Top Ten Wild Predators - TheTopTens® Top Ten Wild Predators funckygarcon They can attack from anywhere, on the ground, in the air and even under the water, let's see who is the best hunter and the most feared one? The Top Ten 1 Killer Whale The killer whale or orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. As the name suggests, the killer whale is a deadly predator, combining remarkable skill with awesome physical power. Orcas have a number of ingenious techniques in their hunting arsenal, giving them one of the most diverse diets of all aquatic predators. For example, they are fond of knocking seals and penguins from ice floes in order to seize them as they fall into the water. They have also been known to intentionally beach themselves in order to reach seals onshore. Highly social animals, killer whales tend to live in pods made up of dozens of individuals working cooperatively to snag prey. Some have even been known to successfully prey on great white sharks. - funckygarcon Currently the ultimate predator of the oceans, which is saying it is the terror of 70% of the world's oceans.

With size (being able to reach almost 9 metres long), speed (able to swim faster than any other whale/dolphin in short bursts), teamwork (almost always hunting in a pack, no matter the prey item) and ingenuity (able to pick baby seals off the beach/ice floes and beating great whites due to their knowledge of tonic immobility, which means flipping the shark upside down, rendering it immobile) on their side, the orca is able to take on almost anything within its range. Definitely the no. 1 predator living today The apex predator of the world (besides us) Honestly, the killer whale is so impressive, it has been known to hunt the Blue Whale. No I don't know about you, but preying on the biggest animal that ever lived is remarkable. Put it like this, that would be like the great white shark preying upon the Sperm Whale etc Nothing preys on the orca and it is the perfect killing machine with strength, speed and intelligence. Killer whales have also been known to kill great whites so I don't know how people think they're the apex predator of the world. In my opinion, bull sharks are more impressive than the great white.

Killer whales lose to Polar bears because polar bears have been known to eat killer whales. V 46 Comments 2 Siberian Tiger The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, is a tiger subspecies inhabiting mainly the Sikhote Alin mountain region with a small population in southwest Primorye Province in the Russian Far East. Agile, strong, clever and fast, this animal has everything, no animal on Earth can top it, it's hard to compare am orca to a Siberian tiger as they are completely different but I would say tigers have a lot more attributes than orcas, with their incredible eye sight, power and the ability to evade and even climb trees. They are solitary hunters as they need no help when taking down their prey unlike orcas who hunt I'm groups. Also it is known that before humans had guns, they were at the top of the worlds food chain! Definitely number 1. When you see a Siberian tiger, you can just see how much strength that animals holds. The power and musculature of their upper body is breathtaking.

Not only that, they are filmed to carry immense weight with only their jaw, unlike mammals like bears & wolverines, where people claim they can lift a record breaking amount with no evidence whatsoever. Also, if you have handled a cat, you will realise how strong they are, so imagine how powerful a even bigger cat would be. Golly! It has been shown over and OVER that tigers reign supreme as the real king of the jungle. They are bigger, stronger, more ferocious, etc. The tiger is undeniably one of, if not the greatest land predators on the planet. I've seen a Bengal tigress hold off two lions. I mean sure, different fights have different results, and there's probably evidence that lions can kill tigers, but overall, the tiger will win more than the lion. Even Bengal tigers can take down crocodiles, while Siberian tigers have taken down male Kodiak bears, which are far bigger and stronger than the tiger. (basically larger grizzly bears) No offense, but some of you need to get your facts straight before you vote. P.S.

I an well aware that lions are incredibly impressive predators, but male lions really only have to fight other lions for possession of their pride. After that, it's basically naps and meals. Lions will end up killing the tiger at any single time even though Siberian tigers are cutter V 43 Comments 3 African Lion This animal is known as the "king of the jungle, " and for good reason. Lions hunt some of the largest prey on Earth, including buffalo and wildebeest. Part of their terrific success as predators comes from the fact that they cooperate in their kills. Lions live in social groups called prides, and all members work together in the hunt. Young lions learn their place in the pride early in life by play-fighting, which teaches them the skills they'll need for the hunt and determines what role they are most suited to perform. Lions' hunting success rate is only about one in five, but those odds are impressive when you consider that their prey species are massive creatures with plenty of fighting power of their own. - funckygarcon Lions are not known as the "King of the Jungle", nor the "King of the Savannah", for that matter. The proper terminology is "King of Beasts".

It is the impressive mane the males have that gave them this title, like a crown. In Africa they reign supreme. However, in the feline family they take the back seat to the larger, faster, stronger, and more agile Siberian Tiger. Anyone that claims otherwise is biased, or misinformed. Lions are awesome the lion should be number 1 the lion would win the fight against the tiger due to lack of experience and the tiger does all the neck bites and it won't be able to get a killing hold and for number the orca shouldn't even be on it it lives in the sea so that's why I think the lion should be at number 1 They are King of the jungle and on land plus killer whales don't live on land V 23 Comments 4 Great White Shark The great white shark, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a species of large lamniform shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. Any animal that has the misfortune of being preyed upon by the great white shark stands very little chance of surviving the attack. This animal is No. 1 on our countdown for its remarkable predatory abilities.

With its streamlined body and strong jaws, the great white is a powerful animal: a fast swimmer and an agile aquatic acrobat able to leap high out of the water to surprise its prey. The great white shark also has multiple rows of sharp serrated teeth, each being replaced as soon as one is lost. In fact, a single shark can go through more than 50, 000 teeth in its lifetime. Great whites typically begin their attacks with a single punishing bite. The shark then waits for its victim to be weakened by the wound before it returns to eat - a technique that allows the predator to feed in relative safety. - funckygarcon Great white sharks are harmless to humans, in most attacks no flesh is removed its caused of blood loss. And I think it the movies as well, like jaws that was made in the 1970's. It was made just to scare people! It was a fake shark, and they had made the fins the wrong size and if the shark were real it would sink. Stop killing them now or they will be gone.! #save them! I love Great Whites, I have since I was just a kid. There's just something about those jaws that really make you feel insignificant.

