living example of the lizard species today
06:51and dominate hunting grounds and food chains wherever they're found,
06:54primarily within the island of Indonesia.
06:57They're known to hunt by stealth, utilizing patience to pounce and tear open their victims.
07:02The Komodo dragon is also known to scavenge graves for carrion
07:06or eat basically whatever's in front of it during its sparse feeding times.
07:11Okay, now that felt like more of a bite.
07:14This lengthy time between hunts thankfully lowers the Komodo dragon's
07:18historical relationship with humans,
07:19although encounters between the two have been known to be fatal.
07:24Number 22. Golden poison frog.
07:26It just sort of says it all right in the name, doesn't it?
07:34The golden poison frog possesses one of the most intense and potent toxins in the world.
07:39The danger here lies within the frog's actual skin,
07:42meaning that one needs to either touch or eat the golden poison frog
07:45in order for this toxin to take effect.
07:47By the time Alonzo hands the frog to me,
07:50I need gloves to prevent even the tiniest amount of the toxin
07:54seeping into my bloodstream through my skin, or I'd be dead.
07:58Should this occur, however, the secretion of its batrachotoxin will cause paralysis,
08:03respiratory failure, and death in a most dramatic and painful fashion.
08:07The golden poison frog is found primarily within the Colombian rainforest,
08:11but their deadly and dangerous reputation endures far beyond the confines of the underbrush.
08:16Number 21. Cone snail.
08:18The tiny, humble snail may not be the first animal that comes to one's mind
08:22when thinking about danger levels, but therein lies the irony.
08:37The cone snail is beautiful on the outside, but deadly on the inside,
08:41since these underwater creatures are extremely poisonous.
08:45Some smaller species possess little danger to humans,
08:48but the larger and more aggressive examples often employ tiny harpoon projectiles
08:52that can pierce even protected divers.
09:00These stings then transmit the cone snail's potent toxin,
09:03which causes numbness, swelling, blurred vision, paralysis, and eventually death.
09:08There is no known antivenom.
09:11Number 20. Killer whale.
09:13Also known as orcas, or the wolves of the sea, killer whales earn the killer in their name.
09:19These highly intelligent apex predators hunt a variety of prey,
09:23ranging from fish and seals to even sharks and whales.
09:26While there have been some incidents between wild killer whales and people,
09:30fatal attacks have yet to be recorded.
09:32However, it's a different story for killer whales in captivity.
09:36With no apparent warning, the killer whale grabs his feet
09:39and pulls him underwater for close to a minute.
09:42Then it brings him to the surface where the trainer pets the whale, tries to calm it.
09:47Since the late 1960s, there have been dozens of incidents involving captive killer whales.
09:52These have resulted in injuries and even fatalities,
09:55generating lots of discussions surrounding the controversy of keeping them in captivity.
10:07One killer whale in particular, known as Tilikum,
10:10was involved in the deaths of three people, including two of his trainers.
10:14Number 19. Death stalker scorpion.
10:18This little guy is one of the reasons why I love scorpions.
10:21This little guy is one of the reasons scorpions have such a bad rep,
10:24as it's responsible for three quarters of scorpion-related deaths annually,
10:29with young children and the elderly especially at risk.
10:32The third most venomous scorpion in the world,
10:34the death stalker's venom is extremely potent and painful,
10:38and is actually resistant to treatment.
10:41Though healthy adults won't necessarily die from its sting,
10:44much anti-venom would likely be required.
10:47It's found primarily throughout North Africa and the Middle East,
10:50so if you're in the neighborhood, watch out.
10:53Number 18. Cassowary.
10:56If you're looking for proof that birds are related to dinosaurs,
10:59look no further than the cassowary.
11:01Armed with powerful legs and dagger-like claws,
11:04the cassowary can deliver a kick that will break bones and slice through flesh.
11:09While these large birds are cautious around humans,
11:12more than a hundred instances of people being attacked by cassowaries have been reported,
11:16most of which involved food.
11:18Thankfully, fatalities are rare.
