Buzz
Even though we are an evolved and highly advanced species, humans are still hardwired to fear certain creatures. Predators like sharks and lions, unsettling critters like spiders, and practically everything in Australia trigger our instinctive “fight or flight” response.
As if we needed more reasons to be cautious around these creatures, here are 10 astonishing facts that make some naturally dangerous animals even more fearsome.
10. Sharks Use the Sun to Track Their Prey
Since 1580, sharks have attacked over 2,700 people and killed nearly 500. While these numbers may not seem too alarming on their own, consider this: you're ten times more likely to die simply by being in the water than from a shark attack. Still, we remain terrified of these toothy, aquatic hunters, capable of growing up to eight rows of teeth and biting with a force of up to 1.6 tons. Recent studies also suggest that sharks—especially great whites—are much smarter than we often give them credit for.
A research team studying great white sharks off the coast of South Australia observed that the sharks adjusted their hunting strategies depending on the time of day. It turns out these creatures are not just ferocious predators but clever ones, too. By positioning themselves with their backs to the Sun, the sharks reduce glare and gain a better view of their prey, while also making themselves harder to spot. If you're ever swimming in Australian waters, remember this: it's safer to swim on overcast days.
9. Catfish Hunt Pigeons
If you imagine catfish as the small, harmless creatures found in home aquariums, prepare for a shock. Catfish can range from the size of your thumb to the size of a grizzly bear. While they don’t typically hunt humans, there’s one place you should avoid: the shoreline of the Tarn River in western France. Here, some European catfish have developed a taste for birds.
These giant fish stealthily approach birds, stalking their prey until the birds are nearly out of the water, then lunge at them, dragging them beneath the surface in a manner reminiscent of alligators. In one case, out of 54 attempts to snatch a quick meal, 15 were successful.
Even more intriguing is the observation that catfish ignored pigeons standing still by the water, even when they were right next to them. This suggests the catfish didn’t spot the birds, but instead sensed their movements through the ripples in the water. The lesson here: If you stay still, it won’t see you.
8. Bears Are Stealthy Predators
Even if you live in an urban area far from the reach of bears, you’ve likely heard the advice: play dead if attacked by a bear. But in reality, it’s not that simple. Playing dead only works with grizzly bears. If a black bear attacks, your best chance is to fight back and escape as fast as possible. Or better yet, avoid the encounter altogether.
Unless, of course, you've been under the bear’s watch for hours. Research shows that black bears most likely to attack aren’t the protective mothers with cubs—those bears are simply trying to scare you away. It’s the male black bears that might see you as a potential meal.
Dr. Herrero from the University of Calgary warns that you might not even realize a bear is stalking you. "It’s quiet," says Herrero. "It stalks you just like a lion might." Once a bear has chosen you as prey, it may silently track you, sometimes crawling through the brush, circling behind, and when close enough, charging at the speed of a horse to deliver a fatal bite. When a black bear decides to attack, playing dead won’t do you any good.
7. Spiders Use Their Natural Enemies As Bodyguards
Spiders are a common fear for many, and for good reason. Numerous species are venomous and can harm or even kill a person. The Brazilian wandering spider is the most dangerous, measuring nearly 18 centimeters (7 inches) and possessing venom so deadly that just a tiny fraction can kill a mouse.
However, when relying on a venomous bite isn't enough, some spiders become clever, like the jumping spider. Despite being small, it has many enemies, including weaver ants and spitting spiders (which are cannibalistic, adding yet another reason spiders are terrifying). The spitting spider even builds its home directly above the jumping spider to make it easier to catch this tiny prey.
Unhappy with his upstairs neighbor, the jumping spider has formed a unique alliance with the predatory weaver ant. In this unusual partnership, the spiders have enlisted the ants as their personal, free-of-charge bodyguards. Spitting spiders steer clear of weaver ants, so the jumping spiders have learned to build their homes above weaver ant nests, strengthening them to prevent the bodyguards from turning hostile. It’s akin to us building our homes above lion dens to shield us from bears.
6. Some Snake Venoms Induce Seizures
There are over 600 venomous snakes worldwide, and unless you live in the farthest northern or southern regions, you’re likely to encounter one. If bitten by a venomous snake, you'll experience a range of symptoms, depending on the snake species, including dizziness, fainting, numbness, and blurred vision. These are the usual reactions you’d expect or have seen in TV shows and movies.
However, one particular venom, found in a rare coral snake, puzzled scientists due to its strange effect: it causes seizures. In February 2015, researchers finally understood the venom's mechanism. The toxins bind to nerve receptors like other snakes’ venoms, but instead of numbness, they trigger violent convulsions. In fact, these toxins are so effective at inducing seizures that scientists are now using them to study ways to prevent seizures and even treat epilepsy—turning a terrifying thought into a potential breakthrough.
