Deadliest Creatures

Dangerous defenders MOST-DEADLY DEFENDER Cape buffalo
Poor eyesight,
Some animals use weapons in defense. For sharp horns, and an
instance, injuries caused by a porcupine’s spine aggressive temper
might occasionally prove fatal for an attacker. can result in a
But the deadliest defenders are those that use deadly charge.
poisons or venoms or rely on their bulk and
physical strength to fight back. Poison frog
The skin of this
Hippopotamus tiny frog contains
A giant mouth enough poison to
with enormous kill 10 grown men.
canines can deliver
a devastating bite.

Cobra African savanna
A bite from a elephant
cobra can inject
fast-acting venom Breeding males and
that paralyzes mothers with calves

muscles. will aggressively
charge any attacker.
Porcupine
A threatened Musk ox Bombardier beetle
porcupine charges A circle of musk ox— This beetle fires
backward and can each facing outward a hot, stinging
impale even a large with sharp horns— discharge of
predator with its makes for a dangerous chemicals from
long, pointed spines. group defense. the rear of its body.

Gazelle LEAST-DEADLY DEFENDER
A gazelle uses Reference
speed to run from Surgeonfish
an attacker but will Razor-sharp spines on either
jab with its horns side of this fish’s tail can slash
if cornered. the flesh of an attacker.

199

EXTINCT KILLERS

Fossils of prehistoric creatures show that deadly dbThiesememcnomiegvteaehhgtreteaehldlaaaotsrvdegoeorefnsatr.
weapons are nothing new. Long-extinct animals
used jaws, teeth, and horns to kill or in self-defense.
By studying fossils, scientists can sometimes
work out how these weapons were used when
the animals were alive.

Prehistoric weapons Smilodon skull
Hard skeletons fossilize much better than
the softer parts of an animal’s body. This
means that the remains of teeth and jaws
are in a good-enough condition to give
clear indications of the feeding habits
of prehistoric animals.

Tyrannosaurus rex tooth
Megalodon tooth
The Tyrannosaurus The Smilodon’s
tooth was ridged canine teeth had
to give it extra cutting edges along
strength, and both front and back
some could reach and were 11 in
11.8 in (30 cm) (28 cm) long.
in length.

Tyrannosaurus rex Smilodon Megalodon
This giant among meat-eating The massive canines of this This shark may have grown
dinosaurs had the biggest saber-toothed cat may four times bigger than
teeth of any carnivore that have been used to deliver today’s great white shark—
has ever lived. deadly stabbing bites. and have hunted whales.

200

PREHISTORIC BITES T-rex bite force
Although there were
The first backboned animals to evolve jaws some bigger carnivorous
were predatory fish—and they became the dinosaurs, scientists
most formidable predators of their day. Since estimate the Tyrannosaurus
then, animals have evolved stronger jaws to rex had the strongest bite
cut through tough food, including flesh and of any land animal known.
bone. Scientists studying the skull structure
of living and extinct animals can work out Compared to animals
how jaws and their muscles produced alive today, the bite
impressive bite forces.
force of a T-rex—up to
TYRANNOSAURUS 60,000 N—is off the chart.
REX

SALTWATER
CROCODILE
BULL SHARK

SPOTTED
HYENA
LION

GRAY WOLF

HUMAN

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000
FORCE OF BITE MEASURED IN NEWTONS

shGarrekattowohtihteLike many other Ti The curved canines
ger skullmeat-eaters, a greatof a tiger are the
white’s teeth have longest of any
Referencesawlike edges forliving cat.
slicing through flesh.

Great white shark Tiger
Today this species of shark is a Modern-day tigers, the largest
top predator in oceans around of the big cats, are top
the world. predators on land.

