10 Animals to Watch Out For This Summer (Because They Might Kill You)

• Lucas Pressburger
• Thursday, July 2, 2009

1. Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus

Would you believe that the number one creature on the list is only 2 to 4 inches long and weighing about an ounce? It’s true, but the venom in this tiny octopus is so potent that it will first paralyze then will kill a human in mere minutes with one bite. What makes this even more dangerous is that there’s no known antidote for the venom.

The good news is that this animal isn’t very aggressive. It will attack humans when provoked, for instance if the creature is picked up or stepped on. However, its brownish-yellowish color allows it to blend in with its surroundings. These sea creatures are found in the Pacific Ocean anywhere from Japan to Australia.

2. Saltwater Crocodile

Indigenous to Australia, these crocs vary in size, but the average weight is about 1,000 pounds and the average length is about twelve feet. Males get quite a bit larger than the females and a good sized one can weigh about 3,000 pounds and be about 20 feet long. So, just from their appearance, they’re intimidating. These crocodiles not only attack creatures in the water, but also outside of the water. Basically, there’s no safe place.

Considered an ambush predator, it’s true that they would most likely prey on a smaller animal than a human, but the larger crocs (especially the males) will attack and consume humans, and at times larger animals. If you were to get attacked by a saltwater crocodile, your chances of death far outweigh your chances of survival and the frequency of attacks on humans vary depending on the area.

3. Box Jellyfish

A box jellyfish lives in the waters of Northern Australia and in other parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans. This sea animal has four distinct sides and sort of looks like a box; hence the name “box jellyfish”. These creatures don’t sting due to touch. Instead their venom is excreted to attack prey.

To humans, the stings can be extremely painful. In fact, the sting is so painful, that if you happened to survive, you’d be in pain for weeks; possibly even months. The likelihood of you surviving a box jellyfish sting is unlikely though. Chances are that if you’re stung, your body would go into shock and perhaps even heart failure.

4. Stonefish

The stonefish hangs out in the southern tropics around coral reef areas. However, when they’re dormant, they bury themselves in mud or sand. The venom of these creatures is found in their spiny dorsal fins. What makes this so dangerous is that due to their yellow-brown color, they look like rocks when they’re not moving, so it is possible to step on one.

The severity of the damage depends upon how deep the spines went and how many penetrated your skin. Symptoms include swelling of the tissues, extreme pain, muscle weakness, temporary paralysis, and even death.

5. Scorpion

Scorpions mainly like to spend time in warmer climates, but they have learned to adapt. However, where they exist in areas with a wide range of weather change, scorpions will hibernate during the colder months. Therefore, this can still be considered a “summer” animal.

Scorpion stings are the cause of thousands of deaths worldwide. However, of the 1500 species of scorpions, only a handful has venom that is powerful enough to kill a human. Of the ones that do, deaths normally occur in small children, the elderly, and sick people.

6. Portuguese Man of War

Existent mainly in the tropic regions on the Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Northern Atlantic gulf, the man-of-war jellyfish often float in groups of thousands. Though stings are common, especially in the waters of Hawaii beaches, they’re not always deadly. but are extremely painful.

Don’t be fooled, though. Death can occur if the sting isn’t treated or is treated in an improper manner. If you’re ever stung, try to get any residual tentacles off of you. It’s best if you don’t use your hands as you’re risking more stings. Use a towel or another implement to aid you. Rinse the stug area in fresh or salt water.

7. Anopheles Mosquito

As you may have guessed, Anopheles mosquitoes are the species of mosquito that is prominent to Africa and carries malaria. This disease is transmitted from human to human, but with this mosquito as the carrier. This insect is perhaps the most deadly of insects and is responsible for numerous deaths every year.

8. Great White Shark

This intimidating looking animal stretches between 13 and 16 feet long with a mass of anywhere from 1,500 to 2,400 pounds. Unlike many animals, in great white sharks the females are traditionally larger than the males. Since these massive creatures are carnivorous, they’re deadly to many other sea creatures; however, not so much to humans.

Don’t get me wrong. The great white has the ability to kill a human, but they normally don’t. In fact, most great white shark bites on a human are a mistaken identity and most of them take place in murky waters. Fatalities have occurred, but there are about 1 to 2 great white shark attacks in the United States each year and have only been about 30 or so fatalities in the past century.

9. Sea Snake

Sea snakes are generally found in warm coastal waters from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean. Since there are different species of sea snakes, the size varies. Most of them range from 4 to 5 feet long; others as long as 10 feet. Some species are quite aggressive, while others aren’t likely to bother you.

If you happen to get bitten, chances are good that the venom wasn’t injected into your skin, since the snakes don’t always eject their venom. However, if it is, then you could be in major trouble. The biggest problem is that the venom is practically undetectable and painless at first. The symptoms you’re liable to feel include a headache, thirst and dry mouth, sweating, and possible even vomiting. Later, your muscles will feel stiff and achy. Then, your body will experience a breakdown in the muscle tissue that can cause respiratory issues or cardiac arrest.

10. Marbled Cone Snail

Located in warm salt water environments, this animal is one that you wouldn’t expect to be deadly. Think about it. In horror movies, we’ve seen snakes, sharks, and octopi; but to my recollection, we’ve never seen snails terrorize a community in any film. However, the venom in these snails is potent enough that one drop could kill more than a dozen humans.

There is no antidote for the venom and the symptoms can occur immediately or they could be delayed for days. Severe symptoms will include muscle paralysis and breathing failure. However, there haven’t been many cases. In fact, in recorded history there are only about thirty reported cases of deaths caused by the marbled cone snail.

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