15-  Frilled Shark

I don’t know about you, but the very thought of meeting up with a shark keeps me out of the ocean. With thoughts of their razor-sharp teeth racing through my head, I’ll happily leave these encounters to someone else thanks!

Aside from its frightening appearance, the Frilled Shark is known as a ‘living fossil’. 

It lives in the deep, dark depths of the ocean floor, and closely resembles Lord Voldemort’s deadly snake companion Nagini from the Harry Potter series. With a head like a lizard and a body like an eel, this thing is ugly!

Not much is known about the Frilled Shark, even why it is called one.

At first glance, you wouldn’t think it was a shark, however, it is recommended as one because of its internal structure.

Gills around its throat make it look more like a sea serpent, and the red fringe around them is what led to its name.

A monster of a creature, it has 300 teeth, aligned in 25 rows. And if that’s not weird enough, they all face backwards! It must make eating difficult.

Not only that, but they also lack fins, meaning they hover, rather than swim. Now that I would love to see – from a safe distance of course.

 “Even though Frilled Sharks aren’t the biggest animals in the world, do consider the size of it in this picture! Compare the kid to this horrifying looking thing. It’s pretty gigantic if you ask me. If I ever see one while swimming, then considered me gone…

14- Giant Squid

With so many supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons in Japanese folklore, a surprise visitor on Christmas Eve, 2015 had residents wondering if their eyes were deceiving them.

A real-life sea monster was spotted by visitors chilling out on a pier overlooking the water in Toyama Bay in Central Japan.

Measuring 12-foot-long, the ‘monster’ was a giant red-and-white squid taking a quick dip in the bay, much to the visitor’s surprise.

It turns out that, although, giant, the little chap was merely a juvenile squid and at almost 4 meters, quite small considering they can grow up to 13 meters!

Giant squids normally spend their lives in the depts of the open ocean, so to be able to get up close and personal to one was more of a treat than a terrifying experience.

In fact, they are normally found washed up on the shore, after they have died.

In 2004 and 2012, Japanese researchers were able to get images of these live giants, by luring them up to the camera. However, the researchers had to make the journey several thousand feet below the surface.

One of the Toyama Bay visitors was diver Akinobu Kimura. He simply jumped in the water with his submersible camera and obtained video footage that has been described as the most detailed and up-close viewing of a live giant squid yet!

A bold move, Kimura lived to tell the tale, saying his curiosity was way bigger than his fear.

Luckily it all turned out well for both diver and squid, with the giant fellow disappearing out to see not long after the encounter.

13- The Chinese giant salamander

What looks like an oversized Mexican walking fish, the Chinese giant salamander is so critically endangered it’s facing extinction.

The largest amphibian in the world, they grow up to 2 meters long and are very rare in the wild.

Millions are kept in captivity, but they’re not the easiest creature to look after.

There are three species, with the South China being the largest.

Each requires targeted and separate conservation management to save them from dying out altogether.

According to Zoologist Samuel Turvey of London, UK and his colleagues, those left in the wild must be located, and species-specific breeding programs introduced.

They have analyzed DNA taken from liver, muscle and bone samples of 41 of the salamanders to help them find out more about the mysterious species.

This genetic analysis showed that the three species were separated between 3.1 and 2.4 million years ago.

This period coincides with the rising up of the Tibetan Plateau which could have isolated the giant salamander population.

Today they are extensively moved around by Chinese farmers, making it difficult to determine their origin.

Of those caught in the wild, some may have escaped from farms or been deliberately released, but it is believed that the original population has been almost completely wiped out.

12- Nomura’s Jellyfish

Measuring almost 2 meters across and as heavy as a male lion, it’s hard to believe this jellyfish is just six months old!

The size of a child’s palm at first, the Nomura Jellyfish is now larger than an adult human.

With no bones to nourish, no complex organs to maintain and very little energy wasted on swimming, the Nomura Jellyfish’s sole purpose is to grow.

Drifting with the currents and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, this deadly creature prefers plankton to people, and is only responsible for the loss of eight human lives.

