Nasty Creatures

Nasty Creatures

Listverse is a Trademark of Listverse Ltd
Copyright (c) 2007–2022 Listverse Ltd
All Rights Reserved
| Terms Of Use

Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author.
A series of accounts of the more dangerous creatures on the planet, including the animals with the worst claws or teeth imaginable, have gripped Listverse readers. However, persona and character can play an even greater role in assessing the danger posed by an animal. In this unsettling account, we take a new perspective on animal danger by reviewing the species with the worst personalities and greatest predilections towards absolutely ferocious behavior. We discover the most bloodthirsty carnivore, Earth’s most hostile snake species, and learn why “Taming the Shrew” is doomed to fail.

Bears possess some of the most disagreeable personalities in the animal kingdom. While the Grizzly Bear immediately comes to mind as the most ferocious and dangerous bruin, it is actually a gentle giant compared to the true black sheep of the ursine rogue’s gallery. Weighing just 65 kilograms and measuring 1.5 meters in length, the Asian Sun Bear is the world’s smallest bear species, and the most ferocious, with the largest teeth in proportion to body size. This small beast is the most fierce bear on the planet, and will attack humans without provocation. A number of fatal maulings have occurred from an animal considered by some to be the most dangerous in the jungle. Unfortunately for the rainforest, this keystone predator is endangered.

Forget the “Gentle Giant”—The world’s largest reptile also carries the most ferocious disposition. Saltwater Crocodiles reach lengths of over seven meters (23 ft) and may weigh up to 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs). Possessing immense jaws capable of the world’s most powerful bite , the full grown “Saltie” is not only the most physically capable killer among reptiles, but is considered the most aggressive, actively predatory and territorial crocodilian species. This super-reptile tends to view human prey as a simple meal, and they will rather casually consume humans on sight. Salt Water Crocodiles may also destroy boats and kill human and large animal intruders during territorial defense.

The Least Weasel is the world’s smallest carnivora . Just as the Sun Bear is the smallest, but most aggressive bear, the smallest carnivore is also the most ferocious hunter, pound for pound. Weighing only a few ounces and measuring around 20 centimeters, the unbelievably aggressive, hamster sized Least Weasel is capable of killing a European Rabbit up to five times its own size . With the immense size difference, the tiny beast appears more like a parasite than a predator as it latches onto the neck of its larger prey items and drains blood from the jugular vein. The Least Weasel will also kill any small bird, amphibian or mammal it encounters with a bone-crushing bite. The same ferocity may utilized in territorial defense.

“Taming of the Shrew” makes an excellent title for a Shakespearean Comedy , it would be next to impossible to civilize these somewhat bloodthirsty insectivores. Shrews resemble mice, but are in fact related to hedgehogs as a member of the insectivore group. Shrews distinguish themselves by their incredibly high metabolism, which gives them an extraordinarily high strung and vicious disposition. Shrews must eat constantly, and in order to sustain themselves, they savagely attack prey twice their own size, including mice, fish and frogs. Shrews can inject venom when they bite, but they normally kill by crushing the base of the skull. Shrew aggression is extremely hazardous to any animal that approaches, but the tiny beasts are so high strung that they have been known to drop dead from the stress of surprise before they can savage their adversary.

Resembling a miniature bear, the Wolverine is in fact the largest member of the weasel family . This stocky beast with iron jaws is notorious for possessing an almost demonic ferocity greatly out of proportion to the animal’s size. While some species are notable for their outright aggression, the Wolverine distinguishes itself as a public enemy through its absolute lack of fear while hunting. Weighing 15 to 30 kilograms, this overgrown weasel has been known to bring down deer, elk and mountain goats in a spectacular David and Goliath predation routine. Attacks on humans are devastating and may be fatal, but fortunately, this killer hermit rarely encounters man. Wolverines prey on wildcats, and will even challenge bears in territory disputes.