However, it is still just a fish, a magnificent fish, but just a fish, with a fish brain. No way it's a superior predator to the Orca. They just lack the intelligence that the mammal has. There's no contest. I think it should be the number 1 predator V 21 Comments 5 Gray Wolf Grey wolves are not only among the smartest animals on earth, smarter than any animal on this list exempt possibly the killer whale, they also are among the top distance runners in the animal kingdom capable of continuing a chase for hours longer than any of these other animals. The wolf therefore is not only a highly social, it runs in packs up to 30 strong, and highly intelligent animal it will virtually never stop chasing you Guys, a shark at no1? PLEASE, a grey wolf is easily smarter, has impressive stamina, hunts in packs, its perfect It's very clear why wolves should be up on the list: They're smart, successful, strategists with a good enough bite to get the job done and fast enough paws to keep them going. It's the most cunning animal on here, speed, ferociousness and most importantly brains. The killer whale better watch out.

V 17 Comments 6 Polar Bear The polar bear is a carnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. Polar bears used to be brown bears whom wondered the north for food, then they adapted to the freezing environment and grew white fur, learned how to swim and most importantly created a new species of bear! # I love them Polar bears can bring down "number one" on this list, the Killer Whale! Just because an animal is feared through stories doesn't mean it is dangerous Polar bears by far are the most powerful land predators on earth. They kill seals and walruses and can pull a 1 ton beluga whale out of the icy ocean. No other land carnivore can match the power of a polar bear. Kodiak Bears number 2 and grizzly bears number 3 and Siberian tigers number 4 They are the only animals that like to hunt humans V 10 Comments 7 Saltwater Crocodile Has the strongest bite on earth (almost as the T-Rex's), his preys can be great whites-like or any other thing in the australian sea, that's why it's the ultimate carnivore.

At contrary than the other crocs, this one never gets tired, and if this it's not enough, it's the most intelligent reptile, 7 times more than the Great White. A combination of size (possibly more than 6 metres), power (unrivalled by any modern-day predator in terms of bite force), armour (normal guns can't do major harm through that thick skin) and aggression (highly territorial, saltwater crocs would attack anything if they come too close) means that almost nothing alive today can challenge a big male saltwater croc. Should be no. 2 behind the orca/killer whale You can't improve perfection and that's why this beast has been almost unchanged (the size of crocs has changed) for millions of years. They can take down anything they want and have stealth and power better then anything else on this list. Should be #1 They have an armor, strong bite and sharp teeth. What could be better for a predator 8 Bengal Tiger Its should be here. It is the biggest and ferocious cat of all. They are the fastest biggest land beast. They also can and like to swim! Lions hunt together prides so no way they should be ahead.

The Grizzly is a close second land wise. Bengal tigers are wonderful animals we should learn to love them too, stop the fur hunting and pretend you're the species being wiped out. How would you feel! #tigers rule Biggest tiger V 8 Comments 9 Eagle Eagle is a common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae; it belongs to several groups of genera that are not necessarily closely related to each other. Eagles are also one of America's national symbols. Eagles are the best birds. There strong, fast and agile. It's no wonder the US chose a bald EAGLE to symbolize there country. Top of food chain. Who hunts eagles? The Golden eagle is the best eagle.They are at the top of the food chain and Golden eagles also hunt wolves! Golden eagles are also very large eagles and they have a grip about 430 pounds per square inch! Even though it is not the most powerful eagle it yet hunts the largest prey of any bird!

They are also the 2nd fastest animals in the world losing only to the Peregrine falcon.But Golden eagles are apex predators and peregrine falcons are not apex predators.Also Golden eagles eat Peregrine falcons. V 7 Comments 10 Black Mamba The most fearsome animal in all Africa may well be the black mamba, the giant venomous snake found throughout the southeastern portion of the continent. It gets its name from the black skin on the inside of its mouth, which it displays just before it strikes. These animals are usually quite shy, but can be extremely aggressive when confronted. When they do attack, they tend to strike their victims repeatedly, releasing a lethal mix of neurotoxin and cardiotoxin. In the past, a bite from a black mamba was 100 percent fatal. Now, that figure is decreasing due to the increased use of anti-venom throughout the continent. - funckygarcon My comparison his BLACK MAMBA, wild predator of in principal woman film Kill Bill. BLACK MAMBA, his poison snake I comparison to principal woman in Kill Bill 1 and 2. Yellow costum danger woman. Name actress is Uma Thurman.

Yellow woman and magic zord is attacker offer world Yakuza. They are good for catching mice 2 They slither and are upon you without you even knowing The Contenders 11 Grizzly Bear The grizzly bear less commonly called the silvertip bear, is any North American morphological form or subspecies of brown bear. The grizzly bear, also known as the brown bear, is probably the most feared animal in North America. This powerful predatory animal can stand 7 feet tall and weigh more than 800 pounds. Its strong limbs and huge paws can kill a man in a single swipe, and its powerful crushing jaws allow it to feed on a variety of foods, including large mammals. Grizzlies are also strong swimmers and fast runners. Coming face to face with this animal in the wild can be a harrowing experience, but the best response is to stand tall and resist the urge to run. These animals have been clocked at more than 40 miles per hour, and running away from them can trigger their chase response. - funckygarcon Have you ever seen the size of a Kodiak's paw? It's twice the size of your head and has really long powerful claws.