Because of their size, humans are not on the Nomura’s menu.

Although large, they have tiny mouths. And that’s plural, yes, these jellyfish have hundreds of mouths. Mouths so tiny, they’re virtually invisible to the naked eye. 

Imagine how handy that would be at an all you can eat buffet!

Well known for their greed, the species costs Japanese fisheries serious damage each year, with many looking at ways to turn this invasion into a resource.

And the bad news is, these guys are multiplying. Their sudden population explosion has been linked to climate change and overfishing.

11- Blue Whale

The fact that these giant mammals are larger than dinosaurs doesn’t mean much really, considering none of us were alive to see the comparison, so let’s talk numbers instead.

An adult Blue Whale can weigh up to 190 ton and measure just over 30 meters long!

To put that into perspective, the largest mammal on earth is bigger than 25 elephants or 115 giraffes!

Today there are between 10,000 and 25,000 blue whales left in the ocean. This may sound a lot, but it is not enough to save them from extinction.

Until the end of the 19^th century, Blue whales were abundant in nearly all the oceans on Earth. Unfortunately, they were almost hunted to extinction by whalers until the practice was banned by the International Whaling Commission in 1967. The Commission estimates that between 1868 and 1967, almost 400,000 blue whales had been caught in whalers’ nets.

Between the male and female, the female is the larger of the two. Their bodies, however, are long and slender, and instead of blue, as you would expect, they are a slighter darker shade of grayish blue on the top and somewhat lighter underneath.

With a diet that consists almost entirely of krill, the Blue whale obviously isn’t a fussy eater.

10- Giant Sea Lizard

With countless razor-sharp teeth and dull green eyes, this deep-sea predator would make a great addition to any horror movie!

Forget our mechanical shark friend Bruce from Jaws, this bottom-dwelling lizard fish has a reputation for making almost anything in its path, dinner.

The ocean is home to many spectacular sea urchins, including the beautiful purple orb, glowing UFO jellyfish and googly-eyed squid, but the giant sea lizard doesn’t care.

Not fussy, it devours them all and starts looking for more.

A rather bizarre species, at home in Australia’s eastern abyss, the sea lizard is an ambush predator, lying in wait for its unsuspecting prey.

Hunting at depths of between 3,000 to over 8,500 feet, this terrifying monster of the deep is largely just a mouth with a tail! And one bite from its razor-sharp hinged teeth, and there is no escape. 

It eats anything and everything it comes across, including other lizard fish. Fortunately, they have both male and female reproductive organs so there are no issues when it comes to reproduction.

Whether this is good news or not, I will leave that up to you to decide.

9-  Dragonfish 

To be honest, this fish doesn’t even look real! Not only is it extremely long, but it’s also really flat. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to navigate its own body, let alone the ocean!

This giant oarfish washed up in the Philippines in 2016, with many residents very excited by its beaching in Albay.

In fact, the locals were ecstatic, as it’s very rare to see an Oarfish because they don’t pop up very often.

These strange creatures resemble sea serpents, but much about them remains a true mystery of the deep.

The dead fish measured 4 meters long and weighed 50 kilograms, and while it is the longest Oarfish to hit Philippines shores, it is by no means the biggest ever seen.

In 2013, California’s Catalina Island played host to a 5.5-meter specimen that washed up dead on the beach, but the record stands at a whopping 11 meters!

Speculation is rife as to why they sporadically wash up dead on the shore. Some believe their unusual body shape means they are easily injured, where others suggest changing currents and the shifting distribution of their food source is to blame for forcing them to spend more time in the shallows.

8-  World’s Biggest Bat

No, you’re not watching a scene from Hotel Transylvania, this is real life, and as scary as they appear, these bats are completely harmless.

The largest bat species in the world with a wingspan of a massive 1.5 meters across, the flying fox can be identified by their foxlike faces, long wings, large strong claws, and unique behavior.

Because they don’t wear deodorant like us humans, these bats have a distinctive body odor. But, unlike ours, there’s has a purpose. The special odor allows them to communicate with each other during the mating season. 

