CREATURES like sharks and spiders are feared by many but they don't actually top the list of the deadliest animals in the world.

Below is a list of the world's deadliest creatures in terms of how many humans they kill a year, according to research posted on the Bill Gates blog Gates Notes and Business Insider.

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15. Sharks – six deaths a year

14 Sharks kill less people than you would think Credit: Alamy

Thanks to the classic film Jaws, lots of people fear sharks.

Although the predators are pretty deadly they don't actually kill as many people as you would think.

In 2014, there were only three human deaths from shark attacks and in 2015 there were six.

This is thought to be the average number a year.



14. Wolves – 10 deaths a year

14 Wolves can be very dangerous in some parts of the world Credit: Getty - Contributor

Wolf attacks aren't common but they still occur enough to make the list.

Very few happen a year on average but because of two decades when wolves killed a few hundred people in India, the average has gone up.



13. Lions – over 22 deaths a year

14 Lions may not be as deadly as you would expect Credit: Alamy

It's difficult to get a definite number for lion deaths and estimates vary from year-to-year. A 2005 study found that since 1990, lions had killed 563 people in Tanzania alone, an average of around 22 a year. More deaths are likely to have happened in other parts of Africa.



12. Elephants – 500 deaths a year

14 Elephants have been known to attack humans Credit: Getty - Contributor

Far more elephants are killed by people than the creatures killing humans.

However, attacks and accidents do still occur.



11. Hippos – 500 deaths a year

14 Hippos are one of the deadliest mammals Credit: AFP - Getty

Hippos are often considered one of the most deadly animals in Africa.

They are known for being aggressive towards humans and sometimes tip boats over using their massive bulk which can be up to 9,000lbs.

With sharp teeth and powerful jaws they have the ability to crush a human to death.



10. Tapeworms – 700 deaths a year

14 Tapeworms can take over your intestines Credit: Getty - Contributor

A surprising addition to the list is the tapeworm.

The parasite burrows into your gut and causes an infection called cysticerosis.



9. Crocodiles – 1,000 deaths a year

14 Crocodiles kill around 1,000 each year but many deaths go unreported Credit: Getty - Contributor

These scaly predators have been considered responsible for the most human deaths in Africa.

Concrete numbers are difficult to gather as most attacks take place in remote areas and are not widely reported but 1,000 deaths is the best estimate.



8. Roundworms – 4,500 deaths a year

The Ascaris roundworm causes an infection called aschariasis.

They are the most common form of parasitic worm in humans.

Aschariasis is a condition that affects the small intestine and it can be deadly.

More children are affected by these parasites than adults.

7. Tsetse fly – around 10,000 deaths a year

These flies can give you a disease called sleeping sickness.

It can cause headaches, fever, joint pain, and itchiness before leading to neurological conditions.

However, it is thought that the number of deaths that this insect causes is decreasing.

6. Assassin bug – around 12,000 deaths a year

14 They're also known as kissing bugs Credit: Getty - Contributor

As its name suggests, the assassin bug is deadly.

They bite and suck your blood.

Through doing this they can give you a disease called Chagas disease, which causes infection and inflammation of human tissues.



5. Freshwater snails – around 20,000 deaths a year

14 Snails can be surprisingly deadly Credit: Getty - Contributor

Freshwater snails carry parasitic worms that can give people a disease called schistosomiasis.

This occurs when larval forms of the parasite penetrate the skin when victims come into contact with infested water.

The disease is most commonly found in Africa, Asia and South America where millions of people contract it each year leading to thousands of deaths.

Symptoms include abdominal pain and anal bleeding.



4. Dogs – 35,000 deaths a year

14 Dogs can spread rabies through scratching and biting Credit: Getty - Contributor

This figure relates specifically to dogs with rabies.

Around 99 per cent of rabies cases are caused by dogs, according to the WHO.



3. Snakes – 100,000 deaths a year

14 Snakes can be very poisonous Credit: Getty - Contributor

Snakes are thought to kill around 100,000 people each year but the number could be much higher as reliable data from all countries with deadly reptiles has been difficult to obtain.

Business Insider notes that there is a troubling global shortage of antivenom.

2. Humans – 440,000 deaths a year

14 Credit: Getty - Contributor

According to fairly recent statistics, humans are the the second most deadly animal in the world.

This almost makes us our own worst enemy.

Worryingly, you are more likely to be murdered by someone you know.

1. Mosquitos – 750,000 deaths a year

Mosquitos are the biggest killer because they spread diseases easily and quickly.

A mosquito bite can lead to deadly conditions like malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever.

Malaria by itself is responsible for more than half of mosquito-related deaths.

What are the most poisonous animals in the world? Here are seven of the most deadly creatures... The box jellyfish is widely regarded to be the most posionous animal in the world and contians a toxin that can cause heart attacks

Cobras, typically found in the jungles of India and China, can spit a venom which can result in death in a very short space of time and just 7ml of their venom is enough to kill 20 humans

The marbled cone snail is a sea creature that can release venom so toxic it can result in vision loss, respiratory failure, muscle paralysis and eventually death and, to make things worse, there is no anti-venom avaliable

Posion dart frogs are small and brightly coloured but have glands containing a toxin that blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death

Puffer fish are considered to be a dangerous delicacy because some of their anatomy contains a hazardous toxin which, if ingested in a large quantity, can cause convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death

The Brazillian wandering spider, also known as the 'banana spider', has venom that is so high in serotonin it can paralyse and kill

Death stalker scorpions have a fitting name as enough venom from one can cause a lot of pain and respiratory failure

Dad who bought an eight inch snake has seen it grow into the world's biggest ever Burmese python measuring over 18ft

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And, there's a new and supposedly more accurate method to working out how old your dog would be if they were a human.

Are you afraid of any animals? Let us know in the comments...

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