Whoa Facts

Science is a vast field of knowledge, one that extends throughout the natural world. In school, you&nbsp;may have studied branches like chemistry, physics, and biology to learn the basics about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/worlds-most-terrifying-and-dangerous-plants/laura-allan" target="_blank">plants</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unsettling-wild-animal-facts/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">animals</a>, and the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-history-of-planet-earth-facts/alby-thompson" target="_blank">planet as a whole</a>. Maybe science is even part of your job&nbsp;or another aspect of your daily life. Even so, there&#39;s way too much science out there to know everything - and that might be a blessing in disguise.

There are some pretty <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-science-facts/jason-f-collins" target="_blank">unnerving scientific facts</a> out there that might make you cringe or simply leave you aghast. We found some creepy ones that, honestly, we&#39;re not sure we needed - or wanted - to know. Look for yourself&nbsp;and vote up the facts you probably could have lived without knowing.

13 Creepy Science Facts We're Not Sure We Wanted To Know

General

Melissa Sartore

Stories, pics, trivia, and interesting tidbits about all creatures, great and small.

Enter the Animal Kingdom

Weird Nature

You know how sometimes we tend to assume that most animals live the good life and spend all day hanging out in nature, mating at random, and laying around eating in the sun? Well, if you’ve ever been jealous of the furry, the feathered, or the many-legged, you might think again after getting a load of some of these sad animal facts from&nbsp;<a href="http://sadanimalfacts.com/" target="_blank">sadanimalfacts.com</a>&nbsp;Here we’ve gathered a collection of both weird animal facts and cool facts about animals that will make you realize that life isn't always roses, no matter what your species you come from.Despite the impression you might get from the multitude of adorable memes of cats and dogs that regularly flood the Internet, in some regards our animal pals kinda got the short end of the stick. Here you’ll learn random animal facts that will make your last pregnancy, set of braces, or abandonment issues look like child’s play. You’ll learn what sea creature is really the most heartless in the ocean and find out what breed of pooch was used as a nanny dog for centuries before being stereotyped by Hollywood.So the next time <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-wish-you-were-better-at/lauren-slocum?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">you wish you</a> could redecorate your house, take a look at what the average dwarf lemur is dealing with. Wish you weren’t so dependent on your significant other? We’ve got lady ferrets with a tale that’ll make you cry. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed with your own plight or are just out to learn some interesting animal facts, it's time to meet a group of creatures whose sad facts about animals will put things in perspective.

Weird Animal Facts That Will Make You Sad

Weird Animal Facts That Will Make You Sad | Cool Things About Animals

Ashley Reign

Lists about some of the most beautiful, dangerous, and otherwordly creatures that thrive in our very own oceans.

Our Neighbors in the Sea

Otters. They were your favorite exhibit at the zoo, but maybe you grew up and forgot just how playful and adorable these little guys and gals really are. A member of the weasel family Mustedlidae, they are related to badgers, martens, ferrets, and even wolverines. Wolverines! Otters are just the cutest, and as it turns out, are quite interesting little animals as well. What are the most fascinating weasel facts?There are 13 species of otter, all of which are either aquatic or at least semi-aquatic. Some of them play basketball, some of them have numerous tricks to keep themselves from floating away, and all of them are cute beyond belief.Some of these adorable otter facts came from <a href="http://animals.io9.com/you-otter-know-its-sea-otter-awareness-week-1637795782/+katharinetrendacosta">here</a>, while others are courtesy of <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Awwducational">r/Awwducational</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Otters">r/Otters</a>. Get your fix of otter facts below and celebrate their craftiness, cuteness, and playful attitudes by voting on the list of otter facts below.

20 Facts That Will Make You Fall in Love with Otters

Otter Facts | List of Interesting Things About Otters

Amy Boal

There are many factual inaccuracies when people talk about redheads. Stereotypes&nbsp;have been perpetuated about redheads throughout history: they are fiery and aggressive,&nbsp;they are unlucky, they are practitioners&nbsp;of witchcraft.&nbsp;Ultimately, they are unfounded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-historical-myths-and-beliefs-about-redheads/erin-mccann" target="_blank">myths about people with red hair.</a>&nbsp;These myths have often ostracized people, but, more recently, some scientific misunderstandings have led to a more positive misunderstanding: the idea that red hair comes with <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/12/02/science-shows-redheads-have-genetic-superpowers/" target="_blank">&quot;genetic superpowers.&quot;</a>&nbsp;People with naturally auburn or ginger hair can boast certain characteristic distinctions, but according to scientific research, redheads can&#39;t exactly run out and join the X-Men.