201

RECORD BREAKERS

In the struggle to kill prey—or to stop DEADLIEST STINGS AND POISONS
being preyed upon—animals have Some stings and poisons
evolved plenty of record-breaking discomfort, but a few—if just inflict pain or
qualities, from the deadliest of poisons can be fatal. left untreated—
to the fastest speeds, that set them
apart in the natural world. Venomous stings that are deadliest to humans:
Jellyfish: Sea wasp
Scorpion: Deathstalker
Mollusk: Cone snail
MUSCLES, JAWS, AND CLAWS Fish: Reef stonefish

From the bite of a Siberian Poison that is deadliest to humans:
taciangnaecrbotenoadtahd,eesasizdqeluyaecneodzmesbotrfienanangtitohn. Golden poison frog

Largest living carnivore:
Sperm whale
Largest land carnivore:
Polar bear
Heaviest snake: Deathstalker
Green anaconda
Longest snake: RECORD-BREAKING TRAPS
Reticulated python
Cat with biggest canine teeth: Mbinlaotnowymbaounubimtbhlae-lsssiztceordefaogtrrecoeturspahspo,sawtlhosiolceaf tsfcipshihdpetroresybs.upWninhchawleesbs
to trap their prey.
Siberian tiger
Bird with longest claws:
Southern cassowary

Green anaconda

DEADLIEST VENOMOUS BITES

The deadliest venoms harm
the body by paralyzing
muscles or causing internal
bleeding, which can kill
the victim.

Blue-ringed octopus Humpback whale’s bubble net

Most venomous snake: Inland taipan BBiiggggeesstt,tsrtarpo:nBguebsbtlsepnideterofwheubm: Dpabrawckinw’shbaalrek spider
Most venomous spider: Sydney funnel-web
spider (male)
Most venomous mollusk: Blue-ringed octopus

202

DECEIVERS AND TRICKSTERS SKILLS, TACTICS, AND CUNNING

Sometimes trickery is vbTahuretiemftayasntoeyfshotutphnreteerdrsaspt. oercsiaclasnkicllastcahrethuseefdasbtyesat wpirdeey,
needed to catch prey.
Many animals use
disguises or lures
to entice prey to
come closer.

Smartest spider: Cheetah
Portia spider
Best disguised shark: FFDSaahessaattrdeeplssiettesssattpnireinmilnseeatceclttrro:ivfcCiaashllielos:enhPt:oaeDchrkerag: gEriolnenecftlfryaiclceoenl
Tasselled wobbegong
Best disguised snake:
Puff adder
Smartest use of bait
to catch fish: Heron

Green heron

DEADLY NUMBERS DISEASE AND DESTRUCTION

abSnotritmehnafgolstrhtshionactniahuluminnbsteeinrcstpsi,mascpukrcsoh. vaess killing power— Sodotehmseterrosaycnianimugsahelasdbkeiivtlalatbsstyaastnipodrneeabvdeyinnthgwediiprisianeggagsoreue, stwshioilne—
ants, and for bigger other species.

Tropical American army ants Anopheles mosquito

SLMDpaeoroasgttdteelasidegt sghstoyresectsinaisanlivggeirnorgauipsdwionafgrcmaar:nnAti:sviAoarnrmoguyisaannlattnhdormneatmmals: Deadliest transmitter of human disease:
FMMMeooomssstattliidennavavnnaagsoseiipvvrheeoeuaslesnmslaypmkhaeoig:bsgBqiarrueoniswt:soCniavtnereeleatrosganedakmeammal:
Hippopotamus

