Most Lethal Animals (Top 15) Trivia Quiz

Mosquitoes transmit many viruses, and although protective measures have greatly improved, they still wreak havoc on humans in the undeveloped parts of the world. They have had numbers over a million deaths annually attributed to them for many decades. Malaria and dengue fever remain the primary ways of delivering death to human populations.

They contribute to an annual average of 800,000 human deaths.

Between war, criminal homicide, and accidents, humans kill one another at a rate of close to a half million annually. During times of heavy global conflict, such as during both World Wars, deaths were considerably higher. During the six year period of World War 2 close to 17 million people died each year.

Snake bites kill approximately a 100,000 humans annually. The largest percentage of deaths occur in Southeast Asia (India being number one on the list), and Sub-Saharan Africa. Australia has nine of the top ten most venomous snakes, but amazingly has one of the lowest death tolls annually.

These are results that come primarily from the transmission of rabies to humans via dog bites. 99 percent of rabies related deaths come from man's best friend. Again, these occur almost exclusively in underdeveloped areas of the world that don't have access to vaccines, or cannot afford to vaccinate their canines. They contribute to an annual average of 35,000 human deaths.

Tsetse fly deaths occur primarily on the African continent, and come from the insects transmitting a disease commonly known as sleeping sickness. At the height of their destruction, tsetses killed nearly four million people in 1906. They contribute to an annual average of 15,000 human deaths.

Most would never consider the many species of freshwater snails to be such prolific killers. However, their transmission of the deadly schistosomiasis disease has caused death in over 70 countries worldwide. Most of these regions are in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Baby snails, known as flukes, infiltrate the bloodstream, and become trapped in bodily tissues, leading to death in untreated cases.

They contribute to an annual average of 14,000 human deaths.

Assassin bugs, are commonly called kissing bugs, as well. There are over 7,000 various species worldwide. They can transmit the Chagas disease, and are found almost solely in Latin America. There have been some assassin bug related deaths in the U.S.A., but rarely.

They defecate in and around open wounds that are either pre-existing, or bites they committed themselves. Infection occurs by entering the bloodstream in these areas. They contribute to an annual average of 11,000 human deaths.

Scorpions have only about 25 of nearly 1,500 species that possess venom enough to put a human's life in jeopardy. Typically the bigger the pinchers/claws are, the less venomous the scorpion. However, there are two types that can kill even the healthiest of humans. Those species being the death stalker and Brazilian yellow scorpions.

The highest death rates occur in Mexico and Central America. They contribute to an annual average of 3,000 human deaths.

Ascariasis is a disease caused by parasitic roundworms, and infection occurs by ingesting food or drink contaminated by roundworm eggs. The eggs will then hatch in the intestines, and migrate to the lungs through the bloodstream. The majority of deaths happen in undeveloped nations of Africa, Latin America, and Asia. They contribute to an annual average of 2,000 human deaths.

The Nile and Saltwater varieties of crocodiles are far and away the primary offenders in the deaths of humans. Death rates may be considerably higher because many attacks occur in remote or tribal lands that go unreported. A legendary crocodile named Gustave killed hundreds of people in and around the Rusizi River, in the nation of Burundi, in the early 2000s.

He was said to be nearing 21 feet in length. They contribute to an annual average of a 1,000 human deaths.

Both types of tapeworm infections join the group of neglected tropical diseases (which also include infestations of roundworms, and diseases caused by freshwater snails). These transpire normally in undeveloped areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

It is estimated that almost 25 percent of those inhabitants are affected by tapeworms. Many cases go undetected, as symptoms don't arise, or are not grave enough to warrant medical attention. Some individuals go a lifetime without any severe reactions.

They contribute to an annual average of 800 human deaths.

Hippopotamus is Greek for river horse, and is to many a surprising entrant on this list. They are quite unpredictable when it comes to their interactions with humans. Territorial by nature, they capsize many unsuspecting boat occupants, before drowning and/or chomping the boat's inhabitants to death.

Many deaths are unreported as they take place in remote areas, or the victims are never found. They contribute to an annual average of 500 human deaths.

Encroaching civilization into wild lands seems to be the greatest cause of conflict between pachyderms, such as elephants, and homo sapiens. Most of these deadly encounters transpire in India and Southeast Asia. A smaller portion occur in Africa where some populations have become increasingly aggressive due to poaching by ivory hunters.

They contribute to an annual average of 300 human deaths.

Lions that are sick, injured, or that have been exiled from their prides are the biggest predators of humans. Most deaths take place among the local African tribespeople, and not tourists or safari guides. The most famous true account of man-eating lions is that of the Tsavo River brothers, known as the "Ghost and the Darkness", who together killed over a 150 railroad workers in the late 1800s.

Their bodies were recreated by a taxidermist, and are on display at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.

They contribute to an annual average of 25 human deaths.

With nicknames such as "Black Death" and "The Widow Maker" it is no wonder that the African Cape Buffalo makes this list. They are herd animals that are ultra territorial, and protective of their fellow herd members. They will often doubleback on those who attempt to track them, and stealthily charge from the rear of that tracker.

As with many other savanna animals on this list, a decent number of encounters, that end in death, go unreported. They contribute to an annual average of 15 human deaths.