These Are 50 The Deadliest Animals In The World

You ever been told that snakes don’t tend to attack unless provoked? Well, the mulga snake has been known to bite victims while they sleep. It even has a good old chew to inject more nerve- and muscle-dissolving venom, too. And to make things even worse, that wound bleeds profusely. Yeah, we’re pretty darn scared now.

The cone snail is a slinking horror – creeping across the ocean floor with paralytic venom that is 1,000 times more powerful than morphine. It usually hunts fish using a biological harpoon to inject its poison, but people aren’t immune, either. Apparently, the cone snail’s toxin has claimed 27 human lives, according to Lewis Goldfrank’s book Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies.

So here's the funny thing about bison, these massive beasts won't bite you, because they're vegetarian. However, they can gore you with their horns, and they're also commonly known to just trample people. But how can you hate a face like that?

The Sydney funnel-web spider is enough to make even the toughest of us trembling arachnophobes. They have fangs bigger than some snakes do, and these are hard enough to pierce through shoes and toenails. Gulp! That neurotoxic bite has also been known to have killed a child in 15 minutes. Truly nightmare fuel.

Move aside Jaws, there’s a new fearsome predator in town. Tiger sharks are not picky eaters and will take a bite out of anything – including humans. And although it’s reckoned that they have killed fewer people than the great white, they’ve also attacked less of them, too. We’d still recommend steering well clear if you ever see one in the ocean.

With a name like that, this snake is not going to be cuddly. And the death adder lives up to its billing, with a paralytic bite that shuts down its victim’s breathing system if left untreated. Before the availability of a working anti-venom, around 50 percent of people attacked by this terrible creature died. Oh, and it’s also the fastest-striking snake in the world – just to make things even worse!

With dagger-like teeth, a quick temper, and – most importantly – a preference for shallow water, the bull shark is more dangerous to humans than both the tiger and the great white shark. It’s happy to bite swimmers, too. Oh, and in case you wanted any more reasons to fear this ocean predator, around 30 percent of its attacks are fatal.

It’s probably no surprise that scorpions are on this list! They’re thought to be responsible for roughly 1,000 deaths a year in Mexico alone. And the appropriately named deathstalkers are among the most lethal of their kind – with a tiny sting that paralyzes their victims and can cause respiratory and heart failure.

Pufferfish may look like amusing grumpy balloons, but their venom is no laughing matter. It’s 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide, and each of the creatures carries enough of the stuff to kill 30 people. And while pufferfish is actually a delicacy, it can be a deadly one if it’s not properly prepared.

Wolves aren’t actually all that fearsome. No, really! But starvation, confrontation, or even rabies can override their innate dislike of humans. These canines are aggressive hunters – capable of exerting a bite force of up to 1,200 pounds if they feel under threat. That explains why they account for around ten human deaths a year on average.

Saltwater crocodiles are deadly survivors from a prehistoric age, and they aggressively prey on humans foolish enough to wander into their patch. They’re hugely fast and powerful, too. In fact, there’s only one sure-fire method to avoid attack: stay away. Far away. We hear Norway’s nice at this time of year...

What harm can a humble bee do, eh? Well, quite a lot. These stinging machines inject venom that can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and even renal failure. They just won’t quit, either. They’ve been known to chase their victims, and to date they’ve apparently killed around 1,000 humans. Yikes.

Going to Thailand on vacation? Then be on the lookout for this particular creepy crawler. Though it’s only an inch long, the shocking pink dragon millipede can certainly pack a punch. It has glands that emit an almond-like odor, but don’t be tempted to lean in for a sniff. That scent is down to potassium cyanide, and it can kill a human being.

With 300 serrated teeth and a mouth like a gateway to hell, the great white shark was made infamous by the movie Jaws. But the real-life version almost lives up to its fictional portrayal. It’s the shark species responsible for attacking the most humans to date – with 272 recorded encounters by 2012.

Brazilian wandering spiders are actually found in several Latin American countries, including Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. And they’re an arachnophobe’s worse nightmare: a large and fiercely territorial creature with a Greek name meaning “murderer.” Yep, they’re definitely horrible, and you should be very wary of getting bitten. If victims don’t receive immediate medical treatment, you see, then death could be on the horizon.

Been bitten by something in the ocean, but just brushed it off because you felt fine? You should still seek medical help quickly, as you may have fallen prey to a yellow-bellied sea snake. Its highly potent and slow-acting venom can turn into an organ-failing, muscle-destroying agent of paralysis that has been known to kill. That bite actually contains multiple venom types – including a number of neurotoxins and isotoxins.

