When you’re out hiking or swimming in nature, what creatures do you dread encountering? Many of us automatically think of creatures with gnashing teeth or razor sharp claws. Animals like lions, tigers, jaguars, sharks, and grizzly bears inspire plenty of fear. Many of the deadliest animals in the world however are quite small and sometimes even innocuous looking. Let’s take a look at the top 10 dangerous animals you should avoid (large and small). 1. 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. If you want to learn more about jellyfish, check out our post on the 7 Most Poisonous Jellyfish In the World Did You Know?

Irukanji Syndrome is a term used to describe a series of symptoms from a box jellyfish sting. These symptoms include vomiting, headaches, agitation, profuse sweating, rapid heart rate and very high blood pressure. 2. 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.

Did You Know?

Because of its fast acting venom, the cone snail is also know as the cigarette snail, meaning if one stings you, you have just enough time to smoke a cigarette before you die.

3. 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. Don't forget to check out our post on the 10 Most poisonous and dangerous snakes in the world

4. CAPE BUFFALO

This is a particularly aggressive inhabitant of the African grasslands. Cape buffalo have been known to charge victims without provocation, rather like the black mamba. While they are obviously not venomous, they do have an asset the mamba does not—2,000 pounds of weight and the ability to charge at 40 miles an hour. These creatures will continue charging even if they are shot in the heart, and have no reservations about charging vehicles. They’ve also been known to attack predators like lions.



Did You Know?

The hide on a bull buffalo's neck is as thick as 2 inches in places, which protects it during battles with other bulls for dominance.

5. 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. Did You Know?

The driver ant’s jaws are strong enough that they have been used as stitches in a pinch.

6. DEATHSTALKER SCORPION

This diminutive scorpion may not look all that impressive, but it is responsible for roughly three fourths of all deaths resulting from scorpions every year. Children are particularly susceptible to these bites and are more likely to die from them than adults. The bite is very painful, so even if you survive, you may wish you hadn’t for a while.

Did You Know?

The Deathstalker’s diet consists mainly feeds on crickets and other smaller insects. In times of food scarcity of food, they can even act as scavengers.

7. 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.

8. HYENA

The hyena is generally a scavenger, but it can also hunt prey if it wants to. During times of high human death toll (war, for example), it can develop a taste for human flesh. If corpses are not plentiful enough, it has been known to take to hunting, and will deliberately pursue human quarry to satisfy its hunger.

Did You Know?

Hyenas don’t just laugh for fun. Scientists say that the pitch and tone of a hyena’s laugh can give an indication of its age and social status.

9. 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.

Did You Know?

Although the stonefish is venomous, they are eaten by larger predators which include sharks and rays.

10. 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