Top 10 Animal Predators

Top 10 Animal Predators

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You do NOT want to wind up on the wrong side of these killing machines. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Animal Predators!  For this list, we’re ranking the most dangerous and effective predators of the animal kingdom. Beasts of all shapes and sizes will be considered for our list, including predators of both the warm and cold-blooded variety.

This deadly species of snake is most often found in South America, where it exists as a top-level predator, thanks to its immense size and formidable strength. Although the term “anaconda” can describe multiple members of the species, it’s most commonly used in reference to the green anaconda, which is the heaviest and second longest snake in the world. Anacondas commonly use their extreme length to wrap around their prey, crushing their bones, eliminating oxygen intake and overall just making any enemy or food target have a pretty terrible time. And they have been known to eat other anacondas.

If the lion is considered the King of the Jungle, then the eagle is its avian counterpart, an apex predator of the skies. This strong and agile bird of prey possesses nearly all of the skills necessary to make easy meat out of just about any smaller species on the ground, thanks to its keen eyesight, immense speed and sharp, deadly talons. Second only to vultures in size - especially the largest eagle species, the Philippine Eagle - these Kings of the Sky make quick work of just about anything they spot.

#8: Lion

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Speaking of the aforementioned King of the Jungle, the proud and mighty lion is the first of a few big cats on our list to make the cut as one of nature’s supreme predators. Although tigers are often larger in stature, the lion’s regal reputation and fiercely protective family structure make them dangerous opponents for even the heartiest of wild felines. Massive jaws, sharp claws and the lion’s taut hind legs make them a four-footed killing machine for just about anything that crosses their paths. The average life span of a lion rarely exceeds fifteen years, however, thanks in part to territorial squabbles with other cats, not to mention hunting threats from humans.  

These killers may be cold blooded, but they like the heat of the tropics. Dwelling primarily within smaller bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes and streams they feed on a steady diet of smaller fish and crustaceans. The crocodile is only one of several species of freshwater reptiles from a family that includes the alligator and gharial, a species most often found in India. How do you tell them apart? Crocs tend to possess a sharp “V” shape snout, as opposed to the “U” formation of an alligator. One thing’s for sure, however: you do NOT want to wind up caught up in that mouth. Those unforgiving teeth and tightly clenched jaws are enough to kill just about anything and anyone.  

Don’t even try to outrun this feline predator; it just ain’t gonna happen. Indeed, what the cheetah lacks in comparative size and strength to its big cat cousins, it more than makes up for in breakneck speed. The cheetah uses its lean, muscular physique and powerful legs to race and overtake its prey, particularly packs of antelope or gazelle, with relative ease and vicious results. Add to this the fact that cheetahs can also stop on a dime, change direction and accelerate rapidly, and you have yourself a whole new, deadly spin on fast food.

#5: Great White Shark

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One look at the great white shark is enough to send just about anybody swimming for his or her life. Sure, predatory sharks on their own are bad news enough for smaller fish in the sea, but the great white is the badass of them all. This guy has no natural predators other than the killer whale, making it one hell of a tough customer. Fast, strong and relentless in its quest to feed, there’s a reason why the great white shark has haunted the dreams of so many moviegoers since “Jaws” first hit the screen in 1975. They continue to be cinematic fodder to this day.

If the Academy Award-winning film “The Revenant” has taught us anything, it’s that one should NEVER antagonize a bear or its cubs. This fact is true no matter which species of bear one happens to encounter, whether it’s the North American black bear, the Arctic polar bear, or our number four animal predator, the mighty grizzly bear. Sure, grizzlies may look cute and cuddly when they’re NOT mauling prey or otherwise being terrifying, but watch out. This subspecies of brown bear has multiple means of getting one over on its dinner, including sharp claws, strong teeth and their massive physical frame. Grizzly bears are also damn quick, too, so if you’re thinking of running away or climbing a tree, don’t.

The final big cat on our list is the largest species of feline in the world, combining strength and lean speed to make one of the animal kingdom’s most dangerous apex predators. Although lions often travel in large, social packs, the tiger is a bit more reserved and shy. Still, their tendency to live within close proximity to humans has resulted in unfortunate clashes over the years. Tigers generally hunt at night, and aren’t above attacking other, similarly sizedpredators for food sources, showing little to no fear of just about anything or anyone.  

A pack of wolves on one’s tail is not the most fortunate of situations, and it’s exponentially worse should that pack be comprised of North American gray wolves. This species of wild canid is one of the largest in the world, while also one of the most unique, thanks to a number of interesting personality traits. For one, the gray wolf is monogamous, often mating for life. They hunt in a fairly large pack formation, often containing the parents and offspring together in one unit. Gray wolves also tend to be quite communicative between each other, utilizing facial and bodily cues in a fashion that makes them one of the most distinctly visual predators on our list.   Before we reveal our apex predator, here are a few honorable mentions! Wolverine Brown Recluse Spider Black Mamba Komodo Dragon  

As mentioned earlier, the great white shark has only one natural predator, the orca, which is also called the killer whale. So, how does it feel to be the only creature fearsome enough to punish a great white? We’re just going to assume that it feels pretty damn good. And why not? These massive oceanicpredators have no natural enemies, placing them squarely at the top of their food chain. Killer whales have been known to snack on all manner of fish, big and small, and possess the strength, agility and chomping jaws to get the job done. Fortunately, they rarely, if ever pose an immediate threat to humans.... even if the 1977 “animal attack” flick “Orca: The Killer Whale” demonstrated otherwise! Do you agree with our list? Which animals do you feel are nature’s perfect predators? For more dangerous top tens, published every day, please subscribe to WatchMojo.com!