Are you scared of bears? We don’t blame you! They can be a real and very dangerous threat. And grizzlies are unstoppable mountains of muscle. Their bite can be more powerful than that of a tiger, and their jaws have apparently been strong enough to crush human skulls in the past. We’ll just steer clear, thank you...

Africa’s black mamba is the second-longest venomous snake species in the world. And that’s definitely not good news! With each attack, they inject around 120 milligrams of venom – when only up to 15 milligrams is needed to kill a human. And if you try to run, good luck. They’re the fastest terrestrial snake in the world.

Similarly to bison, moose will take you down by charging and trampling you. This is most likely to occur during their rutting season, which is moose talk for mating season. Believe us, you don't want to take a Moose's mojo.

Two words: Steve Irwin. Anything that can bring down the saint of the animal kingdom is something to be reckoned with. Fortunately, if hit in the arms or legs, the ray's sting isn't enough to be fatal, but as we learned the hard way, a blow to the heart will end you.

Lions may be the kings of the jungle, but tigers are just as deadly. And Guinness World Records lists an animal known as the Champawat Tiger as the most fearsome of the species. This one beast was apparently responsible for approximately 436 fatalities before it was brought down in 1907. Better watch out, though, as there may be a new contender for the crown...

If you’re bitten by the blue-ringed octopus, you may not even notice until the blindness, complete paralysis, and respiratory failure kick in. The venom administered by its often painless bite is so powerful that it can kill in minutes – and there’s no known anti-venom. Shiver...

While attacks from these rogue hogs are extremely rare, they make up for it with unmatched ferocity. There has only been four wild boar fatalities in the last few decades, but let's just say, they cut deep.

It’s no secret that climate change is threatening polar bears’ habitats. Studies show, however, that it’s also adversely affecting their behavior as well. The melting of the Arctic sea ice is increasingly putting these hungry beasts into contact with humans. And given that polar bears can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and measure up at nine feet tall, they aren’t to be scoffed at.

The king of the beasts is up to 500 pounds of predatory cat with teeth like daggers and eviscerating claws. To put that into perspective, they compete with crocodiles for prey – and they’re just as much of a threat to humans. Statistics published in Nature found that lions attacked 563 people in Tanzania from 1990 to 2005.

The portly hippopotamus may look cuddly, but leave your first impressions at the door. Hippos are believed to be the most dangerous land mammal in Africa! The animal’s sheer power, unpredictability, and aggression lead to an estimated 500 deaths a year, though some experts believe the number could be as high as 3,000.

Also known as mountain lions, these cats are fairly rare but can be vicious when encountered in the wild especially if food has been scarce. Cougars also occasionally take the form of women over 45 with confident flirtation — both are powerful.

The box jellyfish may be beautiful, but you should know that it’s the world’s most venomous creature. It causes up to 40 deaths annually in the Philippines alone, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation. Its translucent body makes it almost invisible in the water, and its stinging tentacles can inject enough venom to kill you in just two minutes. Now we’re afraid to swim in the ocean.

Oh, that laugh spotted hyenas are known for? It’s even more chilling when they’ve just attacked you. Yep, those jaws are powerful enough to crush bone! And they’ve even been known to take to urban environments to prey on the homeless in places such as the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

Elephants are beautiful creatures. They’re smart, too, and have the potential for empathy. But as humans increasingly stray onto the animals’ territory, clashes are becoming more common. According to National Geographic, these beasts kill around 500 people every year.

Sailors used to fear giant squid, but the real terror of the sea is a bit smaller. Meet the Humboldt squid, a.k.a. the “red devil.” It flashes scarlet, you see, when it’s excited or angry. And these monsters can attack prey – including humans – in packs of up to 1,200 individuals. Definitely beware of that beak, which, as diver Scott Cassell told The Daily Telegraph, can “mechanically amputate your hand.”

Everything about the tiny golden poison dart frog screams “don’t touch me” – including its bright color. That’s good advice, too, as the frog’s skin secretes a heart-restricting alkaloid toxin. In fact, its body contains enough venom to kill two African elephants, 10,000 mice, or up to 20 humans. Terrifying!

Yes, you read that right! Deer are among the world’s deadliest animals. But it’s not because of direct attacks or acts of aggression on their part. Instead, it’s because of the road accidents they cause. Apparently, there are some 200 deaths every year across America after vehicle collisions with deer.