While theirs&nbsp;is the rarest of all&nbsp;hair colors, redheads still&nbsp;make up a significant portion of the world&rsquo;s population, so let&#39;s take a minute to run through some ways being a redhead is more complex than simply having incarnadine hair. These are interesting notes, many of which have been oversimplified or misunderstood to create the impression that the color is tied to remarkable abilities.

*Editor&#39;s Note: We&#39;ve corrected a previous version of this article, which incorrectly claimed redheads have genetic superpowers. Read the updated version below.

No, Redheaded People Don't Have 'Genetic Superpowers'

No, Redheaded People Don't Have "Genetic Superpowers"

Nathan Gibson

Fascinating conditions, devastating disorders, and nightmarish syndromes that affect human bodies. 

Uncommon Afflictions

Both humans and animals can have <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-with-heterochromia/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">different colored eyes</a>. Not many people know why this trait happens, though.&nbsp;Usually a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/rare-genetic-features/nathan-gibson" target="_blank">genetic mutation</a> called heterochromia&nbsp;causes the unique coloring.&nbsp;Sometimes the eyes will only vary slightly; other times the eyes will look completely different.A rare abnormality, heterochromia&nbsp;can be caused by several different things, and most people are born with it. However, certain people develop the mutation later in life because of medical or&nbsp;chemical body changes. Unfortunately, heterochromia can also be an indicator of serious medical issues.Shockingly, this trait is a lot more common than you might think.

Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Heterochromia

Laura Allan

Think you know your favorite animals? Study up on fun facts and fascinating trivia to drop at your next cocktail party.

Up Close with Awesome Animals

Interesting

The great apes—gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans—are humans' closest living relatives. They share about 98 percent of our DNA. Great apes are remarkable creatures that show profound intelligence and capacity for emotion and this list is full of cool ape facts that you've probably never heard before. Get to know your ape pals!These fun facts about apes will make you realize that these animals are profoundly similar to us. Vote up the ape facts you think are the most interesting, and get inspired to help save the great apes.

Fun Facts You Should Know About Apes

Ape Trivia | 20 Interesting Facts About Apes

Katherine Ripley

Not&nbsp;too often does&nbsp;one&nbsp;see fruits and veggies in the wild, and if you did you might not recognize the undomesticated fruits or vegetables that form the basis of the polished produce in&nbsp;grocery stores (yes, apples are even waxed). Undomesticated fruits and vegetables look a whole lot different -&nbsp;and, in some cases, are nowhere near as sweet as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-delicious-fruits/analise.dubner" target="_blank">delicious domesticated&nbsp;fruits</a>. Nowadays,&nbsp;grapes&nbsp;taste like cotton candy and apples&nbsp;take forever to brown. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-shower-rat-is-a-hoax/beth-elias?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Sorry to break it to you</a>, but that comes from&nbsp;genetic modification and selective breeding. Most wild fruits do not look or taste like that. Period. So, what did fruits look like before domestication?

Well, nearly every fruit and vegetable you see in the grocery store weighs in at&nbsp;about three times larger than their wild counterparts. They barely bruise, take way longer to rot, and are brightly colored to appeal to human tendencies toward shiny objects. Basically, domesticated fruits and veggies are often the opposite of a genuine, wild fruit or veggie. Some people argue&nbsp;the genetic modification of human&nbsp;food supply is really dangerous, but others think it&#39;s no big deal. Seriously, who wouldn&#39;t want to eat a strawberry the size of an apple? The comparisons may be a bit alarming, but remember that when left in the wild, all sorts of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-looking-fruit/chwang" target="_blank">weird fruit</a>&nbsp;and veggies can grow.