Cloaked in the color of death and measuring over 14 feet in length, the Black Mamba is regarded as one of the most vicious snakes on the planet . It is also one of the most venomous. The Black Mamba is a habitat generalist, which means it can appear in any environment within its vast African range, including swamps, grasslands, and even villages. Unlike many animals, which simply have an anger problem, Black Mambas are driven by an extreme form of fear-based aggression. Being exceedingly nervous, the slightest sense that the snake’s escape route is compromised may unleash an attack of unparalleled ferocity. As if that wasn’t enough, at 20 km (12.4 miles) per hour, the Black Mamba is also one of the world’s fastest serpents.

It may come as a surprise that the Bull Shark, and not the Great White Shark or Tiger Shark wins the “worst in the water” award. The Bull Shark is endowed with an extremely aggressive personality, and is in fact considered by scientists to be the most vicious fish on the planet . The shark’s predilection for attacking humans in shallow water has led to many fatalities and may be to blame for a number of mysterious disappearances. The supremely ferocious fish has the strongest bite of all sharks , with a force of up to 6000 newtons. Even more disturbingly, the shark can adapt to freshwater, and has appeared in a number of rivers and lakes in warmer regions, and even flooded streets .

The Northern Goshawk is the largest of the bird eating forest hawks, with a wingspan of 4 feet. Fierce red eyes, dark grey feathers and massive talons to take down large prey add to its terrifying appearance. Its extremely territorial behavior presents danger and incredible displays of feathered ferocity. If a human appears to be a threat to the Goshawk’s nest, this ferocious raptor will swoop down and deliver scalp ripping blows. The Northern Goshawk is a species at risk in some jurisdictions due to persecution and habitat loss, but their tendency to turn on anything presenting the slightest threat proves they are still very skilled in self defence. Even more disturbingly, Goshawks often begin eating large prey items such as ducks while they are still alive.

The Wolf has been featured in a range of widely exaggerated legends attesting to its alleged ferocity throughout history. A backlash of information promoting the peaceful elements of the lupine personality has overtaken the fearful drama of the past. What has been lost from sight is the true ferocity of the wolf that conspired to create the legends in the first place. To bring down large prey such as moose, wolves attack in packs , attaching themselves to the muzzle and tear pieces off, causing the prey to bleed to death. The wolves may begin feeding before the prey is dead. Humans are not entirely safe from wolves and attacks, though rare in North America, are more frequent in Russia .

Just as the Gray Wolf remains as a fully wild version of our domestic dogs, the Wild Boars that gave us our domestic pigs present a stark and at times exceedingly dangerous contrast to the domestic animal. Wild Boars are located across Europe and Western Asia, inhabiting a range of woodland and farmland habitats. While our habit of eating pigs causes us to think of them as prey items, the Wild Boar is a hunter in its own right, and may even bring down deer. These animals frequently place humans on the run with their extremely bad temper and tendency to attack in a ferocious flurry of razor sharp tusks. Wild Boar charges may at times be fatal due to the power and mass of the enraged animals, which may respond with force to any perceived invasion of territory.
Ron Harlan investigates of the mysteries of nature and the bizarre findings that often crop up on this planet. He is a freelance writer and student of science. Contact Ron for engaging written content

