the wild

 Sometimes distinguishing between furry cuteness and pure destruction is not an easy task. In fact, many of the animals kingdom’s cutest critters also happen to be its most prolific killers. You think that cute little puffer fish is adorable? Will you hold your breath as you reach to pet it? The answer is yes. Forever. So keep that in mind as you read through our list of the worlds most dangerous animals.

25

Deathstalker

furryscale

This highly venomous scorpion residing primarily in North Africa and the Middle East is responsible for over 75% of scorpion related deaths every year. Although healthy adults usually only feel unbearable pain, children that are envenomated suffer fever, coma, convulsions, and paralysis before their lungs fill up and they drown in their own fluids.

24

Africanized Honey Bee

Daniel Plumer

An experiment gone wrong, in 1957 a Brazilian bee keeper who was trying to interbreed European and African honey bees accidently let some of his “pets” get away. Much more aggressive than their European counterparts, these genetically mixed “killer bees” have since then spread through out the Americas. They have come to be feared in some regions because of their tendency to swarm relentlessly and aggressively chase their victims for miles.

23

Rhinoceros

jonathunder

Rhino related deaths are not an uncommon occurrence in many parts of the world. Having terrible eyesight, they are easy to startle and once they have you in their sights it can be hard to make an escape (unless you can run faster than 40 mph). See the horn? Enough said.

22

Cone Snail

gregthebusker

One drop of venom from this little bugger is enough to end 20 human lives. Sometimes colloquially known as the “cigarette snail,” it has been said that when you are stung by this creature, you’ll have just about enough time to smoke a cigaret before you stop breathing. It’s not like it matters anyway though…there is no antivenom.

21

Stonefish

lazlo

Lying camouflaged on the ocean floor, this ugly little mass of destruction calmly waits for other fish to swim by before opening its jaws with lightning speed and consuming its prey…all in less than .015 seconds. Also known as the “worlds most venomous fish”, stepping on its spines will at best cost you your leg and at worst, your life.