Similar to the Jellyfish, this is a type of Physalia found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Although similar in looks to a shell, don’t touch it. It has long tentacles that give a powerful and venomous sting, capable of killing or paralyzing fish, or in rare instances, humans. They are identified by their gas-filled bladders, which sit at the surface of the water, while the rest of them is submerged. Their name comes from their resemblance to the Portuguese 18th-century armed sailing ship, the man-of-war, at full sail.
They are responsible for stinging up to 10,000 humans in Australia every summer, especially on the east coast. Their detached tentacles may float for several days in the water or wash up on shore and remain potent. Their stings may generate intense pain to humans and red welts that last two or three days after the first sting. They may also lead to airway blockage, cardiac distress, and an inability to breathe.
Stonefish
This is known as the world’s most poisonous fish. It lays camouflaged on the bottom of the ocean floor, patiently awaiting its prey. It has venomous neurotoxins, which it emits from the glands at the base of its dorsal fin spines when it is disturbed or threatened. It consumes its victim in a whopping 0.015 seconds by opening its jaws very fast. Not easily seen due to their similarity in appearance to rocks or coral, they can also survive outside of the water for up to 24 hours.
They are found in the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific and some species live in rivers. While these fish are very poisonous and often deadly, they can be eaten when prepared properly.
Jaguar
The third-largest member of the cat family, this isn’t the cat you want cozying up on your sofa. While they are an endangered species, they are also very dangerous, with the strongest bite among other types of cats. They are also much larger than leopards.
They are solitary animals who stalk and ambush their prey. They are found across the Southwestern United States, Mexico, much of Central America, and areas of South America. They live mostly in tropical and subtropical climates, made up of moist broad-leaf forests, swamps, and wooded areas.
Yellowjackets
If you see a nest, avoid it at all costs. Like other stinging insects, they kill humans by causing anaphylactic shock. The bigger ones are the most fearful, as their stings become more powerful as they age. Yellowjackets are social insects, living together in colonies that have workers, queens, and males.
Queens come out during late spring or early summer, choose a site to nest, and build a small paper nest to lay eggs in. The queen stays there, lying until her death in the fall. The colony grows fast, reaching a size of 4,000 to 5,000 members and a nest of 10,000 to 15,000 cells by the end of the summer.
Blue Poison Arrow Frog
Their shiny blue color says it all: danger. With enough poison to wipe out 20,000 mice, and so tiny that they could fit on a human fingernail, this amphibian can kill a large animal just by touching it, as its poison is on their skin. Each frog has unique black spots, making it possible to distinguish between them.
They spend most of their day hopping around and being aggressive towards one another and to other animals. To fend off outsiders, they display a series of calls, chases, and wrestling.