11:20Though it's possible for the cassowary to be partially domesticated,
11:24owning one can still be dangerous.
11:26In April 2019, a Florida man was killed by a cassowary he raised
11:31when it fatally injured him after he fell down.
11:40The cassowary's potential for harm has earned it the title of the world's most dangerous bird.
11:45Number 17. Pufferfish.
11:48While not the biggest or most ferocious entry on our list,
11:51the pufferfish is nevertheless extremely dangerous.
11:55If inflating its body doesn't discourage predators,
11:58then its high levels of toxicity sure do.
12:07Pufferfish possess tetrodotoxin,
12:09which is over a thousand times more lethal than cyanide.
12:13A single pufferfish has enough tetrodotoxin to kill 30 adult humans.
12:18In Japan, pufferfish known as fugu are considered a delicacy.
12:30But only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it,
12:34as even the slightest mistake could prove fatal.
12:37In 1958, the number of people who died from fugu poisoning peaked at 176,
12:49but has decreased over time,
12:51with about 20 fatalities being reported in Japan since the turn of the 21st century.
13:00To this day, no known antidote exists.
13:04Number 16. Cape Buffalo.
13:07When you think of the most dangerous animals in Africa,
13:09the cape buffalo may not be your first or even fifth thought.
13:13They're responsible for hundreds of deaths every year, however,
13:16and eagerly go after jeeps and trucks, overturning them with ease.
13:21They're sometimes referred to as the Black Death,
13:24and have been known to fight off crocodiles and lions.
13:28Their ability to run at 40 miles an hour despite weighing 2,000 pounds
13:32makes them one of the most dangerous animals in not only Africa, but the entire world.
13:38Number 15. Japanese Giant Hornet.
13:42Afraid of bugs? Then these hornets are your worst nightmare.
13:52The largest of its kind on Earth, Japanese giant hornets are feared for their highly potent venom,
13:58which can kill a person if stung enough times.
14:01Even if the venom doesn't kill right away, those unfortunate enough to be stung by one
14:05are forced to endure intense, searing pain.
14:09On average, these insects kill an estimated 10 to 50 people a year in Japan, and injure many more.
14:20Recently spotted in the United States, this invasive species poses a significant threat
14:25to honeybee populations and the larger ecosystem.
14:28With such a terrifying reputation, it's no wonder they were given the nickname murder hornets.
14:34Number 14. Grizzly Bear.
14:37Weighing between 400 to 800 pounds on average, the grizzly bear is a force to be feared.
14:43While they may not actively hunt humans, urban expansion into their territory has made grizzlies
14:49more dangerous, as they've come to associate humans with food.
14:53While rare, attacks from grizzlies are often fatal.
14:59Mother grizzlies are especially dangerous, as they're more likely to attack if they feel their
15:07cubs are threatened.
15:08Along with their enhanced sense of smell and powerful claws, grizzlies can easily outrun
15:13humans, and have a bite force strong enough to crush bowling balls.
15:18When heading out to grizzly country, knowing how to navigate an encounter with one could mean the
15:31difference between life and death.
15:39Number 13. Brazilian Wandering Spider.
15:43Unlike most spiders, this creepy crawly does not make its home in a web or lair.
15:48Rather, it lives a nomadic lifestyle, hunting and ambushing its prey.
15:57This makes the Brazilian wandering spider even more dangerous,
16:00as it often wanders into human settlements.
16:03Known for hiding in dark places such as boots and shoes,
16:06these spiders thus bite people in self-defense.
16:13While its venom can be treated with antivenom, it is still the most potent poison of any spider.
16:20It directly targets the nervous system, which can potentially be fatal,
16:24making it extremely dangerous, especially for children.
16:31We'd expect nothing less from a spider whose genus translates to murderous.
16:35Number 12. African Elephant.
16:38Elephants are one of the most popular creatures on the planet,
16:41but that doesn't make them any less dangerous.
16:43They've been known to become extremely aggressive without warning,
16:47making them one of the more unpredictable animals on the planet.