Except for maybe a polar bear no other land predator could touch it (well, maybe a giant crocodile could, but grizzlies have pretty impressive stamina). These monoliths are able to shrug off bullets very easily unless it's a high-caliber straight shot to the heart or head. A Lion or Tiger would be destroyed in seconds since their hunting tactics revolve around tackling, and the Kodiak is just too big for that. Definitely the baddest land predator. I found on a website that the Grizzly bear Will eat and kill anything in its path other than humans Have you hared of strong as a bear? V 4 Comments 12 Cheetah The cheetah, also known as the hunting leopard, is a big cat that occurs mainly in eastern and southern Africa and a few parts of Iran. The cheetah is the fastest land animal, able to run up to 75 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds The fastest land predator, can run as fast as 109.4 to 120.7 km/h (68.0 to 75.0 mph), faster than any other land animal.

It covers distances up to 500 m (1,640 ft) in short bursts, and can accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in three seconds. Cheetah is not only fast, they also have a strong bite V 6 Comments 13 Nile Crocodile The strongest reptile in the world. It can kill anything including lions and hyenas. The strongest bite force in the world. 14 Bald Eagle 15 Bear Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. 16 Falcon V 1 Comment 17 Hyena Hyenas or hyaenas are any feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Hyaenidae /haɪˈɛnᵻdiː/. With only four extant species, it is the fifth-smallest biological family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia. Hyena's have one of the most powerful jaws in the world. Their bite is significantly tougher than a lions plus hyenas are pack hunters giving them an extra edge.

Hyenas are actually second only to lions for top land predators Hyena lose to leopard on one to one basis V 1 Comment 18 Tiger The tiger is the largest cat species, most recognisable for their pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with a lighter underside. V 2 Comments 19 Komodo Dragon The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar. The largest of all lizards, the Komodo dragon is a mighty reptile that weighs up to 300 pounds and can reach a length of more than 10 feet. This animal takes our No. 6 spot for having multiple predatory advantages: speed, strength and the tenacity to bring down prey species twice its size. They also have a toxic bite; any victim that survives a Komodo dragon attack is likely to succumb to their wounds soon after. Komodos mainly hunt by ambushing their prey, but they are also fast runners and good swimmers.

What's more, their incredible predatory skills are matched by an equally impressive ability to consume meat, up to half their own body weight in a single meal. - funckygarcon Have the coolest adaption of having so much bacteria in there mouth that after they bite something once they can just sit back and wait for an easy meal to collapse in front of them. Should be in the top 10 at least One reason is because they're HUGE! Another reason is just because of their bite, A. Their saliva is toxic, B. Their mouths are full of bacteria which can cause an infection for its victims.C. their teeth alone would hurt. They're also pretty agile. They prey on humans they are unstoppable V 2 Comments 20 Lion The lion is one of the big cats in the genus Panthera and a member of the family Felidae. The commonly used term African lion collectively denotes the several subspecies in Africa. Lion has the heart of a warrior. He is the king of all the animals It can kill an anaconda in seconds.

It much bigger PSearch List 12 Unassuming Predators of the Animal Kingdom - WebEcoist 12 Unassuming Predators of the Animal Kingdom by Steph Not all deadly creatures of the animal kingdom advertise the fact that they can do some serious damage. Some are cute and furry, resembling household pets, while others appear deceptively slow and calm or just blend into their surroundings altogether. Whether it’s a predatory instinct or a defense mechanism, these unassuming creatures will lull you into a false sense of security before jumping at you with mouths full of razor-sharp teeth, or injecting you with venom that’ll leave you paralyzed in incomprehensible agony, unable to move. Keep your distance and give them some respect, or pay the consequences. Stone Fish (image via: Wikimedia Commons) As you can see, the stone fish is easy to miss – no one could really blame you if you accidentally touched one and began screaming in total agony. The stone fish is the most venomous fish known, with a row of thirteen spines along its back which project from venom glands. The stone fish doesn’t mean to hurt anyone; it’s only dangerous when stepped on or caught and the venom is involuntarily expelled when pressure is put on the spines.

The sting causes excruciating pain, dramatic swelling and death of the affected tissue as well as weakness, temporary paralysis and shock. Depending on the depth of penetration and number of spines involved, death can result if the injury is untreated. Honey Badger (image via: Trek Nature) The honey badger is known as the most fearless animal on earth, braving the deadliest of animals without a moment’s hesitation and almost always winning in battles to the death. They’ve got incredibly powerful jaws and knifelike claws, making up for what they lack in size with their awesome ferocity. The honey badger goes straight for the scrotum when attacking large male animals. They are commonly seen attacking and eating cobras, and though the toxins might knock them out for a few minutes, they get right back up and resume their meal. Amazingly enough, these little creatures gets their favorite snack – honey – by literally stupefying bees with the scent they release from their anal glands as they swirls their tails, sometimes doing handstands to spread the suffocating odor. Arctic Fox (image via: Guy Edwardes Photography) The Arctic Fox might just be one of the cutest, most cuddly-looking creatures on the planet.

It almost looks like it should be peeking out from a Swarovski crystal-studded designer dog purse carried by some Hollywood starlet. But, don’t be fooled: this little tundra-dweller chows down on baby seals and also dines on voles, hares and ground squirrels. It puts its ear to the ground and listens for the movement of these small animals underneath, jumping up and down to break through the snow with its front paws when it locates its prey. When times get tough, the Arctic Fox becomes a scavenger, following polar bears to eat the scraps left over from their kills. Komodo Dragon (image via: Wikimedia Commons) The Komodo dragon is the world’s heaviest living lizard, and can grow up to 10 feet. It may look like it would be slow and lumbering, but it’s actually agile and fast-moving. Its teeth resemble those of flesh-eating sharks and its mouth is full of virulent bacteria which, if its prey survives an attack, will cause it to die later from infection anyway. The Komodo dragon is cannibalistic, eating its own kind when particularly hungry.