17 Pics Of Common Fruits And Vegetables As You Know Them Compared To Their Undomesticated Forms

Food

20 Common Fruits Vs Their Undomesticated Forms (Photos)

Mariel Loveland

People have been living all around the world for literally thousands of years. Here are some of the most interesting things human beings have ever done (that we know about).

Fascinating Ancient History

Living in the 21st century certainly has its perks&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;deoderant, Snapchat, Beyonc&eacute;, and the list goes on. Fortunately for us, we&#39;re aren&#39;t doomed&nbsp;to roam any prehistoric era, when not getting mauled and eaten by a saber-tooth tiger was the most success a person could ask for on any given day. One of the biggest benefit of the modern age would have to be the lack of gargantuan &ndash; and sometimes carnivorous &ndash;&nbsp;prehistoric animals. Creatures of land, sky, and sea <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-prehistoric-animals-were-huge/olivia-pasquarelli" target="_blank">were all significantly larger</a> back then, and although most of these age-old giants have some distant relative still living today,&nbsp;they&#39;re&nbsp;not necessarily what you would expect. Check out the list below for things that were terrifyingly bigger in the prehistoric era.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Things That Were Terrifyingly Bigger In Prehistoric Times

Animals That Were Terrifyingly Bigger in Prehistoric Times

Jacoby Bancroft

There's so much more to the food you eat every day than you bother to think about (though&nbsp;you probably intentionally don't think about it, since when it comes to food, ignorance is bliss). These surprising facts&nbsp;about what goes into common&nbsp;foods, how&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/common-fruits-compared-to-undomesticated-forms/mariel-loveland" target="_blank">undomesticated foods&nbsp;evolved</a>, or how many different chemicals are in your food aren't all bad.&nbsp;For example, you may not know that a lot of foods come from&nbsp;a small handful of plant families, or&nbsp;that the popsicle was invented by an 11 year-old,&nbsp;or that people used to pay their taxes with chocolate.&nbsp;There might be some things you&nbsp;learn from this list&nbsp;that will apply to your life -&nbsp;like how ranch dressing isn't really great for you, or that you haven't tried real wasabi or balsamic vinegar yet.&nbsp;Maybe set a goal or two for yourself after you're done reading this. For example, maybe you want to eat more <a href="http://www.ranker.com/review/mcdonald_s/1550510?q=mcdonalds" target="_blank">McDonald's</a> (or less)&nbsp;or maybe you'll never look at apples&nbsp;the same way again. Hopefully this list will help you discover mind-blowing trivia about food you eat every day.&nbsp;

15 Bizarre Food Facts That Will Make You Rethink Your Eating Habits

15 Mind-Blowing Facts About Foods You Eat Every Day

Brian Gilmore

All birds, great and small, from the freaking enormous ostrich to the itty bitty hummingbird and every feathered flapper in between.

Avian Aficionados

Yes, the great potoo is an actual, genuine creature in the real world. No, the Universe isn't playing a joke. These wide-eyed, gape-mouthed clowns with one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/funny-bird-names/amylindorff" target="_blank">funniest bird names</a> around&nbsp;are the things amazing memes are made from—and they've taken the Internet by storm. Once you get a few facts about these birds under your belt, you'll realize that these hilarious birds not&nbsp;only look awesome, they are&nbsp;awesome. Well, awesome and kinda weird.Despite the goofy looks, the funny-looking great potoo bird is a creature that is actually kind of creepy.&nbsp;Between their ominous, heartbreaking cries, and the fact that they eat other birds, potoos are a force to be reckoned with. These nocturnal creatures love to hang out on their perches and stealthily hunt their prey. They are the strangest birds in the rainforest—not just because of their look, but because of their strange behaviors. Read on to discover more about the amazing great&nbsp;potoo!

