Here’s a few bad ass animals that we share the world with that can send you on a painful visit to the emergency room…if you make it that far. For some reason, invertebrates jumped to mind so that’s what I rode with.
RED BACK SPIDER (Australia)
This pea-sized little critter packs a nasty bite, ready to sink its fangs into anything that may disturb its home somewhere in a dry and sheltered area where it makes its web. If you think it resembles our American black widow, you’re right. They’re cousins. Ugly cousins but cousins nonetheless.
IRUKANDJI JELLYFISH (Australia)
Ever heard of a box jellyfish, one of the world’s deadliest creatures? Well, this Australian jellyfish is basically a 2.5 centimeter version of that but just as poisonous and much harder to see. A bite from this powerful little fellow will send you to the morgue in a few days without treatment. Staying out of the water in Australia is a good piece of advice here.
LONOMIA OBLIQUA CATERPILLAR (South America)
Who the hell ever thought a friggin’ caterpillar would pose any threat to mankind? If you ever happen to find your butt hiking through the jungles of Brazil, it might be wise not to rest your arm or leg on a nearby tree. Should you do so, there’s a chance you’ll rub it up against one of these caterpillars, a squirming creature with spines venomous enough to kill a human. Would have been nice to keep caterpillars innocent and nice but I guess old Mother Earth blew it here.
LOCUST (Africa)
A locust cannot kill you nor can it really hurt you although I wouldn’t want to test those mandibles on its mouth. What the locust can’t do with venom it makes up for in sheer numbers and damage on human resources, mainly crops. Locusts can form swarms up to 150m wide and can cover over 50 countries at a time. That’s called an army. By the way, locust swarms only seem to occur in Africa, so it may be a good idea to scratch the whole entire continent off your vacation list.