203

GLOSSARY Filter-feeder
An animal that feeds by straining
Abdomen Carnivore tiny particles of food from water.
The belly of an animal or—in An animal that feeds on Many filter-feeders rely on
the case of an insect—the part meat. Carnivores include plankton for food.
of the body at its rear end that wolves, hawks, and sharks.
contains most of its vital organs. Fin
Carrion A flat extension to the body of
Amphibians The flesh of dead animals. an underwater animal used to
A group of cold-blooded, help with control and steering
backboned animals with Cooperative while swimming.
moist skin. Frogs and toads Working together to achieve
are amphibians. the same aim. Fossil
The preserved remains or
Antennae Crustaceans impressions of dead organisms
Pairs of “feelers” attached A group of invertebrates found in rock.
to the head of an invertebrate with many jointed legs and
animal, used for sensing its often a shell. Crabs and Gland
surroundings. The singular shrimp are crustaceans. A small bag of fluid in the body.
is antenna. Venomous animals usually
Deep sea produce their venoms in glands.
Arthropods Deep, dark parts of the
A group of invertebrates ocean, usually deeper than Habitat
with jointed legs. Arthropods 5,905 ft (1,800 m). The place where an
include insects, crustaceans, organism normally lives.
spiders, scorpions, centipedes, Disease
and millipedes. When the body doesn’t work Herbivore
properly. Diseases are not caused An animal that eats plants.
Bait directly by injury, but many— Animals such as sheep, cattle,
Food which is used by an animal such as malaria—are spread by and deer are herbivores.
in a way to attract prey. the bites of some kinds of animals.
Ice floe
A large lump of floating ice,
usually drifting on the ocean.

Bill Exoskeleton Insect
The hard part of a bird’s mouth The tough armorlike outer “skin” A six-legged animal with a body
used for feeding, preening, of some kinds of invertebrates. divided into three main regions:
and sometimes as a weapon Insects, spiders, and crabs have head, thorax, and abdomen. Most
in self-defense. an exoskeleton. insects have wings and can fly,
but some—such as worker
Camouflage Extinct ants—do not.
A way an animal blends When none of a particular
into its surroundings so species is alive today. Introduced animal
as not to be detected by Extinct kinds of animals An animal that has been put
predators or prey. lived in the past. into a habitat that is not its

204

natural home. Humans Paralyze Reptiles
have introduced rats, foxes, When there is harm caused to A group of cold-blooded,
and other kinds of animals to muscles so they can no longer air-breathing, backboned animals
different parts of the world. work to make the body move. with scaly skin. Crocodiles,
snakes, and lizards are reptiles.
Invasive animal Parasite
An animal that rapidly An organism that gets food, Shellfish
increases in numbers in or some other benefit, by living Any underwater invertebrate
a particular place, often on another organism called its animal with a shell, such as
causing harm. host, and causes the host harm. a crab or a clam.

Invertebrate Plankton Shoal
An animal without a backbone, Tiny living organisms that float A group of fish, or other
such as a snail or an insect. in open water, as they cannot underwater animals of the
swim against the currents. same kind, that swim together.
Larva
A young stage of an animal Poison Siphon
that looks very different from A substance that harms A tube for sucking in
its adult form. A caterpillar is an organism if swallowed or pumping out water.
the larva stage of a butterfly. or touched.
The plural is larvae. Stinger
Predator Sharp, stabbing weapon of an
Mammal An animal that kills another animal used for injecting venom.
A group of warm-blooded, animal (its prey) to feed
air-breathing, backboned on it. Tentacle
animals, usually covered with The very long grasping “arm”
hair. Cats, hippopotamuses, Prey of an invertebrate, such as a
and humans are mammals. An animal that is killed jellyfish, octopus, or squid.
by a predator.
Mimic Toxic
To copy. Animals pretend Pride The effects of a harmful chemical
to be animals or other A group of lions. substance, such as a poison
objects to hide from danger, or a venom.
to attract prey, or to scare Range
away predators. The geographical area where Venom
an animal lives in the wild. A substance that harms
Mollusks the body when it is injected
A group of invertebrates Raptor through a bite or a sting.
with a soft body, sometimes A bird of prey, such as an
held in a protective shell. eagle, a falcon, or an owl. Vertebrate
Snails, clams, octopuses, An animal with a backbone,
and squid are mollusks. Reef such as a fish or a mammal.
A colony of ocean animals called
Organism corals that form rocky growths
Any living thing, including under the water.
plants and animals.