When pregnant, the females form their own colony. They give birth after 40 days and in two to three months their pups are fully developed and left to fend for themselves.

They make parenting sound so easy!

Masters of disguise, the bats contrasting colors help them mingle with the environment, unseen by predators prying eyes, while they sleep throughout the day.

Mainly nocturnal, these enormous bats spend their evenings travelling, with most able to cover over 40 kilometers a night! They don’t spend the whole time flying, however, as they occasionally stop to find food.

The Flying Fox is mostly found in the tropical rain forests of the Philippines and East Asia, usually seeking the shelter of tall leafless trees and deep caves.

7-  World’s Largest Eagle

Eagles are gracious birds of prey known for their strength, power, and persistence. Used as national symbols in many countries such as the United States and Japan, eagles can be found at the very top of the food chain. No surprises there!

Experts at hunting prey and surviving the harshest weather conditions, these heavily built birds have had scientists and researchers fascinated for years.

Now extinct, the Haast’s eagle was the biggest eagle in the world, with a wingspan of 3 meters.

It once lived in the southern islands of New Zealand and was one of the most ferocious predators of its time, preying on flightless birds like the Moa, which was up to 15 times its weight.

In fact, the continuous decline of these birds, led to the Haast’s extinction.

The giant eagle weighed up to 17.8 kg and was considered one of the largest known true raptors.

Today, the largest living eagle is the Golden Eagle that has a wingspan of up to 220 centimeters or 2.2 meters, considerably smaller than its giant ancestor.

6- World’s Biggest Dog

The alabai, and not the type that gets you out of a sticky situation, but the canine type, is a loyal friend and companion.

No real surprises there, but what you might not know, is that this special breed is one of the world’s biggest.

Weighing in at a whopping 120kg and standing at over 2 meters on its hind legs, this dog is larger than the average adult man!

With a history that dates back many thousands of years, the Alabai has adopted many traits from its ancestors, including its height and weight. 

With a powerful physique, broad, well developed chest and large fangs, this dog presents an imposing figure. But don’t be fooled, it’s really just a big softie at heart.

Fiercely protective of their owners, they’re also patient and calm and don’t act rashly.

Popular guard dogs and working dogs, the Alabai is strong and fast, and has a keen eye that can accurately analyze a situation, making them perfect for protective duties.

5-  The Redtail Catfish 

With its only similarity to a cat, being the whisker-type features on its head, the catfish is a delicious-tasting river fish, mainly found in the Amazon.

In 2013, a Redtail Catfish was caught in the Illinois River, during the annual Hamm’s Breading & AAD Welding catfish tournament.

Fisherman Allen Hamm Jr. was at first confused by his unusual catch, texting one of the organizers asking, “What the heck is this?”

A fish expert was consulted and an ‘Amazon red-tailed catfish’ was the reply.

Said to reach weights of up to 180 pounds, the fish are easily recognized by the bright red markings on their tails and fins.

Believed to have come from somebody’s aquarium, the red-tailed catfish was a rare find, but it’s not the only time one of these big cats has been found in the U.S.

Others have been found in Florida, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, but the Amazon is considered the catfish capital of the world, with more turning up there than anywhere else.

In fact, there are over 3000 different species of fish that occur in the Amazon and almost half of them are catfish!

With 15 families, including over 1300 species, some Amazon catfish are bottom dwellers, some nocturnal. Some are parasites and some are roving predators, with the biggest caught, weighing a massive 134 kilograms!

Now that’s one big cat, even if it’s not of the four-legged variety.

4- Big Ben

A majestic creature with a mind of its own, there is nothing quite like the freedom owning a horse can provide. Simply saddle up, if you so choose, and ride off into the sunset.

But, imagine if our horse weighed 3,000 pounds. You would be hoping it was a docile chap, wouldn’t you?

Well this 6-year-old lad, co-owned by Sherrie Van Tassel and Charles Haddad, perfectly fits the bill.

Not only is he well loved by his owners, but he is also gentle and patient with children.