They’ve been known to kill and eat humans, attacking a group of British divers this summer and killing an 8-year-old boy in 2007. According to the Honolulu Zoo , an eyewitness account revealed that a 101lb Komodo dragon ate a 90lb pig in 20 minutes, the equivalent to a 100lb person consuming 320 quarter pound hamburgers in the same amount of time. River Otter (image via: Wild WNC) River otters are playful, inquisitive, social and undeniably cute. They primarily prey on fish, though they occasionally eat animals as large as muskrats. And though they don’t exactly have a taste for humans, they have on occasion mauled unsuspecting people swimming in lakes and rivers, and have even been known to jump into boats in unprovoked attacks. In one almost comical instance , an aggressive river otter hurled itself into a boat full of college wrestlers as they frantically tried to fight it off with their paddles. A rabid otter attacked a pregnant woman in 2006, clamping onto her thigh as she emerged from the water.

Her sister had to beat it on the head with her fist to get it to let go. Mongoose (image via: National Geographic) At first glance, mongooses resemble ferrets, those cute little animals many people keep as pets. But, when a mongoose rears up on its hind legs and opens its mouth, you become aware pretty quickly that it’s not about to curl up docilely on your lap. These sleek little mammals are pretty indiscriminate predators, eating everything from insects and rodents to birds and reptiles. In fact, some species of mongoose have been known to take on cobras – and win. Indian snake charmers often pit these two creatures against each other in shows for tourists. Platypus (image via: National Geographic) The platypus looks like some tragic mistake of nature, with its stocky furry body, oversized webbed feat, beaver-like tail and of course its trademark bill. This egg-laying mammal may look awkward, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you. The male duck-billed platypus is actually venomous, releasing a defensive substance from spurs on its ankles which, though it may not kill humans, causes a pain so excruciating it can leave you incapacitated.

Orca (image via: Wikimedia Commons) A visit to Sea World isn’t complete without witnessing the cute and playful antics of Shamu, but these cetaceans are known as killer whales for a reason. This largest of porpoises is a vicious predator, attacking and feasting on seals, sea lions, whales and even sharks – including Great Whites. They hunt in deadly pods of up to 40 individuals, and though attacks on humans are very rare, they do happen on occasion. Captive orcas seem to be more likely to attack humans than wild ones, with experts asserting that it’s extremely dangerous to assume that these wild animals can be tamed. Dingo (image via: Wikimedia Commons) Dingos look similar enough to domesticated dogs that people who don’t know better are often tempted to approach them, but that’s a bad idea to say the least. Dingos are feral, and opportunistic hunters, sometimes taking down kangaroos. They can be aggressive toward people and have been known to attack. Most people know about the fabled tale of a dingo who supposedly attacked and ate an Australian woman’s baby, spawning pop culture references on television shows like Seinfeld.

Chimpanzee (image via: National Geographic) The common chimpanzee is often seen as having many characteristics that are similar to those of humans, and violence is no exception. They have over five times the upper body strength of a typical human male and will attack and kill humans when they feel threatened. Two chimpanzees mauled a visitor to a California sanctuary in 2005, chewing off his nose and severely injuring his genitals and limbs. A group of chimpanzees killed a worker at a wildlife sanctuary in Africa in 2006. Short-tailed Shrew (image via: Wikimedia Commons) The short-tailed shrew looks like a strange cross between a mole and a mouse, with its conical body, long pointed nose, tiny beady eyes and naked tail. But this animal is no herbivore. Don’t be surprised if you come across a little shrew with an equal-sized mouse in its mouth. In order to sustain their high metabolism, short-tailed shrews must eat several times their own weight each day. Since they don’t have big, powerful jaws, you might be wondering how this little animal could eat another animal its own size.

The answer is venemous saliva, injected into the wounds of its prey through its teeth. Box Jellyfish (image via: National Geographic) These diaphanous creatures have a dreamy, otherworldly quality as they float in the water, tentacles streaming out behind them. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, though – box jellyfish are among the most venomous creatures in the world and their stings are excruciatingly painful and often fatal. Rather than drifting, the box jellyfish actively hunts its prey. Each tentacle has about 5,000 stinging cells which deliver a toxin that attacks the heart, nervous system and skin cells. Victims who do survive experience considerable pain for weeks and often have significant scarring where the tentacles made contact with their bodies. Top 10 Largest Land Carnivores Top 10 Largest Land Carnivores Updated on October 2, 2012 A Top 10 list of the Largest Living Land Carnivores In order to determine which land carnivores are the largest we must first understand what a carnivore is and what we mean by 'largest'.

Does the largest mean the most massive, the longest, the tallest or a combination of all of these? If it is a combination, how do we decide which deserves a greater weighting? Does an animal that is more massive mean it is larger than an animal that is longer than it, but has less mass? These are questions that have never been definitively answered and perhaps never will, so the only way to decide upon such a thing is to vote, with whatever the majorities decision being the accepted interpretation. So I have cultivated this list of land carnivores and have given their average masses and dimensions leaving the decision up to you. Once enough people have partaken in the voting, I will re order the list to match. Hopefully we will be able to end a much argued debate on what is the largest land carnivore as even amongst scientists the number one spot is still disputed. What is a Carnivore? There are two types of Carnivore, obligate carnivores and facultative carnivores. Obligate Carnivores are one's which rely solely on meat for nutrients and energy requirements. Facultative carnivores are one's which can eat plants as well as meat, but still rely mostly on meat.