10 Facts Most Don't Know About The Great Potoo, &quot;The Cartoon Bird&quot;

10 Interesting Facts About The Great Potoo, A Truly Cartoonish Bird

Superheroes

Since the dawn of the 20th century, man has created a bevy of wonder boys and super powered gals that can do anything under the sun. But would you believe that there are animals walking among us that can pretty much do exactly what our fictional heroes are doing in comic books and on the big screen? It’s always amazing to take a look at the cool things animals can do – from regenerating their limbs, to shooting blood out of their eyes, and even lifting a ton of weight with their face, the animal kingdom is truly full of superheroes. If you don’t believe us, take a look at this list of cool animal facts. Animals with superpowers are in just about every comic, from Dynomutt the dog wonder, to K9 of Doctor Who fame. But those fictional pups are nowhere near as cool as the super-powered animals that appear on this list. Sure, Dynomutt might be able to fly, but that’s nothing an albatross can’t do. And we’re pretty sure that no fictional animal has the ability to live forever like one of the very special animals on this list. Take a peek at the animals with superpowers that are collected on this list, and think about which animal you’d most like to have in your corner if you saw a big bad coming your way. Vote up the animals with the coolest abilities, then head to the comments to tells us all about how your cat has this neat superpower where it can sit still for hours at a time.

It&#39;s a Bird, It&#39;s a Plane, It&#39;s a... Laysan Albatross?

Real Animals That Literally Have Superpowers

Animal/Plant

basically a super turtle

Amazing Animals Facts & Abilities | List of Animals Like Superheroes

Jacob Shelton

Interesting tidbits and things you should know about everything from the US Constitution to the modern banana industry.

Wow! That's Fascinating

Weird

How&nbsp;can animals living thousands of mile apart evolve to be so similar? It's called convergent evolution: animals filling the same &quot;roles&quot; in similar ecosystems have evolved with similar characteristics. (It's&nbsp;also sometimes called&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_evolution">parallel evolution</a>; scientist can't exactly agree on the distinction.) It's a remarkable process. And thanks to Australia's &quot;isolation&quot; as an island for the last 100 million years, we have plenty of examples of parallel or convergent evolution to observe.Parallel evolution examples from &quot;down under&quot; include marsupial versions of, well, just about every mammal on the planet.&nbsp;That's an exaggeration, but it's not too far off. Marsupials are some of the clearest examples of convergent evolution animals out there: two different animals with remarkable similar traits... but one's got a pouch! There are plenty of non-marsupial (and non-mammalian) examples, too. Read on to learn more about some of the most weirdly similar animals on the plant... that just so happen to live thousands of miles apart.

15 Geographically Distant Animal Pairs That Are Weirdly Similar

Geographically Distant Animals That Are Weirdly Similar

Kellen Perry

Lists to celebrate and educate about some of the earth's most beautiful creations: flowers, trees, mosses, fungi, and even carnivorous plants.

Natural Botanicals

<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Wcg50WcWJT4C&amp;q=moss+about&amp;dq=moss+about&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjL1-Gg_IPUAhWqq1QKHQxLANsQ6AEIIjAA">Mosses</a> are a fascinating division of plants distinct from more commonly recognized groups such as trees, grasses, and&nbsp;ferns. Mosses are&nbsp;also known as Bryophyta and&nbsp;are one among three groups of <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=5_2JCwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT127&amp;dq=moss+bryophyte+all+continents&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjlnOHN_IPUAhXK0FQKHW0MCNEQ6AEIIjAA#v=onepage&amp;q=moss%20bryophyte%20all%20continents&amp;f=false">bryophytes</a>, which are non-vascular plants with wholly enclosed reproductive systems. There are more than 14,000 species of Bryophyta that grow in an array of colors and can be found on <a href="https://bogology.org/2013/10/16/how-do-mosses-survive-in-antarctica/">all seven continents</a>. While most species prefer damp and shaded environments -&nbsp;often woodlands - some mosses thrive in desert areas, as well as ice-covered regions such as Antarctica.&nbsp;Mosses are typically 0.1–3.9&nbsp;inches (0.2–10&nbsp;cm) in height, though select species can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall. Bryophyta <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbaceous_plant">lack the root structure</a> characteristic of many plants, instead attaching themselves to their environment via hairy protrusions called rhizoids. Most Bryophyta collect water and compounds through the air, using them in conjunction with the sun to create food by way of photosynthesis. Mosses don’t have flowers or seeds, but reproduce via spores.&nbsp;Contrary to popular myth, mosses don’t just grow on the north side of trees,&nbsp;though many Bryophyta do avoid southern exposure due to the sun’s intense rays. Fallacious lore aside, there are actually some truly bizarre and amazing moss facts that surround these little, unassuming green clumps. So, with most of the basics out of the way,&nbsp;read on to take a deeper dive into some of the crazy things Bryophyta can do.&nbsp;

13 Facts About Moss That Make You Say, Woah - Really?

13 Facts About Moss That Are Actually Really Interesting

Bruce Maisy

Darling, it's better down where it's wetter.