Big Ben lives at Haddad Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In 2008 Sherrie and Charles took him to a plant in Canaan, Conn., where there is a platform, they weigh concrete trucks on.

Up steps Big Ben, and his owners were overjoyed with the result, joking they were trying to make him into a body builder.

At 3,000 pounds or 1360 kilograms, there is no mistaking this boy is big.

The Belgian gelding stands 19.2 hands at the shoulder, slightly shorter than the world’s tallest horse Radar, who at 10-years-old stands 19.3 hands, or 6-feet, 7-inches tall. Radar is, however, quite a lot lighter than Big Ben, weighing in at just 2,400 pounds.

The heaviest horse on record, however, is a Belgian stallion named Brooklyn Supreme, who topped the scales at 3,200 pounds. 

No matter. Big Ben, with his gleaming reddish coat and blazing flaxen mane, is a stunning specimen, and the pride and joy of his owners who offer ‘Big Ben of the Berkshires’ tours at their farm.

3-  Bulls With HORNS – the Ankole-Watusi

One can only imagine how difficult it is to carry around the head gear that these poor bulls do each day. It would be like wearing a crown, but without the title and the life of privilege that goes with it!

Best known for the very large horns that adorn their heads, the Ankole-Watusi is believed to have ancestral origins dating back as far as 4000BC.

The long-horned cattle first established themselves in the Nile Valley in Ancient Egypt. In fact, they even appear in photos of Egyptian pyramids.

This Egyptian descendant migrated to Ethiopia and then further down the continent, breeding with the Longhorn Zebu, to eventually form the Ankole-Watusi we see today throughout India, Pakistan, Africa, America and Europe.

The first herd in America was recorded in 1960, and an international registry was set up in 1983. At last count in 2016, there was approximately 1,500 head of the breed, with 80% of these farmed in the United States.

Considered the showstoppers of the bovine world, these elegant and graceful cattle are usually red in color, with cows weighing up to 545 kilograms and bulls as much as 730 kilograms.

And if you think that’s heavy, spare a thought for the poor mother giving birth to a calf that can weigh anywhere up to 22 kilograms! That’s a decent size calf.

The entire herd are very protective of new calves, with the adult’s horns serving as weapons against intruders.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be keen to take one on, that’s for sure.

2-  Blosom

In May 2015, a cow that made it into the Guinness World Records sadly passed away. 

The adorable Blosom, owned by American Patty Meads-Hanson, had injured her leg and it was decided to put her out of her misery.

The female Holstein will live on in the record books, however, as the world’s tallest cow in history.

She towered over most American adults at a staggering height of 1.9 meters, over 6 feet tall and was measured at her home in Orangeville, Illinois, for the record books in early 2015.

Meads-Hanson was emotional on learning Blosom had claimed the coveted record of the tallest cow, but said her beloved cow was unaffected by all the attention that once surrounded her.

She said as long as she could count on her oats, and daily chin rubs and ear scratches, she was happy.

Having owned Blosom from just eight weeks old, Meads-Hanson said she was born to two normal sized cows, both of whom she quickly outgrew.

Meads-Hanson’s late father suggested she have the cow measured, however, he died before the record was officially confirmed.

1- Giant White Shark 

Over the years the ocean has played host to thousands of pretty oversized sharks and their sizes continue to differ and increase throughout history.

These predators are pretty dangerous and vicious when prompted, and you’d imagine with increased size comes increased risk. However, for some strange reason many people seem to enjoy the thought of coming face to face with these creatures. 

Obviously, there is a cage between them, but let’s face it, you’ve all seen what happens on ‘Jaws’, cage or no cage!

In Australia there is a special week-long dive event hosted by Andrew Fox, a renowned ocean enthusiast. 

The days are spent shark diving as well as getting up close with some of Australia’s finest sea lions.

These dives have seen sharks in great numbers, including many larger sharks, obviously not on a megalodon scale but certainly larger than your average great white.

It is an experience that all ocean and shark lovers should give a try, even just once.

I mean, how many people can say they’ve come face-to-face with a Great White roaming the Great Barrier Reef and the Pacific Ocean, and lived to tell the tale?