Polar Bear Length: 8 - 10 ft Shoulder Height: 4.25 - 5.25 ft As many of you no doubt know, the Polar Bear is native to the Arctic Circle. Although a close descendant of the brown bear it has evolved to become perfectly suited to life around ice, snow and very cold water. The majority of its food comes from seals and the occasional fish, with no vegetation at all. Clearly this is a carnivore, however, it spends the majority of its life at sea, hunting, so can it really be given the title of a land carnivore? Kodiak Bear Length: 8 - 10 ft Shoulder Height: 4 - 5 ft The Kodiak Bear is native to the archipelago, Kodiak, off the South Coast of Alaska. A sub-species of brown bear, the Kodiak Bear is able to reach a fantastic size thanks to it having a rather unique niche in the food market, similar to the Polar Bear. Living on a small island in the Pacific Ocean it is able to feed on fresh water salmon and whale carcasses that have washed up on shore.

It also feeds a great deal on vegetation when meat sources are dry, making it a controversial addition to this list. Is it a carnviore or an omnivore, scientists constantly give it both titles as there is no definitive line between the two. You Decide Here you can join the ongoing debate on which bear is larger, the Polar Bear, or Kodiak Bear. Please note, we are not debating here whether or not these should be classed as land carnivores, although you are welcome to add that to your comment, just please answer which you think deserves the number 1 spot in the largest bear contest. Thanks! Some additional facts, the heaviest polar bear ever discovered weighed in at 2210 lbs, whilst the largest Kodiak Bear weighed in at 2500 lbs! Which is Larger? Polar Bear blue22d 4 years ago Length: 9 - 11 ft Shoulder Height: 3 - 4 ft The Tiger, the largest species of cat and an unfortunate member of the endangered animals list. The Tiger rarely needs an introduction, nevertheless, it deserves one.

Fascinating humans for a millenia the Tiger's most noticeable features are its black stripes that run transversely along the length of its body. That, along with it's beautiful tawny orange fur has made it a prized possession amongst poachers. Thanks to the combination of its beauty and man's love for destruction it has brought this creature to the bridge of extinction. There are 6 subspecies of Tiger: - Bengal Tiger: The most common kind of Tiger with around 2500 individuals - Indochinese Tiger: Around 1500 individuals. - Malayan Tiger: Around 700 individuals. - Sumatran Tiger: Around 400 individual, this is the smallest subspecies of Tiger, and one of two Tiger subspecies on the critically endangered list. - Siberian Tiger: The largest subspecies of Tiger, with around 500 individuals. - South China Tiger: The most critically endangered Tiger and in the top 10 most endangered animals on the planet. No wild South China Tiger has been seen since 1983 with the possibility that they may already be extinct in the wild, only 58 captive South China Tigers remain.

Lion Weight: 250 - 500 lbs Length: 15 - 25 ft Native to South America, this giant is a non-venomous snake and the heaviest of all known snake species. It captures its prey using a combination of stealth and speed, and kills by constriction (suffocating the animal to death) and then swallows the animal whole. It has been known to feed on a range of different species, including fish, birds and even large mammals such as deer. Myth and Legend have followed this creature for much of its life, with accounts of tree-trunk sized snakes of up to a metre in diameter, and over 40 feet in length, although the largest ever found was a 25 ft specimen. Nevertheless, the habitat in which these snakes are caught are mostly populated regions of South America where only smaller prey is readily available. The dense rainforest where the snake is native, is however, far richer in larger prey indicating that much larger specimens of Anaconda are indeed likely.

Reticulated Python Weight: 150 - 300 lbs Length: 15 - 30 ft Noted as the longest snake in the world, the reticulated python is native to Southeast Asia. Similar to the Anaconda, it kills its prey by constriction, and then swallowing. The main sources of food are birds and small mammals although near human populations they have been known to kill chickens, dogs and cats, as well as other livestock such as pigs. Like the Anaconda, they are also excellent swimmers, allowing them to migrate across great lengths of water to nearby islands. Jaguar Length: 7 - 8.5 ft, including its tail Shoulder Height: 2.5 - 3.5 ft Although domestic dogs can grow larger and heavier than the Gray Wolf, I decided to just include the wild species of the Canidae family. Found in many parts of the world the Gray Wolf is a pack hunter consisting usually of a dominant mating pair, their offspring and occasionally some adopted immature wolves. They are known for their spectacular night vision and incredibly strong bite, outmatched only by that of the Hyena.

Too Difficult for one person to decide Honestly, out of all the animals in this list, the largest animal that I could feel completely confident in saying is both a carnivore and a land animal, is the Tiger. The Polar and Kodiak bears whilst both definitely land animals in terms of physique, hunt for the majority of their meat in water. The Kodiak Bear also has a diet consisting of a lot of vegetation. The Elephant Seal is definitely the largest carnivore that can go on land but you still have to remember that it's seal, and this debate is about the largest land carnivore, so one could argue that it's not a carnivore on land at all, as it never hunts on land. The same argument can be used for the Walrus, Leatherback Sea Turtle and the Saltwater Crocodile. The other bears in this list, whilst part of the order Carnivora, and with teeth and stomach's suited to meat eating, have a diet consisting mostly of plants. So I am leaving it up to you. Do you think the Elephant Seal classifies as a land carnivore? If so, it deserves your vote.

Do you think all the bears belong in this list, or does their carnivorous characteristics have nothing to do with whether they are a carnivore or not? Is it simply based on what they eat? As you can see, I cannot answer this, if I had I would have opened up a debate unintentionally. So instead, I decided to open a debate intentionally. Below you can vote on which animals you think deserve the number 1-10 spots, and which animals you think should not be in this list at all. Other Bears 15 of the Largest Animals in the World «TwistedSifter The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. At 30 metres (98 ft) in length and 180 metric tons (200 short tons) or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed. The Blue Whale’s tongue weighs around 2.7 metric tons (5,952 pounds), about the size of an average Asian Elephant and its heart weighs about 600 kg (1,300 lb) and is the largest known in any animal.

