They are among the most deadliest mammals on Earth, and some of them are actually in danger of going extinct. The mosquito tops the list of the world’s most dangerous animals, surpassing all other animals in human deaths. The body is so dense that they can walk underwater, where they can hold their breath for five minutes. Maybe Dorothy and her friends should have been saying: Snakes and bugs and snails, oh my! Governments and ... 2. Their sheer size and weight is enough to deliver a lethal blow from one strike. Nomadic males must always secure their own food. Grizzlies (North American subspecies of the brown bear, Ursus arctos) are known for their skillful fishing during the spawning runs of salmon. NOW 50% OFF! Some, such as black and spectacled bears, are strong climbers, and all are strong swimmers, most notably the polar bear. Some swamp and island species are endangered, but most continental species are flourishing under protection and good management. The hippopotamus has a bulky body on stumpy legs, an enormous head, a short tail, and four toes on each foot. Of all the deadly mammals of North America, humans are the deadliest. 3. “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” As the famous line from “The Wizard of Oz” suggests, there is reason to be afraid of these creatures. Every 12th year of the Chinese calendar is the year of the tiger, and children born in it are considered especially lucky and powerful. The greatest of the Gupta emperors of ancient India, Samudra, minted special gold coins depicting him slaying tigers. 9 Most Dangerous Animals in Mexico, Listed & Explained! Some lives … Wikimedia Commons. Jillian Dara is a freelance travel writer and fact checker. The answers may surprise you. Yet lions, tigers, bears, and others are known for being ferocious and vicious, especially when hungry or provoked. Male hippos can weigh up to 2,750kg. Elephants have been known to raid villages or croplands in South Asia, and sometimes gore or step on humans that get in the way. Nasser Nuri/Reuters. They are known by their long trunk (elongated upper lip and nose), columnar legs, and huge heads with temporal glands and wide, flat ears. Buffaloes – Cape buffaloes are among the most dangerous mammals in the world. Cape buffalo is known as a dangerous animal that is very notorious and kills more people in Africa as compared to other African animals. Globally, an estimated 56 million people die per year when all causes of death are considered. Reviewed on 04/07/20 Jillian Dara. Most Aggressive Animals 1. Typically, they stalk prey from nearby cover and then burst forth to run it down in a short, rapid rush. They readily eat any meat they can find, including carrion and fresh kills that they scavenge or forcefully steal from hyenas, cheetahs, or wild dogs. Longevity is up to 49 years in captivity but rarely more than 40 in the wild. They are responsible for hundreds of deaths per year. Man’s best friend is actually one of the world’s deadliest mammals. Measuring 11.2 ft in length and up to 1000 lbs in weight, the American alligator is the largest reptile in North America. As a result, hippos have long had a largely undeserved reputation as aggressive animals. The giant panda has a special bone formation of the forefoot that functions as a sixth digit; it is opposable to the other five and thus is useful in handling bamboo. Its place was at its master’s side in the graves of the Scythian kings or in the tombs of the pharaohs. 1. This dangerous animal has weight between 900 to 1800 pounds and kills more than 200 people per year. It roamed the ancient world some one hundred thousand years ago. Worldwide, deer make up any of 43 species of hoofed ruminants in the order Artiodactyla, notable for having two large and two small hooves on each foot and also for having antlers in the males of most species and in the females of one species. Are they capable of horrific violence as well? Dogs: 35,000 deaths a year. Which is the most dangerous animal in the world? Between 1932 and 1947, perhaps as many as 1,500 people were killed by an aggressive pride of lions near the town of Njombe, Tanzania. Although clumsy in appearance, bears can move surprisingly fast, even through dense cover that would seriously impede a human or a horse. Ants, bees, seeds of trees, roots, nuts, berries, insect larvae such as grubs, and even the dainty dogtooth violet are eaten. Mosquitoes: 750,000 deaths a year. At the beginning of the 21st century, Thailand and Myanmar each had about 5,000 captive elephants employed in traditional roles intermingled with modern use as tourist attractions. The African savanna, or bush, elephant (Loxodonta africana) weighs up to 8,000 kg (9 tons) and stands 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) at the shoulder. Hastividyarama, an age-old handbook for elephant tamers, spells out prescribed training procedures in detail and is still used today in some parts of Asia. 4. Tigers are represented on seals from the ancient Indus civilization. Their senses of sight and hearing, however, are poorly developed, and most hunting is done by smell. However, they can actually be quite deadly too. Humans have killed more humans than any other animal on earth. Golden Poison Dart Frog. The cats typically gorge themselves and then rest for several days in its vicinity. Pride males in scrub or wooded habitat spend less time with the females and hunt most of their own meals. If captured when young, bears can be tamed quite easily and are commonly used in circus animal acts. motionshooter/Shutterstock. Despite being held in such high esteem, horses kill roughly 100 people in the United States each year in riding accidents and other equestrian-related activities. Bears do not generally communicate by sound and usually are quiet, but they do growl at times when feeding, when being challenged by another bear or by humans, and when competing for mates. 