Not many, I bet.

When dealing with gigantic mammals and animals, it pays to do your homework before any encounter, particularly if it’s of the planned variety. Although large, some are docile, whereas others should be kept at arm’s length, to ensure you don’t lose a limb or two, or maybe even your life.  Like the world’s biggest dog, for example, it may be cute, but at 120kg and with a name like Bulldozer, you can’t be too careful!

The post 15 GIANT Animals You Didn’t Know Existed first appeared on Blind Side.

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15. Venomous Puss Caterpillars

Why does everything cute, cuddly, and fluffy, want to see you in extreme pain? All you want to do is cuddle and pat this little critter, but doing so can cause severe pain. 

If you feel like grabbing a venomous puss caterpillar from its resting place on a branch, repeat after me: foe, not friend; foe, not friend; foe, not friend. 

The puss caterpillar, which goes by the name of Asp or southern flannel moth caterpillar, is quite a large insect that’s covered in a furry coat. But rather than feature soft, fine hairs that cause no harm, these furs are spines that break off in your skin, cause hematoma bruising, and enough pain that even morphine can’t get rid of it. 

They are endemic to the southern US, but they have also now been found in South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. 

The worst part about being in contact with a venomous puss caterpillar is that it doesn’t feel like it’s hurting you straight away. Instead, the pain builds up as the tiny spines dig their way into your skin. 

If you ever find yourself in contact with one, don’t be in a hurry to brush it off you frantically. Carefully lift it with tweezers or a branch, then carefully remove your clothing and shower. This is one creature you don’t want to have any evidence of left on you. 

14. Amblypygi 

First of all, the name of this creature needs more vowels, for it’s hard enough to say, let alone find yourself face to face with. The… amblypygi, which roughly translates to rump blunt due to the lack of a tail, is not a spider, nor is it a scorpion. It’s a bit of both, and we don’t know if that makes it more or less terrifying. 

If the amblypygi looks familiar, then you’d be right. Any Harry Potter fans in the house will remember it from the scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where Professor Moody used the Imperio curse on it and made it dance. 

Fortunately, this critter, which can be classed as a whip spider, doesn’t have any venom, nor do they build any webs. They do have a pretty scary pair of claws though, and they know how to use them.

The amblypygi has a flat body, eight legs, and giant pincers they use to catch prey. They also have eight eyes, but their vision isn’t all that great. 

If you’re going to go out looking for one, and we suggest you don’t because they look terrifying, then you’ll find them in subtropical and tropical regions. Just don’t get too close, for their bite really does pack a punch. 

13. Goliath Birdeater

First of all, we’re going to clear something up. The goliath birdeater is indeed a giant spider. But it’s not a bird eater. It might eat birds if nothing else is available, and can devour them without any problems at all, but it wouldn’t be its first choice. Got it? Good, now here’s why you’ll be likely to run away from this creepy crawly. 

The goliath birdeater is not your average spider that you’d welcome into your home to take care of the insects. Not only does it weigh up to six ounces, but it has a leg span of nearly one foot. Imagine that taking up residence in a web in the corner of your bedroom? 

The female tarantula can also live up to 20 years, while the male’s lifespan is a little less optimistic at just six years. 

They dine on frogs and rodents and have harpoon-shaped hairs with stinging barbs. These hairs are rubbed together and fired towards the skin and eyes of anyone and anything that tries to do it harm. But its defense response is not the most terrifying thing of all. 

The goliath birdeater has inch-long fangs that pump neurotoxins into its prey. It then follows up this process by liquefying its dinner’s insides before beginning the digestion process. Good luck trying to sleep tonight. 

12. Giant African Land Snail 

A snail, dangerous? We know, it sounds ridiculous. We wouldn’t say this gastropod is dangerous to humans, but it’s dangerous to our crops and agriculture industry, which makes it not very welcome at all here in the US. 

The giant African land snail is one of the largest of its kind, growing up to almost eight inches long and four inches tall. It lives in many different countries around the world, but it tends to thrive in hot and humid conditions. 

