#17 Titan Triggerfish
The name alone should tell you that this coral reef-dwelling creature is more than meets
the eye, and you tangle with the terrifying triggerfish at your own risk.
These fish are far more likely to go on the offensive than sharks, and your mere presence
could provoke one.
Their teeth are razor-sharp and can slice through fins and soft human flesh with ease.
Next time you’re out exploring a beautiful reef, keep your eyes peeled for the titan
triggerfish.
It just might save you a world of pain!
#16 Electric Eel
This prickly predator is capable of delivering a nasty surprise in the form of a massive
electric shock that will render most able-bodied people completely incapacitated.
The cataclysmic charge comes from its super-charged organs, filled with 6,000 electrolytes and
always locked and loaded.
You don’t even need to be in contact with the electric eel to get zapped- these creatures
are capable of infusing the water with deadly energy the second they sense a human in their
presence.
Our number fifteen pick is known for its incredible beauty, but don’t get too close to their
business end!
#15 Stingray
For almost fifteen years, stingrays have been synonymous with the death of beloved animal
enthusiast Steven Irwin.
The barbed creature dealt a deathblow to Irwin’s heart, reminding all of us of their immense
power and lethal sting.
Stingrays aren’t aggressive by nature, but they aren’t afraid to wield their eight-inch
sting when threatened, and the barb- combined with some potent venom- is enough to take
out a full-grown human.
Leave these gorgeous gliders alone if you see them in the wild.
It might just save your life.
#14 Beaked Sea Snake
These sea slithers are packed to the scales with enough venom to easily kill a human,
and they are certainly not shy about biting.
Found predominantly in South Asia, beaked sea snakes are island dwellers who often attack
people.
Territorial and notoriously cranky, beaked sea snakes are responsible for half of the
recorded sea snake bites, and their venom contains six times the amount needed to take
down a human.
If you see one of these grey-blue beasts, watch out.
You could be the next target on their hit list!
Our number thirteen pick is a famous predator, responsible for hundreds of deaths every year.
#13 Box Jellyfish
Swimmers beware- you’re much more likely to be stung by a deadly box jellyfish than
eaten by a shark, and there’s a good chance that you won’t even see them coming.
Box jellyfish are the ultimate pain ninjas, coming out of nowhere to inflict a terrible
sting that’s potent enough to stop your heart.
It’s estimated that hundreds of people succumb to the box jellyfish’s reign of watery terror
every single year, but nobody knows what the real number is for sure.
You can find box jellyfish all over the world, and they are one of the reasons why you should
think twice about jumping into the ocean at night.
#12 Sea Lions
Sure, they look cute and cuddly, but these adorable animals are famously territorial
and won’t think twice about smacking down any human that wander into their path.
Sea lions are not afraid of humans and show their displeasure by clamping down on arms
or legs with their razor-sharp teeth.
Although you won’t technically die from a sea lion attack, it’s bound to hurt like
hell and make you think twice about equating cute and cuddly with friendly.
Run across our number eleven pick, and you certainly won’t be as lucky….
#11 DuBois Sea Snake
Combine the two common fears- snakes and the sea, and you have a terrifying image that
will make even the bravest person tremble.
Multiply that by one hundred when talking about the infamous DuBois sea snake, the most
venomous of its kind and a true maritime horror.
This snake prefers to camp out in shallow water, ambushing unsuspecting humans out for
a leisurely swim.
Although our next pick won’t kill you…
technically… you might wish that it had.
#10 Candiru
Leave it to the Amazon River to produce one of the most fearsome fishes in the world,
and also one of the tiniest.
Enter the Candiru, a miniature monster that gets its kicks by swimming up to, and into
your private parts.
Yes, the Candiru hones in on the urethra and makes its way into the body where it attaches
to feed.
Most people agree that you’re most vulnerable to this wee vampire when you’re relieving
yourself, but Candiru attacks can happen to anyone, at any time!
#9 Portuguese Man-Of-War
These notorious jellyfish are best known for their legendary tentacles, which can expand
to one-hundred and sixty-five feet of pure, unadulterated terror.
Get tangled up, and you’ll find yourself falling prey to its paralytic nematocysts.
Although they don’t pack enough of a punch to kill a human, generally, Portuguese man-of-war
stings have been compared to lightning strikes.
Even in death, these horrific jellyfish can unleash their venom, so make sure that you
sidestep them at the beach.