5. They are employed as working animals in the fields, as guards and companions in homes, and their visages inspire the stuffed animals on the beds and in the arms of young children. If they aren’t in snake-charmers baskets, they can be found in jungles, plains, and urban cities, as they can adapt to pretty much any living environment, making them one of the most dangerous animals … Most Poisonous Amphibian: The Golden Dart Frog. Box Jellyfish. It has provided recreation in the form of jousts, tournaments, carousels, and the sport of riding. It has plowed fields and brought in the harvest, hauled goods and conveyed passengers, followed game and tracked cattle, and carried combatants into battle and adventurers to unknown lands. Human deaths due to elephants range from about 100 to more than 500 per year. The grizzly bear has no fear of humans, making encounters with them particularly dangerous. Greek mythology created the centaur, the most obvious symbol of the oneness of horse and rider. In 2016 there were 1.6 million hospital visits for assault-related injuries and in 2017 there were 19,510 homicide-related deaths. But when it comes to danger, humans just might be their own worst enemy. 5. Some of these characteristics, however, are not entirely unique to humans. Western civilization has given the relationship between human and dog great importance, but, in some of the developing nations and in many areas of Asia, dogs are not held in the same esteem. Roughly 526,000 people are killed by armed violence. The tiger is the largest member of the cat family (Felidae), rivaled only by the lion (Panthera leo) in strength and ferocity. But when it comes to these extinct animals, we have to admit: We're kinda glad … Photo by sergeyskleznev 1) Rattlesnake . Also, I didn’t want the actual statistics to get in the way of a good story so I have thrown all those … Marine mammals like whales have grown a special place in our hearts. However, male lions are also adept hunters, and in some areas they hunt frequently. Wild Buffalo. The relationship of the horse to humans has been unique. Like its fellow megafauna mammals, this half-ton hog … Mammals are the soft, cuddly creatures of the animal kingdom. The larvae of tsetse flies … Nature reported that 871 people in Tanzania were attacked by lions between 1990 and 2005. For more than 12,000 years it has lived with humans as a hunting companion, protector, object of scorn or adoration, and friend. Hippopotamus is Greek for “river horse,” and the animal has been known since ancient times. Lions are known to take elephants and giraffes, but only if the individual is young or especially sick. Mosquito. Parlez-Vous Français? In Hindu mythology the tiger is the vahana (“vehicle”) of the goddess Durga. Lions prey on a large variety of animals ranging in size from rodents and baboons to water buffalo and hippopotamuses, but they predominantly hunt medium- to large-sized hoofed animals such as wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes. 1. 9 of the World’s Deadliest Mammals. They’re fearless and will mob any predator that dares to take its … In ancient Egypt during the days of the pharaohs, dogs were considered to be sacred. 2. Mosquitos causes more deaths every year than every other animal on the planet. The 9 Most Dangerous Animals in Africa. This has often caused people to consider bears as tame and harmless rather than as potentially dangerous creatures deserving wariness and respect. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to... African elephant in the Okavango grasslands, Botswana. 3 American Alligator – Bite Force : 2125 psi. Other members of the pride quickly crowd around to feed on the kill, usually fighting for access. Some species depredate livestock on occasion, and some bears, such as Asiatic and American black bears, may destroy fruit or other crops, especially corn. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. An adult male can consume more than 34 kg (75 pounds) of meat at a single meal and rest for a week before resuming the hunt. In addition, some 54,000 humans succumb to unintentional violent deaths, and 55,000 people die per year as a result of war and terrorism. The ears and nostrils can be folded shut to keep out water. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today 10Best, Michelin Guide, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Jetsetter. The sheer size along with the extreme aggression make saltwater crocodiles are one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Start watching The Most Dangerous Animal … They weigh more than 900 kilograms and kill more than 200 people every year by goring and trampling. Although dangerous, many people find these snakes beautiful and you can find them across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Superstition read meaning into the colors of the horse, and a horse’s head suspended near a grave or sanctuary or on the gables of a house conferred supernatural powers on the place. They are distinguished from other great apes by a more highly developed brain and a resultant capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning. Updated 11/06/20. Fact-Checked by. Deer, when granted some protection, readily exploit man-made disturbances caused by agriculture, forestry, and urbanization. Unlike those found in Asia which are domesticated, African buffaloes are heavy and fast. Between 1982 and 2013, some 466 people were killed by dogs in Canada and the United States. This mistake has frequently resulted in tragedy for both humans and bears. In some areas of the world, dogs are used as guards or beasts of burden or even for food, whereas in the United States and Europe dogs are protected