Not only is the heart similar size to a mini-cooper car but also comparable in weight. The Blue Whale is thought to feed almost exclusively on small, shrimp-like creatures called Krill. During the summer feeding season the Blue Whale gorges itself, consuming an astounding 3.6 metric tons (7,900 pounds) or more each day. This means it may eat up to 40 million krill a day with a daily calorie requirement of an adult Blue Whale in the region of 1.5 million. [ Source ] The Heaviest Land Animal in the World: The African Bush Elephant The African Bush Elephant is the largest living terrestrial (land) animal, with males reaching 6 to 7.5 metres (19.7 to 24.6 ft) in length, 3.3 metres (10.8 ft) in height at the shoulder, and weighing 6 t (13,000 lb).

Females are much smaller, reaching 5.4 to 6.9 metres (17.7 to 22.6 ft) in length, 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) in height at the shoulder, and weighing 3 t (6,600 lb). The adult African bush elephant generally has no natural predators due to its great size, but the calves (especially the newborn) are vulnerable to lion and crocodile attacks, and (rarely) to leopard and hyena attacks. [ Source ] The Tallest Land Animal in the World: The Giraffe Photograph by Luca Galuzzi – The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal and the tallest living terrestrial animal in the world. It stands 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) for males and 830 kg (1,800 lb) for females. The giraffe has an extremely elongated neck, which can be over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in length, accounting for nearly half of the animal’s vertical height.

The long neck results from a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, not from the addition of more vertebrae. [ Source ] The Largest Carnivora in the World: The Southern Elephant Seal Photograph by DAVID SHACKELFORD The Southern elephant seal is the largest carnivore living today. This seals’ size shows extreme sexual dimorphism, possibly the largest of any mammal, with the males typically five to six times heavier than the females. While the females average 400 to 900 kilograms (880 to 2,000 lb) and 2.6 to 3 meters (8.5 to 9.8 ft) long, the bulls average 2,200 to 4,000 kilograms (4,900 to 8,800 lb) and 4.5 to 5.8 meters (15 to 19 ft) long.

The record-sized bull, shot in Possession Bay, South Georgia on February 28, 1913, measured 6.85 meters (22.5 ft) long and was estimated to weigh 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb). Southern elephant seals dive repeatedly, each time for more than twenty minutes, to hunt their prey—squid and fish— at depths of 400 to 1,000 meters (1,300 to 3,300 ft). The documented diving records for the seals are nearly two hours for the duration, and more than 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) in depth. [ Source ] The diverse order Carnivora includes over 280 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word “carnivore” (often popularly applied to members of this group) can refer to any meat-eating organism.

Carnivorans are the most diverse in size of any mammalian order, ranging from the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), at as little as 25 grams (0.88 oz) and 11 centimetres (4.3 in), to the polar bear and southern elephant seal. [ Source ] The Largest Reptile in the World: The Saltwater Crocodile The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), is the largest of all living reptiles. It is found in suitable habitats from Northern Australia through Southeast Asia to the eastern coast of India. An adult male saltwater crocodile’s weight is 409 to 1,000 kilograms (900–2,200 lb) and length is normally 4.1 to 5.5 metres (13–18 ft). However, mature males can exceed 6 metres (20 ft) and weigh more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) and this species is the only extant crocodilian to regularly reach or exceed 4.8 metres (16 ft).

The saltwater crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator capable of taking nearly any animal that enters its territory, either in the water or on dry land. [ Source ] The Largest Bats in the World: The Giant golden-crowned flying fox Golden Crowned Flying Fox | Photograph by Latorilla Spectacled Flying Fox | Photograph by Mnolf The largest bat species is the Giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), an endangered fruit bat from the rainforests of the Philippines that is part of the megabat family. The maximum size is believed to approach 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), 55 cm (22 in) long, and the wingspan may be almost 1.8 m (5.9 ft). The Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is smaller in body mass and length, but it has been known to exceed the Golden-crowned species in wingspan. Specimens have been verified to 1.83 m (6.0 ft) and possibly up to 2 m (6.6 ft) in wingspan.

[ Source ] Photograph by Library of Congress Osteichthyes, also called bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony, as opposed to cartilaginous, skeletons. The vast majority of fish are osteichthyes, which is an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of over 29,000 species. It is the largest class of vertebrates in existence today. The largest living bony fish is the widely distributed ocean sunfish (Mola mola). It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. The mature ocean sunfish has an average length of 1.8 m (5.9 ft), a fin-to-fin length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) and an average weight of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), although individuals up to 3.3 m (10.8 ft) in length 4.2 m (14 ft) across the fins and weighing up to 2,300 kg (5,100 lb) have been observed.

[ Source ] The Heaviest Flying Bird in the World: The Dalmatian Pelican Photograph by Doug Janson The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe to India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. This is the largest of the pelicans, averaging 160–180 cm (63-70 inches) in length, 11–15 kg (24-33 lbs) in weight and just over 3 m (10 ft) in wingspan. With a mean weight of 11.5 kg (25 lb), it is the world’s heaviest flying bird species on average, although large male bustards and swans can exceed the pelican in maximum weight. [ Source ] The 10 Most Deadly Apex Predators on Earth | Sportsman Channel The 10 Most Deadly Apex Predators on Earth Tweet by Todd Smith By definition, an Apex predator is any adult animal that has no natural predator within its ecosystem. That includes a long list of razor-clawed carnivores and creepy crawlies. But which critter is really the deadliest of them all?

