Now that you are familiar with some of the strangest animals in the world, let’s take a look at the most deadly ones. Forget about bears and lions. We’re talking about creatures that can kill in an instant. Or can kill dozens in a minute. Some of these creatures here are so strong that they date back to the dinosaur age. They crawl, they creep and they hiss, they bite and they strangle and you wouldn’t want them as a pet. Here are the 10 most deadly reptiles in the world:
1. Saltwater Crocodile
This big guy is the largest reptile in the world. A highly intelligent creature, they hide underwater waiting for the right moment to lunge and grab any animals on the water’s bank. Once gripped by this crocodile’s heavy, strong, sharp teeth jaws, that’s the end of the poor unfortunate prey. Because this crocodile has the strongest bite on earth – they slam their jaws shut with 3,too pounds per square inch, or 16,460 newtons of bite force. You don’t want to meet this guy during the mating season because that’s when he’s the most aggressive. In a while, crocodile!
2. King Cobra
Now here’s a reptile that would make a herpetophobic person scream and run their heart out. This royal reptile is the largest venomous snake in the world, reaching 18 feet (5.5 meters). They prefer humid jungles and rainforests being very comfortable climbing trees or crawling on the ground. Their highly lethal neurotoxin, which they use to subdue their prey, is strong enough to kill an elephant.
3. Green Anaconda
You’ve seen the movie Anaconda and you’ve watched Animal Planet. You know what this enormous snake is capable of. Actually, this is officially the largest snake in the world (7.5 metres). That’s one big snake. Known as a constrictor snake, it means that he kills his prey by strangling and asphyxiating it. Although anacondas are not venomous, their powerful deadly bite is used to crush the bones of their victims before swallowing them whole.
4. Puff Adder
The puff adder is a typical viper snake but with a distinctive somewhat triangular head. Due to its wide range, this reptile is responsible for more fatalities than any other snakes in the world. He tracks his prey with the help of its sensors: heat sensors, vibration detectors and UV sensitive cells in the eye and when they find it they bite, releasing the venom which is a cytotoxin. This way the venom breaks down tissue and spreads slowly to the rest of the body. It hisses and puffs when it’s threatened and is one of the most aggressive snakes.
5. Komodo Dragon
Now here’s one big lizard! The Komodo Dragon is actually the heaviest lizard in the world, weighing around 366 pounds (166kg) and a length of 10.3 feet (3.13m). This enormous eat everything. From dead animals to pigs to big size water buffalos. They are also cannibals, which mean they prey on each other. The Komodo Dragon is famous or more accurately infamous for its bite. Their saliva contains 50 strains of bacteria that will infect the prey and kill it. And if that wasn’t enough, they also have a venom gland between their teeth. This one is a real killing machine.
6. Nile Monitor
The Nile Monitor is one of the most deadly reptiles that lives on the Nile and other African rivers. It even preys on young crocodiles, since they grow up to be 9 feet in length. Like the Komodo Dragon, this terrifying beast possesses and extremely powerful, infectious bite. Although some have it as a pet, it’s not the smartest idea since it’s known to have attacked its owners and eat whole small pets like cats and dogs. So you might want to find another beast as a pet.
7. Black Mamba
This feared snake lives throughout many parts of Africa. The black mamba is the fastest snake in the world, capable of reaching 20km/h. They can strike up to 12 times in a row and a single bite can kill 10 to 25 adults. The bite delivers 100-120 mg of highly toxic neurotoxin venom. This makes it one of the most deadly reptiles in the world.
8. Alligator Snapping Turtle
Found in the lakes, canals, and rivers on the south eastern parts of the US, alligator snappers can live up to 100 years old. Their bite is very powerful and it is known to have bitten off human fingers.
9. Nile Crocodile
This huge reptile is the largest crocodile in Africa, with a very bad reputation of being a vicious man eater. It can reach lengths of up to 20 feet (6m) and weigh up to 730 kg. They feed on almost any kind of alive and even dead animal.
10. Inland Taipan
This one deserves a spot of its own since it’s the deadliest reptile in the world. It has the most toxic venom of any land snake known so far. Its bite injects 110mg of venom, which is enough to kill 100 humans!
