Scariest Animals In The Tropics

Scariest Animals In The Tropics 

Some people are simply scared of animals, any animal. Which is unfair because a lot of nature’s critters are complete sweethearts. These 10 however, will definitely scare you out of your wits, so stay tuned to find out how. From an extremely fast and extremely venomous snake to in insect that kills millions every year, here are 10 of the scariest animals in the tropics. 

1. The Black Mamba 

Black Mambas are the fastest land snakes in the world, which isn’t really good because they just also happen to be one of the most venomous. They have been blamed for hundreds of human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. They are naturally shy snakes and will more often slither away and hide when disturbed. However, when these snakes are cornered, they will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths, and make a hissing sound to serve as a warning. If the perceived threat doesn’t back down, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro and cardiotoxin with each strike. Before the antivenin was developed, a bite from this fearsome serpent was a hundred percent fatal, usually within about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent. 

2. The Poison Dart Frog

The poison dart frog, with its various colors and patterns, is one of the most stunning looking animals in the world. But the fact of the matter is, they have poison that is enough to give the most poisonous creatures a run for their money. Just one frog packs enough toxins to kill 10 humans. Although highly toxic, the frogs do not produce the poison themselves but rather from feeding on a particular poisonous insect almost exclusively. That’s the reason why poison darts born and bred in captivity are very safe to handle. Of over the 100 species of golden dart frogs, it’s the golden dart frog that is the most dangerous. Skin contact alone can introduce the venom into your system, so touching them with unprotected hands is really not a good idea. Ironically, scientists are also using the same toxin in some medical applications, so they aren’t all that bad. 

3. The Saltwater Crocodile

This animal pretty much sits at the very top of the food chain, partly because it eats just about anything and partly because it’s incredibly fierce. They are one of the most aggressive animals on earth, so aggressive in fact that they exhibit such behavior from the time they hatch from their eggs. They weigh a minimum of about 2,200 pounds, grow to a startling 6 meters in length, and have been known to devour anything from a water buffalo to a shark. These incredible creatures are known for the infamous “death roll”, a technique where it continuously flips its prey over in the water until it drowns, making it one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Luckily there are strict policies in place when it comes to swimming with these crocs and more often than not it is the humans that are attacking them, not the other way around. Despite that, 1-2 persons are attacked and killed by them every year. These animals are widespread and can be found inhabiting coastal waters from Sri Lanka and the east coast of India through to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. 

4. The Cone Snail 

Most snails are harmless, but not this one. Cone snails are only 10-15cm long and look quite innocent, but a single drop of their venom is said to be enough to kill 20 men. If you are an enthusiastic shell collector, we recommend you handle these fellows with care. Cone snails, for reasons that are quite obvious, aren’t active and aggressive hunters of prey but rather harpoon their prey with hollow teeth and inject lethal venom through. Cone snails can be found in the deep reef waters all the way from the Indian and Pacific oceans to the Caribbean and Red seas and also along the coast of Florida, but the ones residing in the Indo-Pacific region tend to have more harmful toxin than others. Do not try your luck anywhere with these creatures though, they aren’t called “cigarette snails” for nothing. Why you might ask? Well, their venom is so toxic that once stung, a person only has time to smoke a single cigarette before he or she eventually dies.