and admired. Many early human cultures were centered on possession of the horse. And Other Languages. They are especially lethal in transmitting diseases. The hippopotamus (/ ˌ h ɪ p ə ˈ p ɒ t ə m ə s / HIP-ə-POT-ə-məs; Hippopotamus amphibius), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus or river hippopotamus, is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal and ungulate native to sub-Saharan Africa.It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other … One of the most dangerous animals mostly seen in mid-continental Africa and can induce fatal diseases in both humans and animals. A man who is searching for the father who abandoned him believes his father is one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. The Cape buffalo can be extremely dangerous, to the extent it is known as “Black Death”. Today, lions kill approximately 100 people per year in Tanzania. Over the same period, there were more than 4,100 dog attacks in the region, which resulted in more than 2,400 cases of maiming. One thing that cannot be argued is that human beings are the world’s most efficient killers of other humans. Snakes: 100,000 deaths a year. Great White Shark. For the purposes of this articles, deadly and dangerous mammals are considered those that attack humans. Except for the carnivorous polar bear and the vegetarian giant panda, bears are omnivorous, consuming many items that may seem small for an animal of such large size. They are fiercely territorial and may attack without warning if nearby. Extinction is a very serious issue facing our world. Accounts recording the number of human deaths per year by hippo attack range from about 500 to about 3,000. Mammals are warm-blooded higher vertebrates that nourish their young with milk and have the skin usually more or less covered with hair or fur. The Most Dangerous Animal of All. The horse is the “proudest conquest of Man,” according to the French zoologist Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon. The top 10 most dangerous animals on the planet do not only live in jungles or deserts. They are found most often in savannas, grasslands, and forests but occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, swamps, and highlands in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. Characteristics of loyalty, friendship, protectiveness, and affection have earned dogs an important position in Western society, and in the United States and Europe the care and feeding of dogs has become a multibillion-dollar business. Although often seen basking in the sun, hippos lose water rapidly through the skin and become dehydrated without periodic dips. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game animals. Often, mammals are the animals people are most familiar with. We get that. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) weighs about 5,500 kg and has a shoulder height of up to 3.5 meters. Many bears relish honey, and the sun bear is sometimes called the “honey bear” because of this. 3. Though a group of hunting lions is potentially nature’s most formidable predatory force on land, a high proportion of their hunts fail. The handlers take care of all the elephants’ needs, and the bond between man and beast becomes very strong. Let’s just say that size isn’t always an indication of how deadly an animal can be. Dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris) Lions ( Panthera leo) Bears (Family Ursidae) Hippopotamuses ( Hippopotamus amphibius) Tigers ( Panthera tigris) It is a wild animal that has the capability to overwhelm you and lacerate you with the help of its horns. Next to the elephant and the lion, no wild animal is so frequently portrayed in Asian art and lore. Certain animist communities still worship the tiger. The three living species of elephants are related to prehistoric woolly mammoths and mastodons. Tippu Sultan even vented his frustration at his inability to defeat the British by ordering a special life-size toy, replete with sound, of a tiger mauling a British soldier. In fact, most of us will consider them friendly and peaceful creatures. The poison dart frog, found in the Amazon, is one of the world's most dangerous creatures. Is it a shark? The persistent practices of using tiger parts as talismans, tonics, or medicine, despite all scientific evidence contrary to their efficacy, are manifestations of beliefs that emanate from the aura of the tiger and the awe that it has inspired for millennia. Not the size but the bite force makes American Alligator so special. The Eocene epoch was a good time to be a giant, deadly mammal. Mammals, and some of Hollywood’s most famous predators – crocodiles and sharks – are not the biggest threat to humans. The ears, eyes, and nostrils are located high on the head so that the rest of the body may remain submerged. It is widely regarded as a very dangerous animal, as it gores and kills over 200 people every year. These aggressive and unpredictable beasts can weigh up to 1,000 kgs and grow up to 1.7 meters tall. Wolverine. The Asian sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) delights especially in raiding and destroying termite nests, sucking up termites and larvae with its funnel-like lips. Grizzly and polar bears are the most dangerous, but Eurasian brown bears and American black bears have also been known to attack humans. Roughly 75% of these deaths are classified as intentional homicides. Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) The Northern Copperhead is a master of camouflage | Image Credit: CDC / Edward J. Wozniak, Ph.D. 4. Thomson Reuters. Tigers are also known to attack people in the wild, especially in the Sundarbans, a region of forests and swampland straddling the border between India and Bangladesh. 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