© 2022 Mystic Beasts | Privacy | Contact | Terms Of Use | About
Have you ever wondered what the most evil mythical creature is? The answer may surprise you.
Many mythological creatures are considered to be evil, but only one can be deemed as the most evil of them all.
Whether they live in a forest or deep underwater, there’s no denying that these monsters have been wreaking havoc for centuries and will continue to do so until we find out how to defeat them!
The word ‘cyclops’ is nowadays being used to describe any frightening creature with only one big eye, but the original cyclopses were called Arges, Steropes, and Brontes. It is debatable whether the originals could be considered dangerous, but the more modern versions certainly tend to be.
In the sea off the coast of Norway and Greenland, that’s where the Kraken lives. The myth dates back to a time when sailors were terrified to end up in the monster’s unforgiving grip, and the Kraken supposedly pulled whole fleets of ships down into the deepest waters.
Have you ever seen a three-headed dog in a movie or read about one in a book? The original name for this beast is ‘Cerberus’, and in most stories, it is a mythical (and monstrous) creature that guards treasures and more.
Whenever you read about a dragon in storybooks and old tales, you can almost feel the horror of watching that massive animal come flying over the mountain tops – knowing it has the capacity to burn down villages and towns.
Described as small , ugly, and malicious, Goblins are trouble-makers that bring little to nothing good with them, and they originate from old European folklore and myths. Goblins are considered selfish and greedy – always putting themselves first.
The three gorgons in Greek mythology are Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale, with Medusa being the most famous (and potentially the most dangerous) gorgon. All three have snakes instead of hair, and they were all turned into gorgons after Medusa had a love affair with Poseidon.
There are many scary stories told of the chimeras. In real life, a chimera is a human or an animal with two sets of DNA, but in mythology – it is a vicious beast composed of parts from different animals. Chimeras often have a lion’s body.
When someone dies in Jewish mythology, there are supposedly cases where the soul of the deceased could get lost, and this is when a Dybbuk may decide to possess the body. Some believe firmly in the existence of these and it is not unusual to use exorcism to try and drive them out.
While this phenomenon and the mythical creature is best known in Canada and the United States. Many have heard the name briefly mentioned in movies or literature. Bigfoot is believed to be a massive ape-man living in the woods, and it is common knowledge that you don’t want to cross paths with him when you are out in nature.
Many mythical creatures have things in common, and this hybrid may remind you of a few others! In this case, the top half of the Aqrabuamelu is a man and the other half is a scorpion. Most stories describe him as extremely tall and dangerous.
These giant snakes shouldn’t be forgotten when discussing the most dangerous mythical creatures out there, as all it takes for them to kill you is one single look. “If looks could kill” certainly fits this beast.
While we have already covered the Gorgons, the worst and most dangerous of the three deserves its spot. Medusa appears not only in old Greek mythology but in countless modern stories and tales. Crossing paths with her almost always meant certain death.
In Jewish folklore, Golems are creatures that can be summoned using certain Hebrew letters in a specific order, or through complex rituals. Once summoned, golems form from sand, rocks, and other objects.
The man-eating Oni is a Japanese mythical creature known for its terrifying appearance – often portrayed as a hunched over the goblin-like monster with a horn and long fingers.
The Pontianaks are evil spirits that lure their prey by shapeshifting into stunning women. In the stories, they are sometimes explained as the lost souls of those women who never had children of their own.
Have you ever heard about a polite and proper monster that is also evil and extremely dangerous? Kappas are just that. Reptile-type monsters with certain human features, that present immediate danger to both animals and humans alike.
This is one of those monsters that are described as quite pleasant to look at, but if you failed to answer the impossible riddle of the Sphinx – it would viciously attack and kill without its victims standing a chance.
While centaurs are generally not considered evil, they are impulsive, unpredictable and as a result – unreliable. Half their body is human and the other part (usually the lower part of the body) is a horse, and you never really know what you are going to get with these wine-loving mythical creatures.
As if being sent down to Hades’ domain wasn’t bad enough, travelers also had to watch out for harpies – a creature with the body of a bird and the face of a human. These calculated hybrids would snatch any human they could get their claws on, and subject the individual to excruciating torture.
The three furies only presented a danger to those who had committed some type of sin – men, in particular, as these creatures were the goddesses of vengeance. Any man who committed a wrongdoing, such as murder or an unforgivable crime against the gods, would fear the vengeance of the furies.
The wife of Typhon and a hybrid creature with a woman’s face and the body of a snake. Argus Panoptes was the one to eventually slay Echidna in her sleep.
Hydra, or the Lernaean Hydra, was an almost impossible monster to kill. This water creature had many heads that would attack its victim simultaneously, and while some tried to chop the heads off one by one – they quickly discovered that when one of Hydra’s heads was cut off, two more would grow out in its place.
The husband of Echidna and the father of many of the monsters found in Greek mythology. Like his wife, Typhon was also a snake-like creature and described as having 100 heads that would each breathe fire.
Banshees appear in Irish folklore and are not necessarily evil or dangerous, but she is strongly connected to the death of someone in the family, and therefore considered both a bad omen and an unwanted visitor.
You can’t learn about Charybdis without learning about Scrylla, as the two are connected. Charybdis was believed to be a terrifying sea monster that would create whirlwinds out at sea and pull anyone (and anything into it), and he was considered worse than Scrylla, who lived on the other end of the same sea.
Lamia turned into a monster after losing her children due to unfortunate circumstances, and she became an evil creature that would hunt down the children of others and kill them viciously.
In Mesopotamian mythology, the aqrabuamelu is a terrifying creature that is half scorpion and half man. This type of hybrid is also found in other mythologies, but these were also claimed to be so tall they could reach the sky.
The Loch Ness Monster can be described as a prehistoric type beast that lurks under the surface of lake Loch Ness. It is a long-lived myth and a monster that has never been proven to exist, even though it has been continuously spotted throughout the years.
Sirens are sometimes described as a type of mermaid, but in Greek mythology, they were half-bird and half-women, and they would sing an enchanting song to lure sailors to their inevitable death and destruction.
There are many different versions of this Scandinavian mythical creature, but one is described as a naked man who presented a deadly threat to women and children. He would sit and play his violin in streams, lakes, and rivers, and the sound would bring his victims to walk into the water and drown.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Mysticbeasts.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Games & Quizzes
Thesaurus
Word of the Day
Features
Buying Guide
M-W Books
Join MWU

