You may think that the world’s most lethal animal dwells in a dense forest or swims in the vast ocean, but it’s actually much nearer than you’d imagine.
In reality, this creature is likely a familiar sight to you each year, yet you might not have been aware of the potential danger it poses if it ever chooses to target you.
Perhaps you’re guessing it’s a shark, a wolf, or perhaps a menacing bird, but in this case, you’d be mistaken.
Remarkably, it ranks in the top ten of the world’s deadliest creatures. Although it’s neither as large nor as powerful as its contenders, it outstrips all by considerable margins.
This is because it causes the deaths of over a million people annually, striking unexpectedly.
To put things in perspective – sharks are responsible for about ten fatalities each year, while falling coconuts account for 150 deaths.
Hence, if something is claiming over a million lives annually, it must be considered one of the most terrifying threats on the planet.
The deadliest animal isn’t one you’d expect (Getty Stock Images)
What’s even more astonishing is that sharks and tigers don’t even feature in the top ten deadliest creatures list.
Now, you’re likely eager to discover what the deadliest animal on the planet is. Here it is.
Drum roll, please…
It’s mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes, these minuscule yet lethal flies, hold the grim title of leading human killers, responsible for between 725,000 and 1,000,000 deaths per year.
While they aren’t intentionally targeting humans, their bites can have significant impacts on our immune systems.
This tiny transmitter of disease spreads dreadful ailments while feeding on both humans and animals, transferring infectious agents, parasites, viruses, and bacteria from one host to another.
Among the diseases they spread is malaria, a parasitic infection transmitted to humans by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Mosquitos kill the most people out of all animals (Getty Stock Images)
According to the World Health Organization: “Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable.”
The symptoms of malaria range from mild to severe, and often prove fatal, especially in children under the age of five.
If you are in a region known for mosquitoes and begin experiencing fever, chills, and headache, it’s crucial to seek medical help before more severe symptoms like extreme tiredness, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing take hold.
Surprisingly, hippos also make the list! Though they may appear gentle, they are quite deadly.
It’s not entirely unexpected, considering their ability to crush watermelons with their jaws, and the fact that they are known to eat their young.
Elephants are on the list too, as these impressive creatures can become aggressive, charging and trampling through communities and roads.
Now that you’ve had a glimpse, here’s a comprehensive list of the world’s most dangerous animals:
Hippos are very dangerous to be around (Getty Stock Images)
10. Hippopotamus
Though beloved by many, hippos are responsible for about 500 deaths annually.
9. Elephants
Regrettably, elephants also cause roughly 500 deaths each year.
8. Saltwater crocodiles:
Saltwater crocodiles are accountable for a thousand deaths annually as they pursue humans in the water.
7. Ascaris roundworms
Ascaris roundworms claim 2,500 lives by contaminating water, allowing their eggs to be ingested, which then hatch and multiply within the human digestive system.
6. Scorpions
Scorpions are the cause of 2,600 deaths annually due to their venomous stings.
5. Assassin bugs
These aptly named creatures kill 10,000 individuals each year through the transmission of Chagas disease.
4. Saw-scaled Viper
The saw-scaled viper is responsible for 138,000 deaths annually with its venomous bites.
3. Freshwater snails
Surprisingly, snails account for 200,000 deaths each year by transmitting flukes, which are flatworms, to unsuspecting individuals.
2. Humans
Frighteningly, humans themselves are second on the list, with an annual rate of 431,000 deaths caused by one another.
1. Mosquitoes
These tiny insects claim a staggering 1,000,000 lives each year through the transmission of diseases such as malaria.
There you have it – the most dangerous animals on the planet.