The Scariest Animals in the World

We're all more scared of one thing than another. Maybe it's the idea of being mauled by a Grizzly or having spiders crawl in your ear while you're sleeping. Maybe it's just the IDEA that a snake might be nearby. Whatever it is, vote on the animal that scares you the most, and of course, feel free to add any of the scariest animals in the world that might be missing from this list.

Any list of the scariest animals in the world will likely include sharks, spiders and snakes. But what terrifies one person might not scare another at all. It's interesting to look at why certain animals strike fear, and others don't. Is it because many of the animals listed here are potentially deadly? Some spiders' bites can be horrible, but spiders can also be pretty amazing.

Sure, but that doesn't explain why cockroaches freak people out (if you don't believe me, just check the list, and see the votes for yourself). It's highly unlikely that you'll be done in by a killer cockroach -- so what gives? Well, they're creepy, they're crawly and (depending on where you live) they *can* fly. That qualifies as scary.

And yes, some of the scariest animals listed here, we'll never ever encounter in real life. Oh, we might see a great white shark in an aquarium or on TV during Shark Week, but really? The odds of us actually coming face to face with a great white are pretty slim. Still, we've all seen 'Jaws,' so that sucker shoots to the top of the list. And bats: Yes, some believe they are scary, but there are a lot of myths surrounding these and other animals that, if you knew more, might make them a bit less terrifying.

Which animals scare you the most? Are they insects? Reptiles? Mammals (and yes, this includes man)? Time to vote!