16:50This is especially dangerous because they frequently come into contact with people,
16:54through safaris and other ventures.
16:56It seems like at least once a year,
16:58there's a story about an elephant wandering into a village and trampling dozens of people.
17:12Number 11. Honey Badger.
17:14Considered the most fearless animal alive by the Guinness Book of World Records,
17:19the honey badger is one of nature's most relentless hunters.
17:22It possesses powerful claws and fangs that can break open tortoise shells.
17:30It also has a strong resistance to venom,
17:32and a loose but thick hide tough enough to resist blows from a machete.
17:37The honey badger won't hesitate to challenge and even repel
17:40much larger predators, such as leopards and lions.
17:56They're also highly intelligent, or can escape from or break into secure enclosures.
18:02Because they often attack livestock and bee farms,
18:05they increasingly get into conflicts with humans.
18:17When provoked, they are terrifying, and will fight to the death if escape is impossible.
18:22Honey badger don't care.
18:24Number 10. Hippopotamus.
18:26While hippos may not necessarily come across as an extremely dangerous animal,
18:31they are aggressive, and have been known to attack people without provocation.
18:36They're usually found in Africa,
18:38and are one of the larger animals responsible for killing the most humans on that continent.
18:42Despite weighing several thousand pounds, a hippo can run as fast as 20 miles per hour,
18:48and has an extremely powerful mouth.
18:51They can decimate safari vehicles without breaking a sweat.
18:55Number 9. Saltwater Crocodile.
18:58The largest reptile in the world, saltwater crocodiles are extremely dangerous,
19:03and are responsible for attacking hundreds of people every year.
19:06They're found all over the world in all sorts of habitats,
19:10including both saltwater and freshwater.
19:16They have the strongest bite of any animal currently in existence,
19:20with their jaws capable of applying over 3,500 pounds of pressure per square inch.
19:26They have an alarming tendency to consider humans as their prey,
19:30although only if we venture into their territory.
19:33Number 8. Bull Shark.
19:35Alongside great white and tiger sharks,
19:38the bull shark is one of three shark species most likely to attack humans unprovoked.
19:43While the great white has been implicated in more unprovoked attacks on humans,
19:48several factors make the bull shark more dangerous to humans than any other shark species.
19:56These include its high aggression level,
20:00a much more powerful bite force than the great white,
20:03and, most dangerous of all, its ability to thrive in both saltwater and freshwater sources.
20:17In rare cases, bull sharks have even been sighted going far up
20:21both the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
20:24Some experts believe that the bull shark was responsible for the Jersey Shore attacks of 1916,
20:29an event that inspired the novel Jaws.
20:32Number 7. Sloth Bear.
20:34Native to the Indian subcontinent,
20:36sloth bears may look adorable and fluffy, but they're extremely aggressive.
20:40They have a reputation for regularly attacking humans more than any other bear.
20:45Those would be in the wild used for just this purpose,
20:47but mostly for digging into termite mounds, digging up bees,
20:50actually sucking up the honey like they're doing with their lips now.
20:53With human populations growing and their territory decreasing,
20:56human and sloth bear encounters have gradually increased
21:00as the animals wander into towns in search of food.
21:06Due to their poor eyesight, sloth bears are easily startled,
21:10and thus more likely to lash out in self-defense or to defend their cubs.
21:14Between 1998 and 2000,
21:17137 sloth bear attacks, including 11 fatalities,
21:22occurred in the North Belospore Forest Division in the state of Chuttiscar.
21:28In 1957, a specimen known as the Sloth Bear of Mysore
21:33achieved notoriety for killing at least 12 people,
21:36and seriously injuring over 20 others.
21:39Number 6. African Lion.
21:42Take one look at an African lion,
21:44and you know that you are putting your life at risk
21:47just by getting within striking distance of the animal.
21:49This doesn't seem to stop humans from going on safaris or attempting to tame them, however.
21:54As a result, hundreds of people die every year at the hands of the African lion.
21:59Luckily, they do not actively seek out humans,
22:02but their amazing speed and razor-sharp teeth and claws
22:06mean that if they do decide to make you their prey,
22:08you are in a lot of trouble.
