03/08/2024

18 Terrifying Creatures You Never Want to Cross Paths With

When we think of animals, we choose to imagine the cute ones. Kittens and puppies spring to mind. Either that or the everyday animals we see on a regular basis. But there are some animals out there that are so distant from the barnyard petting zoo types. These are the ones that live in your nightmares and send shivers down your spine.

The Things that Nightmares are Made of

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Somewhere on this earth, there are certain species of animal that are beyond scary. These beasts are the stuff of bad dreams and horror stories. These dangerous and weird creatures truly are the things that nightmares are made of.

Real Life Dragons

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Dragons are a popular creature of myth and legend. But there are dragons alive and well on Earth today. The komodo dragon is a huge living relic of bygone times. Trampling over beaches and through jungles across Indonesia, and with a bite containing a highly toxic venom, they are capable of taking down even the largest of land mammals.

Honey Badgers

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The honey badger is famed for having one of the thickest skins in the animal kingdom. They have been dubbed “the world’s most fearless animal,” and for good reason. They are aggressive and ferocious creatures who kill snakes and fight with anything else that is crazy enough to mess with them.

The Widowmaker

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The black widow spider is amongst the most poisonous spiders on the planet. You do not want to run into this small black spider with its bright red markings. There are 30 different species of widows situated all over the world. Their bite makes them the stuff of nightmares.

The Monitor Lizard

A smaller cousin of the komodo dragon, the monitor lizard is more widespread. These large lizards have a fierce attitude and a painful bite. This bite is made more dangerous because it has a necrotic toxin in its venom that kills blood cells and causes the bitten area of skin to die and rot. They are also amazing swimmers, making them even scarier.

Portuguese Man O’ War

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This creepy species of siphonophore is similar to Jellyfish and is one of the biggest killers of its species type. They have a gas-filled sack atop their head, which allows them to effectively “sail” across seas using the wind to propel them. They trail behind them long stinging tentacles with enough venom to kill a full-grown human.

Blood Sucking Bats

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The vampire bat is among the scariest animals around. A flying rodent that loves nothing more than drinking the blood of its victims. Silver and garlic will not help you here. These tiny critters are immune to those things.

Scorpions

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These are a type of armored arachnid that lives in all manner of environments. Often found in dry, hot places, the scorpion carries a massive sting in its tail. It uses this sting to paralyze its prey before devouring them.

Giant Spitting Cobra

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Cobras are already the stuff of bad dreams. The giant spitting cobra is the largest of the spitting cobras. They can grow to a length of 2.7 metres in length and stand a full few feet off the ground when attacking. Their venom carries a high level of toxin that they spit into the eyes of their prey.

Brown Recluse Spider

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Another type of spider that you don’t want to run into, is the brown recluse spider. These nasty little beasts have a bite that carries a necrotic toxin that breaks down the flesh around the affected area, causing it to rot and stopping coagulation.

Anaconda

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Imagine a snake big enough to swallow a baby deer or capybara whole. Then add to this ghastly vision a jaw that can unhook to allow it a much wider bite. They are the largest snake in the world and can weigh in at over 550 pounds. Their average adult length is around 9 meters.

Saltwater Crocodiles

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These really are living dinosaurs. The saltwater crocodile is one of the largest crocodiles on earth and can grow to lengths of 7 meters and weigh in at over a tonne. They are in possession of the strongest bite in all of the animal kingdom and could easily kill a person if attacked.

Hungry Hungry Hippos

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Meeting a Hippopotamus in real life is nothing like the childhood game you might remember. These 9000 pound behemoths are more aggressive than you would think. Over 500 people are killed per year by hippos in Africa alone.

Hornets

A cousin of the everyday honeybee, these giant versions are worthy of their fierce reputation. Hornets carry a painful sting in their tail. When they attack in a swarm they could easily kill a human child, and hospitalize an adult.

Alligator Snapping Turtle

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Here is another example of an animal that you might think is cuter than it is. Turtles in general are pretty harmless creatures. Alligator snapping turtles however are aggressive and vicious. These turtles can crush bone and slice through flesh with their beaks. They should be avoided at all times.

Whip Scorpion

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This tailless version of its namesake has looks that will give you the creeps. They look like something from a science fiction movie and instead of having a tail with a sting in it, these ones have two long front legs that they are able to whip around to stun their prey.

Gharial

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Here is another bone chilling creature that looks like it crawled off the set of Jurassic Park. The long thin snout of this relative of the alligator or crocodile, contains over 100 needle sharp teeth. These teeth are made for ripping through flesh and they share their cousin’s immense bite force. Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water.

Things that Go Bump in the Night

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Next time you venture out into nature, be sure that none of the creatures on this list are around. It is crazy to think that there is such a wide variety of nightmare inducing species out there. And that many of them live in the places that humans love to go on vacation.