Under the Sea

What&#39;s a nudibranch, you ask? Only one of the most colorful sea creatures in the earth&#39;s vast oceans. These soft-bodied marine gastropod mollusks display some of the most <a href="https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/collage-nudibranch-colors" target="_blank">unique shapes and colors</a> in the sea. A diverse group of creatures, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/nudibranchs/" target="_blank">nudibranchs</a> (NOO-di-branks) have a habitable range that spans everything from the tropics to Antarctica. There are many different types of nudibranchs found all over the world, and this list and photo gallery will help you appreciate the many different kinds.

In Latin, nudibranch means &quot;naked gills,&quot; an appropriate name as many nudibranchs breathe through an actual naked gill, located on its back.&nbsp;Nudibranchs are also hermaphroditic, but they cannot fertilize themselves, and they lay their eggs within a gelatinous spiral.

Much more exciting than say, a sea cucumber, these colorful little guys are sometimes called &quot;<a href="https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/a-colorful-defense/" target="_blank">sea slugs</a>&quot; - though the name hardly does justice to their beauty, and most sea slugs aren&#39;t actually related to nudibranchs. Nudibranchs vary in size from less than an inch to as long as almost two feet. They have many exciting defense mechanisms including <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-poisonous-sea-creatures/eric-vega" target="_blank">toxic</a> appendages, camouflage, and the ability to produce their own chemicals.

How many types of nudibranchs are there? What is the most beautiful nudibranch? This list features the most gorgeous nudibranchs types in the ocean.

The Coolest Sea Animal You've Never Heard Of: The Nudibranch

Nudibranch Types | Gallery of Colorful Nudibranchs

Ranker Science

Animal facts! Cute gifs and photos! Get 'em while they're hot! Are you subscribed to&nbsp;<a href="http://reddit.com/r/awwducational">/r/awwducational</a>? This subreddit presents adorable and interesting animal facts along with gifs and pictures that will both educate you and provide your daily dose of cuteness. What more could you want from the Internet?Not just your average <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historic-photos-of-cats/ashley-reign?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">cute cat pictures</a>, awwducational both teaches you something and is a sources for the cutest animal pics and gifs around. Did you know that seahorses hold tails during courtship? Or that crows return home to visit aging relatives. Make your mom's day with a phone call to tell her all the adorable new facts you'll learn about the earth's creatures.One marine mammal can even zip up its tongue into a straw! Vote up the most interesting facts from the awwducational subreddit below, all accompanied by the adorable animals themselves. Can't get enough animal cuteness? Take a look at these <a href="/list/cute-animals-yawning/amylindorff">adorably sleepy animals</a> and some of the most <a href="/list/cute-animal-parents-babies/bunny-brinkman">precious animal parenting moments</a> ever.

The Best of Awwducational: Fun Facts About Adorable Animals

The Best of the Awwducational Subreddit, Ranked

Carly Kiel

Adorable animals playing, posing, helping, hiding, eating, and waiting for you to pet them.

All Creatures, Great and Small

Cuddle Corner

Babies

Adorable baby animals: Everyone loves them. But which young animals are actually the cutest? <a href="/list/cute-bear-cubs/jude-newsome" target="_blank">Bear cubs</a>? Kittens? Puppies? Until now, science has had no way to decide... But if you vote for the sweetest, most cuddly, most adorable baby animals on this CrowdRanked list - and make a list with your own suggestions - perhaps we can finally get an answer.

What makes certain baby animals so cute? Some have argued it&#39;s having facial symmetry, or proportionally larger eyes. Others may cite the degree of difference between the species appearance as an adult vs. in infancy (as with, for example, the hippopotamus.) Fortunately, the Internet is a massive and valuable resource for finding cute baby animal photos, so we should have little trouble narrowing down the field.

