Revealed: The Top 30 Animals In The Food Chain

By Carole 1 year ago

30. Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Image source / Lavenham FalconryThe eagle-owls, mainly found in remote places such as forests and mountainous regions, prey on lizards, small mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians and large insects.  They watch from a perch, looking out for prey activity and then swoop down to attack.

29. Harris's Hawk

Image source / BBC
These medium sized birds are found in south-western America and central Argentina.  Harris hawks are the only social raptors which means they hunt in packs which is scary!  After spotting their prey, the group work as a team to flush out the target.

28. Gharial

Image source / Owlcation
These fish-eating crocodiles are native to India and the reason they cannot prey big animals, only fishes, is due to their narrow snout. They hunt fishes with their jaws and swallow them whole.  It's frightening to see how quick they work, once spotting their lunch.

27. Alligator Snapping Turtle

Image source / YouTube
One of the heaviest freshwater turtles, alligator snapping turtles have such powerful jaws, long, spring-like neck and ridges on the shell which are quite similar to alligators.  With the camouflaged mouth and an appendage on the tip of its tongue, this carnivore turtle lies completely still in the water with its mouth open to lure fishes.

26. Emerald Tree Boa

Image source /Wikimedia Commons
These non-venomous snakes are obviously named from their green colored skin.  Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, birds and the odd frog.  The boas are so fast that they can grab birds in mid-flight and use their curved and extremely sharp teeth to penetrate through the feathers of the birds. Once they have their prey under control, the snake coils around it.

25. Wildcat

Image source / National Geographic
Found across Africa, Europe and south-west and central Asia, wildcats can vary in appearance according to their geographic location.  Sight and hearing are the primary senses of the wildcats when they are hunting. Certain European wildcat species are known to hunt in groups, each member being assigned a different role to corner the prey.

24. West African lungfish

Image source / BioLib
An ugly thing resembling an eel with thread-like pectoral and pelvic fins, these fish are mainly found in shallow waters, marshes and swamps. The carnivorous creatures feed on crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insect larvae.

23. Black Panther

Image source / North Wales Live
A fearsome night predator, panthers use their jet black coats to stay hidden in the dark.  They usually attack from tree branches or from a height. Black panthers are a variant of leopards and jaguars and they are born with a dark coat due to melanism.

22. King Cobra

Image source / Deccan Herald
Despite its name, the king cobra is not really related to the true Cobra (Naja) genus.  They prey on other snakes such as small pythons, rat snakes and occasionally birds, rodents and lizards, just to mix up their choice of foods!  The King Cobra can grow up to 5metres long and there is a 50% mortality rate for untreated human bites.

21. Golden Eagle

Image source / Country Life
Golden eagles are one of the world's largest eagles and the biggest bird of prey.  They tend to be found in the mountains, cliffs, hills and coniferous forests and are true apex predators.  One breeding paircan defend an area of 100 square kilometers.

20. Giant Petrel

Image source Antarctic Program
Giant petrels have wingspans up to 2 meters  and are known to kill larger birds, like albatross, by drowning or battering them before tucking in.  They also hunt fish, squid and krill.  Besides hunting, they are happy to scavenge around whale and seal carcasses.

19. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Image source / Reddit
Found in the States and Mexico, these venomous snakes are responsible for a huge number of snake bite fatalities in these regions.  Their prey is mainly small mammals, lizards and birds but, when the opportunity presents itself, they are happy to mix it up with something new that's within their grasp.

18. Tasmanian Devil

Image source / Bonorong Wildlife
The Tasmanian devil is a unique carnivorous marsupial of Australia that looks 'dog-like.'  It survives on small pray such as birds, frogs, fish and insects. They work alone when hunting, which involves a speedy attack and an exceptionally strong bite!

17. Giant Otter

Image source / National Geographic
The giant river otters are the longest weasel species in the world and they reach over 5.5 feet (1.7 meters). They are most commonly found in the Amazon River and in the Pantanal.  They live in groups and defend themselves from other top predators.  They are particularly partial to snakes.

16. Saltwater Crocodile

Image source / Earth.com
The saltwater crocodile is the largest member of the crocodilian family. Known as the estuarine crocodile, these creatures grow to an average length of 5 meters and weigh more than 450 kilograms. However, it’s not uncommon to find specimens that are over 6 meters in length and weigh more than 900 kilograms.

15. Polar Bear

Image source / Daily Mail
Found in the endless snowy ice sheets of the Arctic, polar bears are an excellent example of how large, top of the food chain mammals can survive in the most demanding of areas.  These blustery beasts are such strong swimmers and they have slightly webbed large front paws that they can use to propel themselves when immersed.

