Can you resist not cuddling cute little animals? We can’t. Perhaps, their tiny features and fluffiness make us all fall for them. However, some animals of Animal Kingdom don’t fit this description. These scary-looking animals living on the land and sea often give us chills at first glance. Some have sharp teeth and fangs; some are deadly parasites, and some look threatening but are not harmful. Because of their appearance, these animals come under the category of the scariest looking animals in the World.
To get a little overview, here are some key takeaways that you must check first:
Key Takeaways
- These animals can range from being parasitic to relatively harmless regardless of their scary looks.
- The white shoulder bat was named after the white patches on its shoulder. Despite their scary appearance, they don’t threaten humans. They are a hybrid of frugivore and insectivore.
- Tapeworms are flatworms that infect both animals and humans. They can be very harmful to humans. Typically, people get infected by eating undercooked meat of an already infected animal.
- Goliath is the most enormous bird-eating spider in the World. They are tarantulas and can attack humans. Fortunately, their venom is poisonless.
8 Scariest Looking Animals in the World
Following, we have compiled a list of some of the deadliest looking animals in the World. Let’s check them out one by one.
The Black DragonFish
Biological name: Idiacanthus atlanticus
Habitat: Southern subtropical and temperate oceans
Diet: Insects and squid
Black dragonfish are rarely found as they live deep in the ocean. The females of this species have pointed, sharp fang-like teeth and a long thin barbel that hangs from the bottom of their chins. The barbel possesses photophores that produce light to entice prey. Adult female animals reach up to 2 feet and have an eel-like resemblance. However, the males are much less frightening as they are smaller in size and have no teeth or barbel.
Interesting Fact: The males only live long enough to mate.
White–Shouldered Bat
Biological name: Ameterida Centurio
Habitat: Found throughout Venezuela
Diet: Insects and fruits of tropical forest
The American centurio is commonly known as White-shouldered bats. They are a South and Central American bat species. They look scariest of all bats because of their large eyes, pointed pug nose, and sharp teeth. Although they have a menacing appearance, they pose no threat to humans. This bat species got its name from the white patches present on its shoulders.
Fangtooth Fish
Biological name: Anoplogaster Cornuta
Habitat: deep sea
Diet: Small fish and shrimps
Fangtooth fish are scary deep-sea fish that bear a large head, sharp fangs, and scales. The bottom fangs are so large that the fish can’t close its mouth completely and this fangs alignment makes them even creepier. The extreme environmental conditions of the deep sea make it difficult for them to find pre. They aggressively hunt their prey and swallow them whole. Their large fangs assist in capturing the prey like small fish and shrimps and keep them from escaping.
Tapeworm
Biological name: Cestoda
Habitat: a digestive system of the host
Diet: Absorbs food from host
Tapeworms are parasites. They live in the digestive tract of their host/prey. They have hooks and suckers along with their heads that help them stay intact to the intestinal walls. They have a segmented body of 20 feet long. They target both people and insects. Tapeworms’ larvae grow into adult tapeworms by absorbing nutrition from the digestive system of the host.
Angler Fish
Biological name: Lophiiformes
Habitat: North Atlantic Ocean
Diet: Small fish, shrimps, and turtles
Like Fangtooth fish, Angler fish also live in deep waters. The female fish possess a glowing bulb of flash that hangs down from their head. It attracts prey through that bright bulb. In some species, the glow is the result of chemicals that symbiotic bacteria produce in them. These gruesome-looking fish have a large wide mouth and pointed sharp teeth that are angled inwards. These fish can eat prey twice their size.
Weird fact: The male fish are smaller in size and fulfill their food requirement by absorbing from the female fish.
Goliath Spider
Biological name: Goliathus Lamarck
Habitat: Marshy and Swampy areas in South American Rainforest
Diet: Small birds, snakes, lizards, and frogs
Goliath is the World’s largest spider. They use their fangs to capture prey and inject venom into their hunter. The poison decomposes prey from inside while the giant spider gulps down the prey’s flash, leaving behind bones and skin. These formidable-looking spiders will attack whenever they feel threatened. They can even attack humans if disturbed.
Weird fact: They use bristles of their legs to make a hissing noise and ward off potential threats.
Viperfish
Biological name: Chauliodus Sloane
Habitat: Depth of all oceans
Diet: Lantern fish, shrimps, and crustaceans
These deep-sea marine fish live in tropical and temperate waters. They have sharp fangs to capture prey. Their teeth are so long that they curve behind the head when their mouth is closed. They have a long spine that looks like a long pole with a photophore on the end. This illuminating organ helps to lure the prey within the attacking distance. These fish might look ferocious but pose no threat to humans.
Giant Deep-Sea Isopod
Biological name: Bathynomus Giganteus
Habitat: Sea, freshwater, or land
Diet: Dead animals
Isopods belong to crustaceans. They can size up to 2.5 feet long. They have a hard exoskeleton and seven pairs of legs that make them look like an alien. These underwater scavengers live on the ocean floor and feed on dead animals. They can survive prolonged periods without food.
Interesting fact: They can roll up into a ball as a defense mechanism from external threats.
These are the World’s scariest looking animals. If you’re wondering if they are harmful to humans, then rest assured. Some of these animals are so tiny that you can hold them in your hands. While some may be a little scary because of their appearance, they are not poisonous and pose no threat to us.