22:12There's a locked door.
22:14Oh my gosh, I didn't know they could do that.
22:16Number 5. Polar Bear.
22:19Raised in the harsh environment of the Arctic Circle,
22:22polar bears have evolved into one of the world's apex predators.
22:25Reaching heights of more than 9 feet and weighing over 1,000 pounds,
22:30the polar bear is the largest terrestrial carnivore on Earth.
22:34While normally cautious by nature,
22:37hungry polar bears will kill and eat virtually anything big or small,
22:41including humans.
22:43Being this close, you get an appreciation for what this animal is.
22:46It is one of the most powerful animals on the planet.
22:50With the loss of their habitat due to climate change
22:53and a lack of fear towards people,
22:55more and more polar bears are drawn towards human populations
22:58and are becoming more and more vulnerable.
23:00More and more polar bears are drawn towards human populations
23:03in search of food.
23:10Given the polar bear's immense size,
23:12powerful claws,
23:13and teeth capable of tearing a human to shreds,
23:16any encounter can prove fatal.
23:19Number 4. Tiger.
23:21As one of the world's most iconic animals,
23:23the tiger has left its mark in history,
23:26mythology,
23:27and popular culture.
23:28Along with being the largest cat species,
23:31tigers can be divided into several subspecies,
23:34such as the common Bengal tiger
23:36and the Siberian tiger.
23:37With jaws strong enough to crush the throats of its prey
23:40and paws capable of inflicting heavy blows,
23:43tigers are apex predators that are praised and feared
23:46for their legendary strength and hunting prowess.
23:59Some tigers have even acquired a fearsome reputation
24:02for being man-eaters,
24:04with the most infamous being the Chumpawit tiger,
24:06which allegedly killed more than 400 people
24:09over the course of seven years
24:11at the turn of the 20th century.
24:22Number 3. Box jellyfish.
24:24If you come across one of these creatures
24:26while scuba diving or floating in the sea,
24:29get away as fast as possible.
24:31The box jellyfish is one of the most venomous animals
24:34on the entire planet,
24:36a category that includes frogs,
24:37scorpions,
24:38and snakes.
24:39It can possess as many as 60 tentacles,
24:42and their sting can kill a human,
24:45either by paralyzing them,
24:46which leads to drowning,
24:48or by stopping their heart.
24:50Luckily, many people survive encounters
24:52with the box jellyfish,
24:54but not without first experiencing excruciating pain.
24:58Number 2. Black mamba snake.
25:01Despite being the second most venomous snake in the world,
25:04the black mamba makes our list
25:05because it is the most feared snake in all of Africa,
25:08which is saying something.
25:10Their bite has been called the kiss of death,
25:13and it can kill a human in less than 10 hours
25:16if not treated effectively.
25:17While the black mamba usually tries to flee from humans,
25:20they will attack if they feel threatened,
25:23delivering deadly strikes in rapid succession.
25:28Before we continue,
25:35be sure to subscribe to our channel
25:36and ring the bell to get notified
25:38about our latest videos.
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25:41for occasional videos or all of them.
25:43If you're on your phone,
25:44make sure you go into your settings
25:46and switch on notifications.
25:50Number 1. Mosquito.
25:52With a list that includes crocodiles,
25:54lions,
25:54and sharks,
25:55it may be difficult to believe that mosquitoes
25:58are the most dangerous animals on the planet.
26:00While they won't eat you,
26:01this small insect is responsible
26:03for killing over a million people each year
26:06because it spreads diseases,
26:08the most famous of which is malaria.
26:10In fact,
26:11they're said to transfer diseases
26:12to over 700 million people annually.
26:15They are located all over the world,
26:18from tropical areas to cold climates,
26:20and are responsible for more human deaths
26:23than all the other animals on this list,
26:25put together.
26:27Which of these creatures haunts your nightmares?
26:29Let us know in the comments.
26:37Did you enjoy this video?
26:38Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
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26:55Transcribed by https://otter.ai