14. Brown Bear

Image source / International Associates
Unlike most predators, the brown bear is an omnivore creature that lives in forests and mountains around the world.  This apex predator is the most powerful creature in its habitat, which puts it close to the top of its food chain.

13. Komodo Dragon

Image source / YouTube
The amazing lizards from Komodo might just be the species that is the closest to these mythical creatures. The Komodo dragon is the heaviest lizard on Earth and one of the planet’s most ferocious predators. They can easily break the bones of their prey with the power of their bite.

12. Siberian Tiger

Image source / BBC Earth
The Siberian tiger has fascinated humans for thousands of years, inspiring  fictional stories and even cult films.  The most notable thing about this imposing beast is its power and hunting ability, both of which put it way up there in the food chain.

11. Lion

Image source / Quora
The lion, the king of the jungle, doesn't actually live in the jungle but actually prefers open woodlands, scrub, grasslands and the African savannah because these habitats allow them to easily hunt their prey. A male lion needs around 7kg of food a day and the female 4.5 kg.

10. Leopard

Image source / Reddit
Always regarded as the most graceful and elegant big cats, leopards choose to hunt at night.  They don't have natural predators and are close to the very climax of their habitat's food chain.  Leopards are closely related to lions and tigers and every bit as aggressive when it comes to ambushing their prey.

9. Snow Leopard

Image source / Redmain
The snow leopard is a spotted big cat that lives in mountainous terrains across Asia. Their thick fur provides insulation and their spots the perfect camouflage against their alpine backdrop.  The trait that separates them from other predators is their unbelievable athletic ability.  Their wide feet and powerful legs act as snow shoes.

8. Orca (Killer Whale)

Image source / Outlook India
The killer whale, orca, is the largest member of the dolphin family.  They are known to be extremely intelligent and have many tactics at their disposal.  Their echolocation abilities allows them to communicate as well as locating and identifying prey - very impressive.

7. Great White Shark

Image source / The Guardian
Great white sharks have a muscular tail that is so powerful that it can propel them at almost 25 kilometers an hour. Average specimens can grow about 4.5 meters in length although it is possible to find individual great whites that exceed 6 meters and weigh over 2,500 kilograms.

6. Jaguar

Image source / National Geographic
The Jaguar is the only big cat found on the American continent and is only outsized by lions and tigers. These lethal hunters resemble leopards in  appearance and hunting style, but their superior size makes them a more fearsome predator.

5. Northwestern Wolf

Image source / Wattpad
Piercing eyes, thick hides and long fangs are the characteristics that have earned wolves the reputation of being apex predators at the top of their food chain.  Even though there are many variations, the northwestern wolf is the biggest and most powerful member of this canine family.

4. Cheetah

Image source / GVI
The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal
and
can go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 3 seconds!  This big cat doesn’t lose any of its nimble hunting touch during highspeed pursuits as it pounces on antelopes, warthogs and other dwellers in the desert.

3. Cougar

Image source / North American Natur
Also known as mountain lions, cougars are ferocious large felines found in a range of different habitats in North America.  An apex predator that faces no competition in its own environment, it uses power and supreme stealth to stalk and pounce on its prey.

2. Leopard Seal

Image source/ Earth.com
The leopard seal is the second largest seal species in Antarctica, after the southern elephant seal. Its only natural enemy is the killer whale.  It feeds on a variety of prey including cephalopods, other pinnipeds, birds, krill and fish.

1. Bald Eagle

Image source / National Geographic Kids
Contrary to other large predators, bald eagle populations have been steadily rising in the United States despite the destruction of their habitat. This is partly due to the fact that this mighty sky predator can live in woods, near freshwater bodies that have fish as well as arid areas.  Its razor sharp talons and powerful wings allow it to hunt and carry prey of up to four kilograms.

What Are The Most Dangerous Animals In The World? First Up: Human Beings

image source: reddit.com
If we're talking about predators at the top of the food chain, then human beings have to be given a shout out. Humans are capable of hunting and killing other animals for food, but one thing that singles them out from every other animal on this list is that humans will also do it for sport.

Moray Eel

image source: wikipedia.org
These good-looking creatures that hang out in tropical waters have very sharp teeth which can be used as a dangerous weapon for its prey. If disturbed, they'll even use those teeth against humans even though they're not their chosen food. Their flesh is also toxic.

Golden Poison Frog

image source: reddit.com
You know the rule: if something is brightly colored, it's a warning to stay away! And it's no different with the bright yellow golden poison frog. It's one of the most toxic animals on earth, and and its venom is enough to kill ten people. If, for some reason, you wanted to bite into this thing... be prepared for poison.