We bring you the strangest, most elusive beasts in the dictionary.
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram

"Some swear the creature is actually a vampire — resembling a large rat, but with horns and fangs ... In any case, the Chupacabra ... reportedly drains the blood of cows, sheep, and goats throughout the republic, leaving an unusually shaped wound." — Diana Reiss-Koncar, Vibe , April 1997
a grotesque creature that drinks the blood of livestock and is reported to exist in North and South America
From Spanish chupa , 3rd person singular present tense of chupar "to suck" (probably of imitative origin) + cabra "goat" ( cabras , plural)
"'People who say there is no such animal are the ones who need to get right — we are not,' he stated emphatically today. 'I saw the snallygaster,' he repeated, 'and I saw him change from white to black.'" — The News (Frederick, MD), November 28, 1932
a mythical nocturnal creature that is reported chiefly from rural Maryland, is reputed to be part reptile and part bird, and is said to prey on poultry and children
"The werewolf was by day a man, but by night a wolf given to ravage and to slaughter, and having a charmed life against which no human agency availed aught." — Eugene Field, The Werewolf , 1911
a person transformed temporarily or permanently into a wolf or capable of assuming a wolf's form : lycanthrope
Are there werewolves where there aren’t wolves?
Lycanthropy, the delusion that you have turned into a wolf or another beast, has some ancient roots, and belief in werewolves can be found around the world. Other dangerous animals — such as bears, tigers, or hyenas — have historically filled the wolf's role in lycanthropy in countries where wolves are not common.
"The rest of the party had commenced piling up birch bark around the brute and thrown a few sticks of dynamite and by this time the fight got pretty hot, as the Hodag had became [sic] so infurated [sic] that he began slashing down the timber which was falling in every direction, and made it dangerous for the now furious hunters, and the black tar coal smoke which the hodag's breath had turned into, mixed with the sickening odor of the mangled dogs, was beginning to suffocate the now very much excited party." — The New North (Rhinelander, WI), October 28, 1893
a mythical animal reported chiefly from Wisconsin and Minnesota, noted for its ugliness, lateral horns, and hooked tail, and reputed to be outstanding in both ferocity and melancholy
"A dybbuk is the wandering soul of a dead person. You don't want to make the mistake of inviting one into your home. You don't have to be Jewish to figure that out." — Roger Ebert, review of the film
Mature And Young
Lingerie Rides
Naked Nurse

Nasty Creatures

Report Page