#8 Crocodile
It doesn’t matter if you’re in salt or freshwater, there’s simply no escaping these
massive predators.
Crocodiles are ancient terrors- living relics from the era of the dinosaurs, and these ruthless
creatures have survived and thrived for a reason.
They are some of the most barbaric apex predators on the planet, a whopping three-thousand pounds
of sheer muscle.
Nobody knows how many people fall prey to crocodile attacks, but most assume that it’s
at least several hundred, and if you get away, you’re lucky.
Both Nile crocodiles and their sea-faring cousins are equally dangerous, so watch your
step when crocs are nearby.
Our next pick will undoubtedly surprise you and give you one more reason to fear the ocean.
#7 Sea Flea
Although this next creature might sound like something out of a children’s song, they
have real-life adult consequences.
Proving that the scariest things can come in the smallest packages, sea fleas are insidious
parasites that love to feast on the flesh of unsuspecting humans.
While attacks are rare, the consequences are catastrophic, as Australian teen Sam Kanizay
can attest to.
The fleas pounced on the boy during an innocent swim, and only speedy medical intervention
saved him from certain death.
#6 Hippo
Don’t get it twisted- despite the cutesy holiday songs, you really don’t want a hippopotamus
for Christmas.
These ferocious beasts are part crocodile, part elephant, and all nightmare.
They kill more innocent humans than lions, and are the terror of Africa’s rivers, lurking
just below the surface and waiting to pounce.
Hippos are also notoriously ill-tempered, and if you accidentally wander into their
territory, there’s a good chance that you won’t be wandering out in one piece.
To make matters worse, hippos thrive in and out of the water, making them semi-aquatic
monsters that could easily outrun an Olympian!
#5 Moray Eel
What do you get when you combine a snake’s body with the jaws of a miniature shark?
Moray eels are prehistoric monstrosities that baffle the mind- a hodgepodge of horror that
stretches up to eight feet long.
Moray eels have exceptionally sharp teeth and locking jaws that can rip apart flesh
like its tissue paper.
What’s more, their bites cause gaping wounds that are prone to infection or disease.
You can find morays lurking in craggy caves or bits of coral, making them the ultimate
threat to divers.
Our next pick proves that nasty nibblers don’t just live in our oceans.
#4 Piranha
Piranhas are freshwater fiends found mostly in the Amazon.
They prove that there’s true power in numbers, and relish the opportunity to join up with
their sharp-toothed friends to wreak havoc on innocent swimmers.
These animals are precise predators- honing in on their prey and inflicting thousands
of bites.
There are numerous cases where piranha attacks have left people disfigured since these small
but ferocious fish like to grab hold and not let go.
Our number three pick is another animal who likes to hold on tight- but this one is substantially
larger than the humble piranha- and much more deadly.
#3 Humboldt Squid
Most squids are non-confrontational and even shy around humans, but not the Humboldt squid.
This aggressive creature specifically targets humans and is not afraid to exercise its death
grip on unsuspecting divers.
This cruel cephalopod takes pride in inflicting pain and is roughly the size of an average
person, with super-human strength.
The sea is the Humboldt’s playground, and any unprepared divers simply do not stand
a chance.
#2 Orca
Out in the wild, orcas do not pose a threat to humans.
Give these majestic creatures miles of uncharted ocean, and they are as happy as can be- but
put them in captivity, and they’ll turn murderous.
Orcas have killed countless trainers, including Dawn Brancheau, a senior SeaWorld trainer.
There’s a lot of debate about whether or not orcas are fit for captivity, with some
countries outright banning these captive creatures.
One thing is for certain- they do not respond well to being removed from their native environment.
#1 Blue-Ringed Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus proves that the most dangerous creatures are also the most innocent-looking.
This adorable blue and yellow fellow is only about the size of a candy bar, but it’s
one of the deadliest creatures in the seven seas.
You would have better odds with a pack of great white sharks in a feeding frenzy- at
least you’d have a minuscule chance of coming out alive.
This tiny octopus packs a considerable punch, with powerful venom that could easily kill
twenty-six humans on the spot.
Their venom is one-thousand times more potent than cyanide, making it lethal, fast-acting,
and excruciating.
You’ll find this colorful cephalopod in Southeast Asia, where it lurks in shallow
tidal pools and coral reefs.
Which animal on this list did you find most surprising?
Let us know in the comments below.
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