It’s not a matter of “if looks could kill” because if they could, their cuteness would be the only thing you need to be careful of. Whether they surprise you with sudden rage, attack in self-defense, or give you a toxin, here are 10 of the most vicious animals that look cute.
#10. Mute Swan
Swans are related to geese and ducks and are considered to be the most beautiful and elegant out of the three waterfowl species. They definitely appear to be calm creatures. The Mute Swan, however, is quiet but fierce and males are extremely territorial during the breeding season. It’s considered to be one of the most dangerous birds in the world. If you think male geese are bad enough, you don’t want to know what it’s like for male mute swans to beat them. They are surprisingly dangerous even in comparison to other swan species because they are less vocal, so you can forget about relying on a warning cry as it targets your eyes or otherwise bites you.
#9. Koala
Koalas are a native of eastern Australia and share some traits with wombat, who are their closes relative. They eat the leaves of eucalyptus tree which is known to contain toxic materials that are very harmful when consumed in high doses. However, Koalas have specially designed digestive system that separates and expels the toxins from their body. They have been termed as endangered species in February 2022 and have been granted added protection from poaching and loss of habitat. Its true that Koalas easily win over adults’ and children’s’ hearts with one look. They’re not even bears, either, but are marsupials. Don’t be fooled, though, because these animals are quiet but fierce, with an intense bite. That’s something you’ll want to think about when deciding whether to visit koalas, now that you know they’re secretly terrifying. Stay away from their jaws and make sure they are experienced with humans.
#8. Platypus
The Platypus looks like a strange animal hybrid with the beak of a duck, the legs of an otter, and the tail of a beaver. Even so, it’s pretty adorable-looking. What you would find out when you’re up close and personal with it is that the males have venomous spurs on the elbows or knees of their hind feet, which they use to sting with. For a mammal, it’s very rare to have venom, which is something reserved for spiders, reptiles, and amphibians. The males have more venom than usual during the mating season. While not deadly to humans, it can kill dogs and other small animals, and for humans, the sting has lingering effects such as increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia) and muscular atrophy.
#7. Hooded Pitohui
The Hooded Pitohui is one of three pitohui species, and is a small passerine bird with a powerful beak, dark red eyes, and black and red (or black and orange) feathers, making it look colorful and cute. All pitohuis are deadly, though, because they have a toxin in their skin and feathers called batrachotoxin, a neurotoxic alkaloid, which they get from the mylerid beetles they eat. It is the same toxin as that of the poison dart frog in South America and one of the most toxic natural substances discovered by science, making the pitohui one of the deadliest birds on earth. The Hooded Pitohui is the deadliest of the three species, and while its toxin normally has a burning, tingling, painful sensation on humans that touch the bird, high enough doses can cause paralysis, cardiac arrest, and death. Don’t think about catching and eating just any bird when you’re out in the wild.
#6. Red Fox
Foxes have been included in the “worlds 100 worst invasive species” list, as they spread as far and fast as humans. They look adorable enough to make them a popular subject of wildlife photography. However, they are one of the most cunning animals on the planet. They are good at hiding while living close to the humans. They are also dominant to all other fox species except the arctic fox which live too far north. The Red Fox is the largest species of the true foxes, and while foxes are typically shy of humans, they are surprisingly dangerous. It is known to be a top carrier of rabies, but what’s secretly terrifying is that those living near urban areas have been known to not only attack humans but carry off babies and small pets.
#5. Dingo
If you think the ability of some medium and large-sized domestic dogs to seriously injure humans with their bite was bad, the Dingo is just as bad in terms of wild dogs. This wild canid species is the only native canine of Australia and doesn’t even look frightening like other wild and even some domestic dogs do. However, it’s surprisingly dangerous and will kill you, especially when hunting, which it does in packs.
#4. Kangaroo
The Red Kangaroo is the national animal of Australia, and many people are familiar with the animal. It’s undeniably cute. But with its large size, powerful hind legs, and sharp claws, the kangaroo is surprisingly dangerous and will kill you with a fatal kick if provoked. It is aggressive while searching for food or if it’s a male during the mating season; otherwise, it typically runs away from humans.
#3. Leopard Seal
Who doesn’t think seals are cute? There’s no denying that the Leopard Seal is a species with a charm of its own, but it has something else – a thirst for blood! While its main diet consists of penguins, it has been known to actively stalk and hunt humans in the water. It’s large, powerful, and will kill you, hence the “leopard” in its common name. For this reason, it’s always dangerous to study it. While typically curious towards humans, when provoked to aggression it can drag a human underwater, such as the famous case of a marine biologist that drowned. It’s also indirectly dangerous as it is known to attack the black pontoons of inflatable boats.
#2. Dolphin
The dolphin has something of a mixed reputation. Humans love studying and interacting with the intelligent, beautiful creature in captivity, and there are many stories of dolphins helping people, but they’re also surprisingly dangerous, especially in the wild. It is this fact that makes it one of the top vicious animals that look cute. What’s secretly terrifying to know is that a dolphin can and does bite humans with its sharp teeth on occasion, and will kill you if it pulls you underwater or plows into you with its powerful snout. If you make it angry, you won’t be able to escape – it can swim up to 22.4 mph, is 10-14 feet long, weighs 1,100lbs, can dive as deep as 820ft underwater, and can jump up to 16ft into the air.
#1. Slow Loris
The Slow Loris is a species of primate that looks downright cuddly. You would be right to assume that it’s usually a very calm creature. But believe it or not, it’s a venomous primate, and the only one in existence, which is why it’s the top of vicious animals that look cute. It’s also one of the most venomous animals around. You also wouldn’t believe where their venom is – it’s in their elbows. Their venom mixed with saliva produces a deadly cocktail that will kill you through anaphylactic shock. You’ll want to stay a safe distance away while looking at this one, as this is one of the most vicious animals. Humans and other animals look for visual cues to let them know when other animals are dangerous. But that rule does not apply in all cases, and there are actually several vicious animals that look cute, whether they are quiet but fierce, or surprisingly dangerous and even deadly with weaponized body parts combined with a large size and weight or venom. In their case, predators and the curious have to find out the hard way through provocation. They prove that all animals are potentially dangerous and that some are secretly terrifying. Summary
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