5. Vampire Bats Can Run
Vampires have long been portrayed as symbols of seduction, from Bram Stoker’s *Dracula* to the more questionable sexual themes in the *Twilight Saga*. Despite their glamorization in pop culture, there’s nothing alluring about the vampire bat.
Vampire bats hunt under the cover of night, drinking blood from livestock in such a stealthy, mosquito-like way that the unsuspecting prey often doesn’t even notice. While they mostly prefer cows and pigs, they have been known to feast on humans when other sources of food are scarce.
Vampire bats are exceptional fliers, but they have another surprising skill—they can run. In 2005, researchers put vampire bats on treadmills for a study. After reaching a certain speed, the bats dropped to all fours and began galloping, reaching speeds of up to 7 kilometers per hour (4 mph). As mammals, it makes sense that this ability would be in their genetic makeup, but it’s still pretty terrifying to imagine a bloodsucking creature chasing you like a small, uneven horse.
4. Scorpions Squirt Venom At Enemies
Scorpions rank high on the list of the most terrifying multi-legged creatures, right alongside spiders. In fact, nature has even combined these two arachnids into one frightening entity known as the *camel spider*.
Despite their menacing appearance and bad reputation, scorpion stings are generally not too severe. Of the 1,500 known species, most are considered 'mostly harmless.' While their stings are painful, just steer clear of the tail, and you should be fine.
That’s not the case if you’re dealing with the *Parabuthus transvaalicus*, which can squirt venom from their tails when they feel threatened. This behavior has been known for a while, but scientists once thought it was an involuntary reflex.
In June 2015, however, a group of researchers discovered that scorpions can decide when to squirt venom and when to hold back, depending on how threatened they feel. They figured this out by the somewhat unconventional method of grabbing scorpions’ tails, blowing air in their faces, and waiting to see if the scorpions released venom. Not surprisingly, they did. So, if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of pulling a scorpion’s tail, avoid breathing on it.
3. Starlings Can Learn Human Grammar
One of the key traits that distinguish humans from other species is our inherent ability to create and learn intricate languages. While many animals can produce a wide variety of sounds and combine them meaningfully, scientists argue that human language is exceptional because of its complexity, far surpassing animal vocalizations.
Enter the European starling, a small, aggressive, black bird that has overtaken North America after a group of Shakespeare enthusiasts released 100 of them in New York's Central Park. Since then, more than 200 million starlings have made it their mission to displace other birds from their territories and recreate scenes from Hitchcock’s *The Birds*.
Starlings are not only fantastic songbirds but also skilled mimics, prompting scientists to ask: Can starlings learn the complex grammar rules that were once thought to be uniquely human? The answer is yes, though at a slow pace.
After months of trials, a group of starlings was taught to understand and use a grammatical structure that had long been considered a human-only trait—embedding information within the middle of a sentence rather than at the beginning or end. While the starlings haven't yet mastered the ability to apply these rules in interaction with humans, it's only a matter of time before birds take over the world.
2. Super Sharks Eat Smaller Sharks
For a decade, scientists were puzzled by what could have devoured a 3-meter (10 ft) great white shark. During a documentary shoot in 2003, researchers tagged a large female shark to track her movements. But soon, the tag revealed an unusual event: the shark dove 600 meters (2,000 ft) underwater, followed by a sudden spike in temperature. The only logical conclusion? Something had eaten the shark.
The temperature rise didn’t match the conditions for a whale or another shark... unless the predator was enormous. That’s exactly what happened. According to lead researcher Dave Riggs, the theory of a massive super-shark is most likely correct, despite the more... unconventional ideas circulating online. Sorry folks, but it wasn’t an underwater Godzilla.
1. Bees Boil Hornets To Death
Though honeybees are generally harmless and non-aggressive toward humans, many people still fear them simply because of their black-and-yellow appearance. Japanese honeybees, however, have a terrifying enemy of their own—the Asian giant hornet. 'Giant' and 'hornet' are two words you never want to hear together.
A single giant hornet is roughly the size of a human thumb and can wipe out 40 honeybees in less than a minute. Just a few of these hornets can leave behind a scene littered with thousands of dead bees.
The honeybees have had enough of being dominated by their enormous cousins and have come up with a plan to fight back. They surround the threatening hornet, forming a 'hot defensive bee ball,' which sounds even worse than it seems. Inside, the temperature climbs to 47°C (117°F) for up to 20 minutes, literally boiling the hornet alive. Maybe it’s wise to steer clear of that honeybee after all.