Remember that popular children's song: The itsy bitsy spider hid under the water spout, climbed out to bite you and let his poison out. Then came necrosis and ate up all your skin, then the brown recluse spider decided to do it again.

Ranking more dangerous than three different kinds of shark, is the pig. This isn't because pigs will chomp our limbs off, it's because pigs wander into the road and cause car accidents. Weighing up to 790 pounds, a single pig can stop almost any vehicle.

Going to Australia? Then watch out for the coastal taipan’s venom. Its neurotoxic poison attacks the nervous system and prevents the body from being able to clot blood. That means a bite victim can die in as little as half an hour.

Chimps may be our closest genetic relatives, but they’re also much more powerful than us. And if you encounter one in the wild, you best look out. Habitat loss has led wild chimpanzees to turn on people, and there have been a number of attacks on babies in particular.

When they're not scurrying out of a sewer or abruptly zipping across your apartment, rats can actually look kind of cute. Do not be deceived. Rats are practically furry spaceships for disease. Never forget, we have them to thank for the Bubonic Plague and nightmares.

You know a snake is going to be a bad-ass when it’s named after a ferocious giant cat. Characterized by the striped patterns on its body, the tiger snake possesses a neurotoxin that causes numbness, sweating, and paralysis. And if you’re left untreated, the venom has up to a 60 percent chance of killing you. We don’t like those odds...

These critters eat garbage for a living, but the thing that really makes them deadly is the diseases they carry. Like, rabies. Rabies does a lot of bad things like make you foam at the mouth and turn into a zombie. Don't get attacked by a raccoon. Don't get rabies.

Asian giant hornets are fierce and pretty grumpy. That makes them prone to attack if provoked – so don’t get in their way! Their potent two-inch stingers inject a necrotizing venom that can destroy cell tissue and lead to multiple organ failure. It’s no surprise, then, that Asian giant hornets kill around 40 people a year.

In addition to producing global-warming amounts of methane, cows are also dangerous for causing car accidents and being aggressive. Mother cows are grizzly-bear level protective of their young and are known to charge and maim farmers. With all three of her lethal powers combined, the cow comes in at number BLANK.

Man’s best friend? Maybe, but dogs can also be deadly. Yes, while aggressive encounters don’t often end fatally, dogs with rabies claim up to 35,000 lives annually through disease transference.

Incredibly, one of the most dangerous creatures in the world is no bigger than a common housefly. Africa’s tsetse fly is a blood-sucking insect with potentially deadly parasites. And if it gets you, you could fall victim to sleeping sickness. That’s definitely not as nice as it sounds. You could even die.

The idea of having another creature invade your body is terrifying – but that’s what tapeworms do. These parasites can be found in meat that is either undercooked or prepared in a dirty environment. And the danger they pose is real. The parasitic worms cause the deaths of around 2,000 people per year, according to CNET. We’re having our steak well done from now on!

One of the most unassuming killers on this list, the common freshwater snail has a horrifying surprise. These gastropods spread disease by releasing parasites into fresh water, and this can cause a condition known as schistosomiasis. It’s pretty horrible to experience, too. You could end up with infected intestines, pain in the abdomen, or even bladder cancer or kidney failure. Apparently, up to 200,000 people die from schistosomiasis each year.

The kissing bug’s cute name actually comes from its penchant for biting snoozing people on the lips. And don’t be fooled! You definitely don’t want a smooch from this thing. It can pass on a parasitic disease called Chagas, which kills 10,000 people annually. And while some victims only experience mild symptoms, others suffer heart failure up to 30 years after initial infection.

The bulldog ant is officially the most dangerous creature of its kind in the world, according to Guinness World Records. Yes, really! These ferocious little creatures sink their toothed jaws into their victims and then hold on – administering a venomous sting several times over. Most terrifying of all, though? Their poison is powerful enough to kill a human being in only 15 minutes.

This amoeba has one guarantee — certain death. In warm, infested waters, the amoeba will swim up your nose to find your brainstem and slowly eat its way through your brain while multiplying. The singular reason this isn't number one is because of the frequency of cases.

Yes, the common mosquito is the world’s deadliest insect. And you’ve probably guessed why. It can pass on malaria, and that makes mosquitos apparently responsible for around one million deaths a year worldwide. Bug spray is a total must, then, if you’re venturing somewhere that hosts these horrible bugs.