Any animal, bird, insect, or fish can be considered a creature. These creatures are an important part of the food chain. However, some of them can be threatening to human life. The creature as well as the disease that they can transmit is what makes them deadliest. Any creature disregarding its size can be considered as deadly and dangerous. Below given are the top ten deadliest creatures on the Earth.
- Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are accountable for more than 8, 00,000 deaths in a year. This small creature is named the deadliest creature on the Earth. Mosquitoes can transmit various diseases and viruses like dengue fever, malaria, Zika, West Nile, chikungunya, and yellow fever. According to the report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria has caused more than 4, 00,000 deaths in the previous years. Dengue has been the cause of death in various parts of Latin America and Asia. Some research also concluded that mosquitoes have caused most animal-related deaths since ancient times. Some species of mosquitoes like Anopheles, Aedes aegypti, and Culex can be considered deadliest.
- Snakes
Snakes are another creature feared due to their venomous snakebites. According to some studies snakes have caused more than 1, 00,000 deaths in a year. The venom of some snakes can damage the tissues and the blood vessels. It can lead to changes in the blood cells and also prevent clotting of blood. The saw-scaled viper or the carpet viper is said to be the most deadly and has caused the most deaths. It is aggressive and can bite suddenly. It can be found in the Middle East, Africa, and India. Other deadliest snakes include black-mouthed or mamba, the boomslang, and many others.
- Dogs and Wolves
Dogs can be your loyal and playful friend however many of them have the ability to harm you as well. Dogs are the descendants of wolves and are also known as domesticated wolves. The extent of harm a dog can inflict depends on its nature, temperament, and aggressiveness. The Wolf Hybrid is said to be very aggressive in nature and has been labeled as a dangerous breed. Other breeds like cane corso, pinscher, Doberman are also said to be aggressive. Another reason that makes dogs and wolves deadly is rabies. Rabies infection can be transmitted from dogs and wolves easily. According to some studies, almost 99% of rabies cases are due to dogs.
- Freshwater Snails
Freshwater snails cannot directly harm human beings however, they can transmit a deadly parasitic infection. The infection is known as schistosomiasis that is caused by the parasitic worms carried by the freshwater snail. Once a person is infected from the disease, he can experience serious abdominal pain and blood in the urine or stool. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 20,000-2, 00,000 cases of schistosomiasis are fatal. The chances of catching the disease are high if you enter the same water as the snail since the parasites have a tendency to seek humans.
- Crocodiles
Crocodiles are considered dangerous due to their strong bite force. These large predators can sit for hours and wait for their prey. Once they catch their prey it is very difficult to escape from them. They can also cover short distances easily and can travel at the speed of 25 mph. They are responsible for around 2000-5000 deaths in a year. They are considered the largest and the most aggressive animal on the Earth. A crocodile can weigh up to 1,000 kg depending on its gender and other factors. The Nile crocodile is considered the most deadly species and is responsible for many deaths in South Africa.
- Ascaris Roundworms
The Ascaris roundworms can cause a parasitic infection known as Ascariasis. According to some studies, ascariasis is responsible for more than 4,000 deaths in a year. It is easy to get affected by the disease if you eat dirty fruits and vegetables or if you don’t maintain proper hygiene. Children are more likely to get affected by it as compared to adults. If not treated the disease can cause serious health issues like intestinal blockage or even death.
- Hippopotamuses
Hippopotamuses are one of the largest mammals on Earth. These creatures are known for their dangerous and aggressive nature. They have a territorial nature due to which they can get violent. They are responsible for 500 deaths in a year. They have sharp and large teeth that can grow up to 20 inches. They use their tusks and teeth to fight the opponent.
- Elephants
Elephants are the largest land animal on Earth. They can weigh around 4,500-7,500 kg. They can get aggressive if startled or injured. Elephants are responsible for 200-500 deaths in a year. Elephant raids can be seen in South Asian villages. These villages have croplands that can be destroyed by elephants. Elephants can be extremely territorial about their family and can be dangerous when their calves are threatened.
- Lions
Lions are known for their aggressive and violent nature. According to some study they are responsible for around 200 deaths in a year. They are capable of killing humans and almost all mammals. They are powerful and muscular which makes them very efficient in killing. It was seen that lions mostly killed humans when they were starved or ill. However, African lions were seen to kill humans even when they were healthy. Estimates show that around 150 people are killed by lions every year in Africa.
- Sharks
Sharks are hyped in many movies for being one of the deadliest creatures on Earth. Although sharks are responsible for only 6-8 deaths in a year, however, their aggressive and violent nature can lead to destruction. They are known as the deadliest species in the ocean. They also have the need to show their dominance over other sharks. Great white sharks are known to be the most violent and have attacked humans more than 300 times. The bull shark and the tiger shark are also aggressive and have attacked humans several times.