Here are the 10 that make my short list for the baddest of the bad boys from around the world. Let us know whose tops on your list by taking our exclusive “ Deadliest Poll ” and add your favorite bad guys in the comments section. Polar Bear On the Arctic icecap every creature fears the polar bear and with good reason. These mighty nomads are the largest land carnivores on earth (a position shared with the Kodiak brown bears of southern Alaska) and anything on the ice, and sometimes just below it, is food. Ursus maritimus is a master of stealth dressed in snow camo. Polar bears have been known to stake out blowholes in the ice for hours, waiting for seals to come up for a gulp of air. When unsuspecting seals surface, one swipe of the paw is all it takes to put seal tartar on the menu. Deadly Stats Weight: 750 – 1,200 pounds Size: Over 4 feet at the shoulder. When standing on hind legs, large males can reach more than 10 feet. Weapons: Two-inch claws, brutish strength, may have the best sense of smell in the entire animal kingdom.

Hearing is at least the equal of humans. Attitude: aggressive. Anything on the ice is fair game. Creepy characteristic: They are excellent swimmers—able to reach swimming speeds of just over 6 miles per hour. By contrast, the average human swimmer can only swim about 2 miles per hour. Sharks The ocean is literally swimming with deadly candidates, from poisonous puffer fish and lethal jellyfish, to toxic sea snakes. But it’s the guys in the gray suits that set that little voice in the back of our minds to screaming “uh, oh!” And, while falling overboard at night in the Florida Keys would put you squarely on the dining room table of ultra-aggressive bull shark, it’s the great white that tops my list in the pelagic category. Yes, Carcharodon carcharias has all the requisites for being at the top of the food chain in his environment. He’s fast (GW’s have been clocked at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour), he can turn on a dime and he is seemingly always hungry.

Deadly Stats Weight: 1,500 to 2,400 pounds Size: According to the Canadian Shark Research Center , the world’s largest, accurately measured great white measured 20 feet in length — that’s longer than a lot of flats or bass boats. Weapons: About 300 serrated teeth, skin like #4 sandpaper, deadly sense of smell capable of detecting even tiny amounts of blood in water up to 3 miles away. Attitude: Curious is probably a good way to describe GW’s, but put a few drops of blood in their water and let the Cuisinarting begin. Creepy characteristic: They eat anything. Oddities found in the stomachs of sharks over the years have included a box of nails, shoes, chairs, the back half of a horse, bottles of wine and even a torpedo. Crocodiles The American South is gator city and Alligator mississippiensis certainly deserves our respect, but it’s Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) that are the true bad boys. Accounts vary widely on death tolls per annum, but numbers range from 200 to 2,500 deaths every year.

And those are only the deaths that are reported. No doubt many more head down to the local river to wash clothes or fetch water and simply disappear. Their Australian cousins, Crocodylus porosus, may actually be even worse culprits. Australia’s deadly saltwater crocodiles hold dual titles as the largest living reptiles (up to 2,200 pounds) as well as the largest terrestrial predators on Earth. They are very aggressive and are saltwater cruisers, making them death incarnate on practically every estuary north of Brisbane. Deadly Stats Weight: Up to 1,650 pounds Size: Up to 20 feet in length. Weapons: Tons of teeth, ultra-stealthy, extremely quick at close range. Attitude: Pea-brained but always looking for an easy meal. Creepy characteristic: Can eat up to half its weight at a single feeding.

African Lions What list would be complete without mentioning Panthera leo , the “king of beasts?” And who better to hold the man-eating record than the famous “Man-eaters of Tsavo.” This duo of maneless male lions racked up an incredible tally of some 135 kills while feasting on a virtual smorgasbord of human workers building a bridge across the Tsavo River in Kenya in 1898 for the Kenya-Uganda Railway. Though modern forensic research puts the number closer to 35 victims, that’s still quite a total. Interestingly, though, in the natural world, it is the female lioness that does most of the killing. Deadly Stats Weight: 330 to 500 pounds Size: 4 feet at the shoulder and 5 to 8 feet in length. Weapons: Ultra cunning, keen senses of sight, smell and hearing. Attitude: Lethargic on a full stomach, but when the pride goes out for a midnight snack, watch out. Creepy characteristic: Like the velociraptors in Jurrasic Park, lionesses like to hunt in pairs. Hyenas Lovable dogs? Hardly.

Ask most African locals what animal they fear most, and old laughing boy is usually right near the top. Crocuta crocuta is persistent and, like the coyote , never very far from humans or an easy meal. Hyenas like to prey on the aged and infirm. When elderly tribesmen disappear in the bush, these guys are usually responsible for the ax work. Deadly Stats Weight: 89 to 120 pounds Size: 2 ½ to 3 feet at the shoulder Weapons: Bone-crushing jaws capable of generating 80 kgf/cm2 of force — some 40 percent more than a leopard and more bone-crushing ability that the brown bear. They are also capable of running 40 miles per hour. Attitude: Ultra cunning, keen senses of sight, smell and hearing Creepy characteristic: Though they generally shy away from man, hyenas are not against adding people to the menu. Hyenas have been reported sneaking into camps and biting the faces off sleeping victims. Wolves In their eco-system, few can rival the sheer killing power of these amazing predators .