While it’s not going to pin you down and devour you whole, it is going to cause chaos wherever it slithers to. It loves plants and will decimate crops and greenery of around 500 different types. It’s highly invasive and also breeds quite rapidly. They can hatch about 1,200 eggs per year with a survival rate of 90 percent. 

They are also quite terrifying to look at, especially if you’re a little bit squirmy with insects. They have a brown, red, and yellow-ish shell and a slug-like body beneath it. They even have tiny teeth so that they can scrape their food before they tuck in. 

So, while not dangerous in the traditional sense, this insect is still not for the weak-stomached. 

11. Goliath Tigerfish

If you enjoy sleeping and having sweet dreams, then skip this part – or maybe watch a video on unicorns or something. The goliath tigerfish is an aggressive, terrifying, and huge fish that’s not afraid to show you who’s boss. 

It’s an African fish that can weigh over 110 pounds and can even grow up to around five feet tall. Basically, it’s the size of a child. But unlike children, this fish is vicious. It exhibits exceptionally violent predatory behavior and is not afraid to fight back if it feels under threat. 

It has a mouth full of dagger-like teeth, a muscular body, and a taste for crocs. That’s right; if it finds a crocodile that’s small enough, it will have it for dinner. And it doesn’t just eat it daintily, either. It will literally tear it apart with its razor-sharp teeth. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? 

They hunt in packs, are excellent swimmers, and will decimate a fishing rod should you happen to catch one. Fortunately, they spend more time hunting than breeding, which means they are not a population of fish that are about to overrun rivers and lakes. Still, they are a fish that will send you running for dry land, that’s for sure. 

10. Tiger 

A tiger is a dangerous animal that you’ll definitely want to run away from, but will running do you any good? This big cat will win against you in the water – for it’s a good swimmer – and it will undoubtedly win against you on the land. After all, its hind legs are longer than its front ones, which means it can leap 20-30 feet in just one jump.

If you still think you can get away, then know that they can also sneak up on you out of nowhere, thanks to their giant padded feet. They hunt at night – so there’s no thinking that you can slink away in the darkness, and they are fiercely protective of their cubs. 

What might swing in your favor, though, is that they are only successful in capturing prey once in every 10 to 20 attempts. Those odds are pretty good for the average human. In saying that, they will eat around 88 pounds of meat in one sitting and will stay with anything they kill until they’ve picked it clean. 

There’s also no chance you can overpower them, either, for they are the third-largest land carnivore and weigh up to 660 pounds. If you find yourself in tiger territory, we’ve got our fingers crossed for you, because it’s not looking good. 

9. Cone Snail

Gary, the snail from Spongebob Squarepants, may look harmless, but if he’s a cone snail, then he’s a cold-blooded murderer. The cone snail is a six-inch sea critter that lives in reefs in the Indo-Pacific. They have brown and white shells and, believe it or not, feed on fish. 

So, how on earth does a small snail manage to bring down a fish? Well, the answer will see your water exploits limited to the bathtub from here on in. They are venomous. And not just a little bit, but a whole lot. They are the most toxic of over 500 cone snail species and have several human deaths to answer for. 

They use an awful harpoon-like tooth to deliver the venom, which causes paralysis. There is also no way to cure it, other than try to keep the sufferer alive until the toxin wears off.

But it’s not all bad news. There is potential in the research world for the venom of a cone snail to form part of pain-killing drugs. So far, it has been proven to be ten times more powerful than morphine. Researchers just have to figure out how to make sure it doesn’t kill anyone in the process. 

8. Japanese Giant Hornet 

If you went around biting people until their organs failed, ripping the heads off people, and dismembering their bodies, then you’d probably end up in jail or death row. But the Japanese giant hornet gets away with it, and they are definitely a dangerous animal that you’re not going to want to get close to. 

They are twice the size of a normal hornet, and probably twice as grumpy, too. Their venom can be fatal, and they have a long stinger and mandibles that allow them to tear their prey apart – literally. Sounds like a delightful insect, right? 