Stonefish

image source: reddit.com
First up, this fish has mad camouflage skills - so that's when you know it's dangerous. Its scales look like rocks, or part of a reef. They're one of the world's venomous fish - and human beings are even prey to them. If you stepped on one of its many spines, you'd be in trouble.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

image source: reddit.com
The great thing about this particular dangerous animal is at least it's obvious that it has blue rings on its body - so you know to get away ASAP. The poison that this octopus releases is enough to kill 26 people, in a matter of minutes. But it's actually tiny - around the size of your palm.

Cone Snail

image source: reddit.com
This animal may look completely harmless, and snails might not have come at the top of your predator list. But the cone snail is deadly to both fish and humans. While humans are not usually its target, if you happen to cross one, you can expect paralysis, coma and then death.

The Alligator

image source: reddit.com
You probably don't need to be told that alligators are extremely dangerous, but it's one of those that if you leave them well alone, they'll probably leave you alone, too (hopefully). It's actually illegal to feed an alligator, because then it might start associating food with humans, and.. well. You can imagine what comes next.

Hyena

image source: reddit.com
Found in Africa, with a distinctly eerie laugh, the hyena generally tries to avoid people - which is good news for us - but this animal has been known to attack people if their villages are near in their native Africa. They're dangerous mammals, and they're scavengers.

Pufferfish

image source: reddit.com
A lot of the dangers of the pufferfish come from cultures that choose to eat them. Fugu, a type of pufferfish, is particularly dangerous in Japan, because it's a Japanese delicacy that's actually toxic if not prepared properly. Most people who have died from pufferfish have died because they ate one that wasn't prepared correctly.

The Sydney Funnel Web Spider

image source: reddit.com
While most of us run screaming from a tiny house spider, just be glad you don't have to contend with this one every day (unless you live in Australia, that is). The Syndey funnel web spider is the most dangerous on the planet, because of its poison that you definitely don't want to mess with.

Horses

image source: reddit.com
These animals aren't dangerous predators by any means, but they're easily taken for granted and actually cause a lot of deaths. Every year there are around 20 horse-related deaths, and usually from people falling from them, or getting in the middle of a horse traveling at top speed with those hooves.

Cows

image source: nbcnews.com
Just like horses, this might not have been your first thought when discussing dangerous animals - but cows kill people, and they kill a lot. Especially people who work on cattle farms, cows can kill by trampling human beings or even kicking them. Around 22 people a year can die from cows.

The Bulldog Ant

image source: reddit.com
Is there anything more scary than an animal that can kill you - but one that's so, so tiny you might not be able to see it? The Bulldog Ant is the most dangerous of its species in the world. It will bite, sting and inject venom all at once - venom that can kill a man in 15 minutes.

The Asian Giant Hornet

image source: reddit.com
Found in China and Japan, the Asian Giant Hornet is definitely one to worry about. Anything with 'giant' in the name is enough for us, thanks. They're around the size of a human thumb, and they usually try to rampage schools and farms. Most deaths - which can be up to 50 a year - are due to allergic reaction to the sting.

The Box Jellyfish

image source: reddit.com
Want another reason to stay out of the sea? Here you go! The Box Jellyfish is a killer - its venom strike will result in sickness, headaches, rapid heartbeat and, at worst, death. This one is particularly dangerous in the Philippines, where it's been known to cause around 20 to 40 deaths a year!

The Deathstalker Scorpion

image source: reddit.com
If the name doesn't already convince you, then perhaps you want a few more facts: this scorpion is the most deadly, and most venomous, scorpion in the world. A sting from this scorpion wouldn't usually kill a healthy adult man, but it would be very, very,
very
painful.

Mosquitos

image source: reddit.com
You might be surprised to learn that mosquitos actually hold the highest death rate for humans killed per year, when you might think of animals like tigers or lions being more threatening. But mosquitos are so dangerous because of the diseases they can easily carry - and while humans aren't their chosen prey, they cause enough death anyway.

The Deer

image source: reddit.com
What could possibly be dangerous about a deer, we hear you ask? Surely they aren't one of the biggest threats to humans? Well, the reason deer are so dangerous is because of the amount of car accidents they cause. They actually kill over 100 people a year because of being on the road.

African Cape Buffalo

image source: whiteoakconservation.com
As part of the African Big Five, and rightly so with those horns, the African Cape Buffalo is an extremely dangerous animal. They're also know as 'Black Death' because of how dangerously aggressive they get when they're wounded. They can also charge at 35 miles per hour.

Hippo

image source: wbhm.com
One look at a hippo's jaws will tell you why exactly they're an extremely threatening animal. And it's worse because they're very aggressive, and very territorial. Hippos can easily catch up with a human trying to run away, and you also wouldn't want to come up against one in water, either.

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