205

INDEX cassowary, Southern 26, 202 electric eel 150, 203
caterpillars elephant, African 190–191, 199
A extinct killers 200–201
giant silkworm moth 69
African wild dog 141 monarch butterfly 194 F
alligator snapping turtle 112 moth butterfly 104
anaconda, green 22, 202 puss moth 68 fire salamander 82
anglerfish, humpback 106–107 rattlebox moth 67 firefly, femme fatale lightning bug
antlion larva 94–95 silkworm moth 69
ants catfish, striped eel 77 102
centipede, yellow-legged giant fireworm, bearded 59
African driver 133 40–41 flea, Oriental rat 173
army 124–125, 134, 203 cheetah 162, 203 flower urchin 75
bullet 74, 197 chimpanzee 164–165 fly
bullhorn acacia 196 clam, disco 62
electric 174 cleanerfish, false 110 robber 45
Maricopa harvester 73, 197 clouded leopard 32 tsetse 172
Southern fire 196 coati, South American 138 fossa 135
arapaima 19 cobra fox, red 185
army ants 124–125, 134, 203 king 52–53, 199 frog, golden poison 83, 194, 199
arrow worm 39 spitting 153, 199
cone snail, purple 60–61, 202 G
B coral snake 198
crab, Chinese mitten 169 Gaboon viper 47
barn owl 155 crocodile, saltwater 21, 201 gazelle 199
bats crocodile fish 111 ghost bat 160
cuttlefish, flamboyant 63 gila monster 46
ghost 160 cyanide millipede 64 gnat larva, glowing fungus 94–95
vampire 166–167, 182–183 goatfish, yellow-saddle 129
bear, polar 119, 202 D gray wolf 140, 201
bees great white shark 17, 201
honeybee 131, 197, 198 darter, red-veined 148–149, 203
sweat 196 deadly to humans 8 H
beetles deathstalker scorpion 65, 202
bombardier 199 defenders 9, 198–199 Harris’s hawk 136–137
Spanish fly 66 disco clam 62 heron
black mamba 49 dolphin, bottlenose 163
blue shark 126–127 domestic cat 184 black 117
blue-ringed octopus 8, 38, 202 dragonfly, red-veined darter green-backed 118, 203
bombardier beetle 199 hippopotamus 8, 186–187, 199,
boomslang 50 148–149, 203 203
bottlenose dolphin 163 driver ants, African 133 honeybee, Western 131, 197, 198
brown rat 181 horned lizard, Texas 151
buffalo, Cape 189, 199 E hornets 195
bull shark 18, 201 Asian giant 132, 203
burrfish, web 78–79 eagles bald-faced 196
butterfly, Queen Alexandra’s golden 156–157 Humboldt squid 146–147
birdwing 70–71 harpy 29 humpback anglerfish 106–107
humpback whale 86–87, 97, 202
C eels hyena, spotted 139, 143, 201, 203
electric 150, 203
camel spider 16 giant moray 128 JKL
cane toad 179, 203
cantil 114 electric ant 174 jellyfish, sea wasp 56–57, 58,
Cape buffalo 189, 199 195, 202

206 killer whale (orca) 123
king cobra 52–53, 199
kingsnake 198
Komodo dragon 24–25
lancehead 152
larvae 94–95
leaf fish, South American 109