For more cute, check out the <a href="/list/the-20-greatest-babies-in-internet-history/ariel-kana" target="_blank">Greatest Babies in Internet History</a>.

Baby Animals That Will Melt Even the Coldest of Hearts

Animals with the Cutest Babies

Cute Baby Animals List | Most Adorable Baby Animal Photos

Ranker Community

Weird Nature lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Weird Nature lists on Ranker

Weird Nature lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Weird Nature lists and rankings.

A look at some of the oldest known, recorded, and/or existing things on earth.

Old School Cool

Biology

This list of the oldest living things on Earth, including the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/longest-living-animals/robert-desalvo" target="_blank">oldest animals</a>, species, and organisms, will definitely make you feel young. You could probably nitpick some of these life forms within a million years here, a million years there... but the fact remains that these animals have been around a loooong time. What are the oldest living organisms on earth? And more importantly how have they stuck around this long?

These ancient organisms have been around for millions, or ever billions of years and have achieved apparent perfection in their environment. Millennia have passed, and they keep on keeping on. Sure, a tail might shorten, an extra tentacle might grow, or they might develop a more streamlined coat of armor... but, like that guy you know with the haircut he&#39;s had since high school, these animals have asked themselves the question: Why change it if it&#39;s working?

These are the oldest living things on the planet, and they just might still be here long after we are nothing more than fossils found buried in a pile of styrofoam take-out boxes.

The 10 Oldest Living Things On Earth

The Oldest Animal on Earth (and the Oldest Living Things)

analise.dubner

List of the world's smartest animals, in order of their animal intelligence ranking. When putting this list of the smartest animals in the world together, I had to give myself criteria to follow. A complex brain is not a factor so much as the ability to use creative thinking. Sure, these are my own standards, and some might complain that this list is decidedly anthropomorphic– seeing as how I'm judging these smart animals by obvious human criteria. For example, why should creative thinking mean one animal is smarter than another animal that can remember the location of 2,200 individual nuts it buried over 2 years? That's just how I decided to do it. To me, creative thinking makes an animal smart, not memorization. I couldn't limit myself to a list of just the top 10 smartest animals because that would have eliminated some incredibly smart and creative creatures. What is the smartest animal in the world? Check out this list of nerdy mammals to find out which of our pets will ultimately rule the planet when humans go extinct!

Out Of All The Animals On Earth, These 15 Are The Smartest

Smartest Animals: List of Most Intelligent Animal Ranking

Lists about phobias: the things we're scared of and why we are afraid of them.

What Are You So Afraid Of?

Popular Opinion

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 <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/frightening-facts-about-the-world-s-scariest-animals/aaron-edwards?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">scariest animals in the world</a> 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 <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/10-amazing-things-about-spiders/analise.dubner" target="_blank">spiders can also be pretty amazing.</a> 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 <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/full-list-of-shark-week-episodes/reference" target="_blank">Shark Week</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-untrue-myths-about-animals/analise.dubner" target="_blank">myths surrounding these and other animals</a> 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!

Animals You Should Hope to Never See in the Wild

The Scariest Animals in the World

Lists of bizarre real headlines and 100% true actual news stories from the physical world in which we all really live that are stranger, scarier, and more depressing than any fiction writer could ever dream.

Unbelievable News

Take the kids out for a fun day at the zoo! See wild animals in tiny recreations of their natural habitats! Watch as they suffer stress, indignity, unnatural climates, and public mating! ...Ooh, a monkey!!!

Locked Up: Animals Behind Bars

Animals

Nothing good is going to come of a situation that involves being in a cage with a wild&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cute-dangerous-animals/ranker-science" target="_blank">animal</a> at the zoo. And yet, people keep putting themselves in situations where &mdash;&nbsp;despite warnings from the zoo and others around them &mdash;&nbsp;they come face-to-face with lions, tigers, and bears. Some of these people were taken out by&nbsp;a caged animal; others were merely assaulted by a captive wild beast.&nbsp;

These are the tales of the outlandish&nbsp;and sometimes most inebriated people to ever jump the fence at a zoo.&nbsp;