Random Horrifying Animals From Thailand (17 items)

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  (#7) King Cobra

  • Ophiophagus hannah

  While a snake slithering on the ground might not scare many people, a snake that stands up is scary to almost everyone. Since king cobras can lift a third of their bodies off the ground and grow up to 18 feet long, they can stand and attack simultaneously. The predators are incredibly shy, generally avoiding people. But when threatened, they become very aggressive, flashing their hoods and hissing. The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, but luckily its venom is not the most potent.

  Don't lower your guard, though, because the amount of neurotoxins in king cobra venom is staggering. A single bite can kill an elephant or as many as 20 people.
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  (#10) Cone snail

  • Conidae

  Even snails in Thailand can be deadly. The innocent looking cone snail has a proboscis safely hidden under its shell that can shoot out and poison prey. The venom contains conotoxins and triggers heart failure or paralysis, killing prey within minutes. While cone snails aren't normally trouble for humans, many people are attacked when they pick up the bright, patterned creatures. Snails fight back with enough force to pierce a diver's wetsuit. If the snail is big enough, it may pump enough venom into a human to cause numbness, vision problems, vomiting, paralysis, breathing difficulties, and even death.
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  (#8) Titan triggerfish

  • Balistoides viridescens

  Titan triggerfish may be pretty, but they notoriously attack human swimmers when they feel threatened. Mating periods are especially dangerous. Divers claim the fish roll onto their sides and stare with beady eyes before attacking. Triggerfish teeth can pierce wetsuits and fins. The creatures even rip off people's ears. A poison called ciguatoxin passes from fish to prey, causing serious infection when left untreated. Triggerfish may also headbutt you. They leave large bruises and knock out some divers.
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  (#3) Giant Centipede

  If you've ever encountered a normal centipede, this one is about 10 inches longer. Also known as Asian forest centipedes or Chinese red-headed centipedes, these odd creatures can be found in damp places under rocks or foliage. The giant centipede is large, and it bites, leaving victims in terrible pain. Giant centipedes attack with their front legs which have specialized, poisonous pincers. The venom is powerful enough to paralyze smaller creatures such as fish. It also causes severe problems for young children or the elderly. A giant centipede's bite normally isn't deadly for humans, but it can be very painful.
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  (#2) Asian giant hornet

  • Vespa mandarinia

  Asian giant hornets are appropriately named since they are the largest hornets in the entire world. Members of the wasp family, they live throughout Eastern Asia and can grow to almost two inches long; the queens are even larger. The hornet's stinger does not detach like some other wasp species, so it can sting a victim multiple times. The venom contains around eight chemicals which can cause pain and breathing difficulties. 

  Giant hornets are also very fast, sometimes flying up to 25 miles per hour. Most humans whom die after an attack are allergic to the venom.
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  (#13) Tiger shark

  • Galeocerdo cuvier

  Tiger sharks attack humans almost as much as great whites. These sharks average about 10 feet long, and they have tiger-like banding on the skin. Their blue-green color allows for camouflage in the water; they like to sneak up on prey. Tiger sharks are not picky eaters. They consume license plates, trash bags as well as turtles and other fish. Their excellent senses of smell, sharp teeth, and powerful jaws make them efficient hunters. Tiger sharks crush the hard shells of turtles and clams. Tiger sharks don't normally chase prey, but they tend to stick around after biting humans, unlike great whites who usually swim away.

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