What they do have going for them is that they are quite pretty. They have black, yellow, orange, and brown coloring, yellow bands, and dramatic, broad wings. But their looks won’t win them any kudos with those they are trying to hunt down. 

They can fly at speeds of 25 miles per hour, and they are incredibly aggressive. If you happen to stumble across a Japanese giant hornet nest, then all we can say is BE CALM! Running will only cause them to take up chase and attack. 

Up to 40 people lose their life to giant hornets every year, with most deaths caused by anaphylactic shock. However, their venom can also cause death as it can chew through tissue and decimate red blood cells. Want to avoid being stung? Stay inside. 

7. Polar Bears

Polar bears look cute and cuddly. They may even offer a false sense of security with the way they plod daintily around on the ice. But they are still a dangerous animal that you should run away from. They are not the most vicious or confrontational bear, so that’s nice to know, but they have a particular set of attributes that would see them win out in a battle of human vs. polar bear. 

Firstly, they’re great swimmers. They aren’t called marine mammals for no reason at all. They spend much of their life in the sea ice, which means they’ll beat you in a freestyle race with no problems.

Even if you consider yourself a decent swimmer, their heft will likely see you lose in a fight, anyway. They can weigh as much as ten men, or around 1,700 pounds, and up to nearly ten feet tall. 

Fortunately for us, but not for them, they don’t have much luck with food. Fewer than two percent of their hunting expeditions result in food, and they often settle for small mammals, vegetation, birds, and eggs. 

Still, would you really want to try your luck in a fight against a polar bear? Probably not. 

6. Assassin Caterpillar

The everyday caterpillar is dangerous enough, but usually only from an agricultural perspective. Sure, their fur can be quite irritating, but that’s typically as far as it goes. The assassin caterpillar, however, is a dangerous animal you should run away from. You’re not going to like what this creepy critter has in store for you.

The assassin caterpillar is responsible for many deaths every year. As they blend into the rainforests of southern Brazil, they can be hard to spot until it’s too late. 

Their bristles, which look like tiny spears, have an anti-coagulant venom, which can cause bleeding, red blood cell rupture, and vomiting with just the slightest brush against them. The worst part is, if you touch one by accident, you usually end up feeling more than one. And, if that’s the case, renal failure, internal hemorrhaging, and death are common. 

If you find yourself adventuring through southern Brazil, then be on the lookout. Don’t touch the bark on any trees, and consider visiting in a colder month of the year. Otherwise, this dangerous critter could wind up ending your life. 

This link provided by the researcher bears no relevance at all to the assassin caterpillar so I used the video + my own research. 

5.  Amazonian Giant Centipede? 

Why is it that everything in the shape of a snake wants us dead? If it’s not snakes themselves, it’s caterpillars and centipedes. Can’t we all just get along? The Amazonian giant centipede is an aggressive, grumpy, and unfriendly insect that’s both giant and venomous. It grows up to 12 inches long and has a pair of legs on each of the 21-23 sections of its body. That’s a lot of legs.

But don’t get too caught up in counting legs, for you’ll need to use your own to run away from them! The Amazonian giant centipede may not have the best eyesight, but they sure know how to eat. They devour birds, snakes, bats, tarantulas, frogs, and lizards, and they will slice and dice their victims until they’re in bite-sized pieces. 

If that’s not bad enough, then the venom they release is. It’s that toxic that it can kill small animals and can affect humans too. Anyone who has been bitten by an Amazonian giant centipede can find themselves with fatigue, a chill, fever, pain, and swelling. While death is unlikely, it’s still not a comfortable experience. If you see an Amazonian giant centipede on your travels through South America, then run. 

4. Scorpions 

Scorpions are pretty interesting animals, but they are also ones that won’t make you want to get up close and personal with them. Firstly, let’s touch on what makes them interesting, and then we’ll move on to why you should stay as far away from them as possible.

They’re pretty damn resilient. They have been around for at least 400 million years, and each scorpion’s lifespan is around a quarter of a century. They can live for about one year without food and will even survive underwater for up to two days. That’s pretty impressive. 