leopard seal 34 rattlebox moth caterpillar 67 squid
leopards rattlesnake, sidewinder 113, 195 giant 12
record breakers 202–203 Humboldt 146–147
clouded 32 “Red Devil” (Humboldt squid)
snow 120–121 starfish, crown-of-thorns 175
lion 8, 142–143, 201 146–147 stingray, blue-spotted ribbontail
lionfish, red 178 ribbon worm, brown-lined 89
loris, slow 55 robber fly 45 76
stings 195, 196–197
M S stoat 161
stonefish, reef 80, 202
mantis, orchid 98–99, 103 salamander, fire 82 surgeonfish 199
margay 122 scorpion, deathstalker 65, 202 sweat bee 196
Maricopa harvester ant 73, 197 sea slug, California sea hare
megalodon 200 T
millipede, cyanide 64 60–61
mitten crab, Chinese 169 sea urchin, flower 75 taipan, inland 51, 202
monarch butterfly caterpillar 194 sea wasp jellyfish 58, 195, 202 tarantula hawk wasp 72, 197
moose 188 seal, leopard 34 Tasmanian devil 30
mosquito 8, 170, 203 secretarybird 27 tasselled wobbegong 105, 203
moth butterfly caterpillar 104 sharks 8 tentacled snake 116
musk ox 199 tick, Australian paralysis 171
blue 126–127 tiger, Siberian 10–11, 31, 201, 202
NO bull 18, 201 toad, cane 179, 203
great white 17, 201 tree snake, brown 180, 203
newt, rough-skinned 81 tasselled wobbegong 105, tsetse fly 8, 172
octopus tunicate, predatory 88
203 turtle, alligator snapping 112
blue-ringed 8, 38, 202 shrew, northern short-tailed 54 Tyrannosaurus rex 200–201
giant Pacific 13 shrike, great grey 159
orca (killer whale) 123 shrimp, peacock mantis 14–15 V
orchid mantis 98–99, 103 Siberian tiger 10–11, 31, 201, 202
osprey 28 sidewinder rattlesnake 113, 195 vampire bat 166–167, 182–183
owl, barn 155 silkworm moth caterpillar, giant velvet worm, New Zealand 96
viper
P 69
skua, brown 154 Gaboon 47
peacock mantis shrimp 14–15 skunk 198 saw-scaled 48
perch slow loris 55 viperfish 20
smilodon 200
Nile 177 snails W
pirate 108
peregrine falcon 158, 203 purple cone 60–61, 202 warning colors and patterns 198
perentie 23 rosy wolfsnail 168 wasps
piranha, red-bellied 126–127 snakehead 176
pitohui, hooded 84 snow leopard 120–121 common 197
platypus 85 Southern fire ant 196 red paper 197
poison frog, golden 83, 194, 199 Spanish fly 66 tarantula hawk 72, 197
poisons and venoms 194–195 sperm whale 35, 202 web burrfish 78–79
polar bear 119, 202 spiders whales
porcupine 199 bolas 146–147 humpback 86–87, 97, 202
predators 9 brown recluse 43 killer (orca) 123
puff adder 115, 203 camel 16 sperm 35, 202
puss moth caterpillar 68 Darwin’s bark 91, 202 wolf, gray 140, 201
python, reticulated 202 flower crab 100 wolfsnail, rosy 168
ogre-faced 92–93 wolverine 33
QR portia 101, 203 worms
redback 44 arrow 39
Queen Alexandra’s birdwing social 130 bearded fireworm 59
butterfly 70–71 Sydney funnel-web 42, 202 brown-lined ribbon 89
trapdoor 90 New Zealand velvet 96
rat, brown 181 spitting cobra 153, 199
rat flea, Oriental 173

207

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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imageBROKER. 39 Science Photo Library: Steve Moffett. 126-127 Getty Images: Adek Berry / (tr); Iakov Filimonov (cra); Leopoldo Palomba (bl).
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Pictures (cra). 47 Alamy Stock Photo: Matthijs Images: Ch’ien Lee / Minden Pictures. 134 naturepl. (tl). Getty Images: Andy Rouse (tr). naturepl.com:
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48 Bhavya Joshi - www.bhavyajoshi.com / the Jaguar. 136-137 Getty Images: Mallardg500. All other images © Dorling Kindersley
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54 FLPA: Chris & Tilde Stuart. 55 Getty Images: Tony Heald. 142-143 Getty Images: Gallo Images.
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146-147 Paul Bertner - www.rainforests.
smugmug.com: (b). SeaPics.com: Andy Murch (t).