Small, But Terrible: 7 Smallest and Deadliest Creatures in the Animal Kingdom

Many of the most toxic animals on Earth are tiny ones, causing fatalities in humans in different ways - from cardiac arrests, to paralysis, and eventually, death.

Perhaps the most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom are not just the gigantic ones, as the smallest of them can be equally deadly. You might not suspect it at first glance, but believe it or not, these "cute" little animals can be very vicious.

Buzzfeed created a list of tiny deadly animals which included the following:

Killer Animals Smaller Than Your Hand

(Photo : Photo credit: ANDREW COWIE/AFP via Getty Images)
A baby Poison Dart frog sits on a five pence piece at the London Aquarium in London on June 17, 2014. The London Aquarium unveiled their recently born baby Poison Dart frog, an endangered species and the first ever to be born there, following a successful breeding programme.

1.Golden Poison Dart Frog

More than 1 inch in length, this tiny amphibian may look harmless, but it has enough toxins to kill 10 grown men. It is among the largest of the more than 100 poison dart frog species with the deadliest substance. When the batrachotoxin they secrete gets in contact with a human, it will interfere with the electrical signals in the body and cause arrhythmias, cardiac failure, and death.

2. Blue-ringed Octopus

About 5 centimeters long, this deadly creature has venom a thousand times more powerful than cyanide, according to a study of blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa) published in the journal ScienceDirect. If bitten through your wet suit, it can cause muscle paralysis and respiratory arrest, loss of your senses, motor skills, and vision, with little to no possibility of being cured.

3. Indian Red Scorpion

The sting of the Indian red scorpion is so fatal that it can cause eventual death if not treated sooner. They also hide in the same places humans do. Their venom alone can cause cardiovascular abnormalities and respiratory paralysis.

4. Brazilian Walking Spider

The "murderess" spider, also called armed or banana spider delivers neurotoxic venom, can be deadly to humans, especially children, according to LiveScience. Their bite can cause vertigo, hypothermia, erratic blood pressure, convulsions, sweating, shock, and a long painful erection in males, according to Buzzfeed.

5. Irukandji Jellyfish

With the size of a pinkie fingernail, you might not see Irukandji jelly attack coming. Their toxins had claimed two lives in Australia so far, and their sting can cause muscle spasms, severe hypertension, and cardiac failure. Generally, when caught quickly, the transparent, "little whippersnapper" won't kill you but will put you through severe pain.

6. Lonomia caterpillar

The Lonomia caterpillar can cause hemorrhage and blood clot in the blood vessels when touched. They are often found in clusters and blend in with their surroundings, making them easy to miss. However, there is a serum that reduces the number of deaths they cause.

7. Deathstalker Scorpion

The length of only four inches, the deathstalker scorpion has one of the most toxic venoms and one of the most deadly organisms in their environment. Their venom can cause heart issues and pulmonary edema in children and older adults, causing great pain and death.

Also read: Mysterious Octopus Communities Prove That We Should Leave These Sentient Beings Alone

You Might Never See Them Coming

What makes tiny animals terrifying is the size itself that can fit anywhere. This list, among many others, will make you rethink whether tiny animals are to sweat for. Based on the list, you should definitely look out.

While there are probably 95% of creatures or vertebrates smaller than cat size, small venomous animals are considerably natural and have evolved to protect themselves in the wild.

Related article: There are Now 50,000 Known Species of Spiders Crawling the Earth