Renowned for their intelligence and a strict hierarchy within their own societal packs, Canis lupus fears no one (other than armed man). The damage done to western deer and elk herds in recent years is a testament to their killing abilities. Think wolves killing humans is a myth? The chilling stories of Candice Berner, a schoolteacher in Alaska who was out for a jog in March 2010 and Ken Joel Carnegie, who went for a walk outside a geological survey camp in northern Saskatchewan are two of the most recent examples. Neither returned. Coroner’s reports said both fatalities were caused by wolves that mauled the victims to death. Deadly Stats Weight: 110 pounds Size: 2 ½ feet at the shoulder. Weapons: Speed (wolves have been clocked up to 37 miles per hour), cunning. Gang mentality and the tactical smarts of a wilderness general. Attitude: Ultra cunning, keen senses of sight, smell and hearing. Speed and bone-cracking jaws. Creepy characteristic: A wolf can eat 20 percent of its body weight in a single feeding and they have a fondness for internal organs — heart, liver and lungs. Grizzly bears Ursus horriblis.

With a name like that what’s not to be afraid of? While incidences of grizzlies actually killing people are few, stats are up on run-ins by hikers and hunters with Brar bear; few of which end well for those on two legs. Deadly Stats Weight: While adult inland grizzlies generally top out at around 850 pounds, though their Alaskan brown bear cousins easily reach 1,500 pounds owing to their high-protein diet of salmon. Size: 5 to 8 feet. Weapons: Speed (few animals are faster in the 40-yard dash), strength, and knife-like claws that open prey with not-so-surgical precision. Add a keen sense of hearing and smell and you have a very potent adversary here. Attitude: Depends on the day and the encounter. Surprise a bear on a trail and it’s even odds that the bear will either false charge, in hopes you’ll turn tail and run or he’ll just keep coming and turn you into puree. Get between a mother and her cubs and you have problems. Some 70 percent of human fatalities are caused by mother grizzlies defending their cubs.

Creepy characteristic: They like to cover their victims with brush and come back later for the full dining experience. African King Quiz Scorpions The brown recluse spider is nasty ( check out what happens to your skin when you’re bitten by one of these guys , but be warned, parental guidance is advised. But the arachnid that truly gives one reason to pause (and shiver) is the scorpion. They’re wide spread and come in a variety of colors and flavors (1,500 species worldwide). Of all the varieties, however, the red scorpion of India is the most deadly. While it is only the size of a cigarette lighter, Buthus Tamulus packs a powerful bite. Depending on the amount of venom injected, victims can experience nausea, heart problems, and in severe cases, pulmonary edema, which may cause death. Deadly Stats Size: 50-90mm Weapons: Small pinchers and a nasty stinger. Attitude: Though red scorpions don’t go looking for trouble, most bites occur at night when scorpions accidently crawl into beds or fall from ceilings. Creepy characteristic: Fatality rates run between 8 to 40 percent. Primary victims are children.

Black Mamba I could have just as easily chosen the deadly Taipan from Australia here, as they are the most feared land predator Down Under. And the Eastern diamondback, with its neurotoxic venom, has sent numerous victims to a painful exit here in North America. But I have had first-hand experience with the Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), so he tops my list. Years ago, while hunting in Zambia, I had a rather smallish 4-footer visit me in my hut. He literally shot in through a small hole at the base of the shower stall where the water drained outside. He took one look at me, rose up off the ground about half his length and just swayed there for the longest 3 or 4 seconds of my life. Fortunately, he decided I was much larger than the mice he’d come into my hut to chase and flew back out the way he came. Minutes later, with half the camp beating the bushes, he was quickly dispatched, but I still get the shivers every time I think of how close I came to being struck.

Deadly Stats Speed: The black mamba is the fastest snake in Africa and possibly the world and while mythical stories claim the mamba can outrun a horse, its fastest official recorded speed is just under 7 mph. Size: Adults range from 6 ½ to 9 ½ feet, although some sources claim some measurements in excess of 14 feet. Weapons: Deadly venom causing collapse in humans within 45 minutes. Attitude: While the mamba can be extremely aggressive when disturbed, like most snakes, it will attempt to flee unless cornered. Creepy characteristic: The black mamba takes its name, not from the color of its skin, which is gray, but from the interior of its mouth, which is black as night. Given its deadly reputation, it should come as no surprise that the black mamba’s heads is, well, coffin shaped. Hippo Ah, the jolly fat man of the animal kingdom. Hippopotamus amphibius is no man-eater. He is an herbivore. However, get between a hippo and the safety of its waterhole and watch out. And in the water kingdom they call home, they will readily attack small boats.

In Niger’s capitol of Niamey, 13 people, including 12 children, were killed in 2014 when their boat was overturned by a hippo. Deadly Stats Weight: 3,300 pounds Size: Nearly 5 feet at the shoulder and 11 to 17 feet long. Weapons: Massive canine tusks (incisors can reach over a foot in length, while canines can reach up to 1 ½ feet) and the ability to beat feet at an amazing 19 mph when running on dry land. Attitude: Very aggressive. Territorial bulls or mothers protecting their calves are both forces to be reckoned with. Hippos will attack and capsize small boats and often engage in raiding crops on land, stomping those they encounter into raspberry jam. Creepy characteristic: Hippos can stay under water for up to 6 minutes and have a lifespan of 40 to 50 years. Man Yes, we make the list, but just barely.

Any of the animals on this list are fully capable of taking us out in their own habitat, but the statistics would show that man’s inhumanity to man is the biggest killer on earth with humans accounting for some 475,000 deaths worldwide every year. When it comes to efficiency, no one is better able to devise more ways to kill more people than man himself. Deadly Stats Weight: 180 pounds Size: 5 feet, 9 inches Weapons: Highly evolved brains that lead to the invention of weapons of mass destruction from firearms to explosives to atomic bombs. Creepy characteristic: Highly creative, ability to reason and use deadly tools. See what it’s like to come face to face with some of North America’s deadliest animals on Sportsman Channel’s Apex Predator , Thursday’s at 8:00 EP. And be sure to join this week’s LIVE Tweet with @RemiWarren during the show.

Question: In the animal kingdom, what is the world’s largest land predator?
Answer: Polar Bear