They also glow in the dark, which can be really helpful in trying to locate them. All you need is a UV light and you can work out if you’ve got an infestation around your property or not. 

But here’s where they turn from impressive to downright terrifying. They are venomous. They have a needle-like point on their tail that delivers venom. How much venom it produces depends on how badly it wants to kill.  

Fortunately, being stung by a scorpion doesn’t mean you’re planning your funeral. It’s not comfortable, but there is an antivenom available. There are also only a few scorpion species, like the Arizona bark scorpion, that can produce a fatal sting. 

3. Portuguese Man O’ War

The Portuguese Man O’ War will blow your mind, but even though it’s intriguing, that doesn’t mean you should get up close and personal with them. They look like jellyfish, but they are anything but. Instead, they are a siphonophore, which is not so much one critter but several in one. 

The siphonophore starts life as an egg, then creates several organisms that group together into a mass. They can’t survive on their own, so one Portuguese Man O’ War can consist of dozens – all the way up to thousands of organisms. 

They live in the warmer oceans around the world, like the Pacific, and their favorite pastimes include stinging humans. Yep, that’s right; they’re pretty awful. 

Thousands of people are stung by the Portuguese Man O’ War every year, which causes elevated heart rates, red welts, vomiting, and muscle cramps. In some cases, it can even cause death. If you’re heading to the beach any time soon, don’t be in too much of a hurry to approach anything that slightly resembles a jellyfish. You may not like what you find. 

2. Komodo Dragon 

Komodo dragons are the biggest living lizards on earth, and they have some pretty interesting skillsets and features that may make you want to learn more about them. But for the sake of your safety, it’s best to learn about them in books, not by seeing them in person.

For many years, Komodo dragons were thought to have deadly bacteria in their spit that could bring down a water buffalo, and that was a terrifying thought. However, upon closer inspection, scientists found that instead of deadly bacteria, they had venom glands. Probably not any better, if we’re being honest. 

A bite from the Komodo dragon could cause blood loss, paralysis, tissue damage, pain, and an inability to clot. Water buffalo – and other animals – don’t stand a chance when a Komodo dragon is around.

Humans are not exempt from unfortunate encounters, either. Aside from the fact they can consume around 80 percent of their body weight in one sitting, they can also take care of humans – and not in the caring, kind way. 

At least four people have lost their lives in the last 50 years to a Komodo dragon attack. Fortunately, they prefer to raid graves than eat live humans, which is why Indonesians often cover their loved ones’ graves with rocks. 

They look harmless, but the Komodo dragon has a few cards up its sleeve that you don’t want to see them play.  

1. Blue-Ringed Octopus 

Awwww. Look at it. It’s so cute. It’s tiny, beautiful, vibrant, and flits around the ocean so daintily that you would never expect it to be dangerous. But newsflash, the blue-ringed octopus is one of the deadliest octopus (octopi?) in the world. 

They carry enough poison to kill 26 people, but you may not even know you’ve been bitten. Their painless bite causes two small puncture wounds, and it’s a race against time to get rid of the tetrodotoxin from your body while fighting paralysis, heart failure, nausea, respiratory distress, and blindness. Sounds like a good time all-around. 

Fortunately, attacks are rare. Most occur when humans accidentally stand on them in the ocean, and when the octopus feels threatened. If death does occur, it’s due to a lack of oxygen. CPR can often bring that victim back to life who can then make a full recovery. Still, is it not a better option just to stay away from the water? 

The worst part is, they don’t just use one type of venom, but two. The first one is from the saliva, which incapacitates its prey, but doesn’t kill them. They then go back and kill the victim with the second dose. One is a defense venom, while one is a murderous one. We’re pretty sure they won’t be making too many friends in the ocean. 

So, that’s a wrap, folks. Now you know what to avoid on your travels into the great outdoors! Have you seen any of these animals in person? We’d like to hear about your experience.

The post 15 Dangerous Animals You Should Run Away From first appeared on Blind Side.

The post 15 Dangerous Animals You Should Run Away From appeared first on Blind Side.