10 'harmless' animals that have deadly bites

When you think of dangerous animals, the names that come to your mind are lions or sharks. However, some of the most innocent-looking and calm-appearing animals around you possess the capability of giving deadly bites that can cause bodily harm and in some cases, even death. These are 10 animals that appear 'harmless' but have deadly bites.

Box Jellyfish is one aquatic organism that looks bright and colourful and thus attracts many human eyes. Found in the warm coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia, these jellyfish have tentacles covered in nematocysts- tiny darts that are loaded with poison. Upon being in contact with these tentacles a person can suffer paralysis, cardiac arrest and even death.

Hippos are animals that you are bound to find in most zoos and animal parks and people love seeing them enjoying their time in the waters. However, these harmless-looking beings can bite with a force that is enough to break bones, tear boats or snap a Nile crocodile in half. Their jaw can open up to 150 degrees with a span of 4-5 feet and their saliva contains enzymes like lysozyme and peroxidase that can chemically damage human flesh.

Cone snails can be found in tropical and sub-tropical waters and are extremely beautiful to look at. With their beautiful patterns, they appear highly intriguing but very few people know how harmful they can be. They have harpoon-like teeth that contain neurotoxins that can cause paralysis and death. And their bite is so painless that people don't even get to know until it's too late.

Kangaroos are animals that fascinate kids a lot. An animal that carries its offspring in a pouch on their belly gets every child excited for the sight. While generally kangaroos are not aggressive, if disturbed they can cause high damage. They have the same bite force as a grizzly bear and their paw-swiping force is eight times that of a human. With their high bite force and sharp teeth, they can lead to serious injuries.

Primarily found in the Amazon region, Brazilian wandering spiders belong to the genus 'Phoneutria' which means murderess in Greek. Their mouth inflict painful bites on people and are loaded with neurotoxin venom that can be deadly to humans. They are one of the deadliest spiders in the world and could be found roaming around houses like innocent crawlers.

Slow loris is one of those animals that have seen the limelight of the meme world. With their big glassy eyes, they look like a cute cartoon caricature and one look at them would probably make you want to take them home. However, these harmless-looking animals have a toxic bite that is so painful that it leads to burning sensations in the tongue and throat, hypotension, muscle convulsions and even death. Unlike other animals the toxin in their bites comes from them licking a gland on their inner elbow with has a secretion that gets deposited in their teeth.

These white fluffy animals might seem like giant teddy bears, but they are completely opposite. Their bite force is even stronger than that of brown bears and thus can lead to the breaking of bones and even death.

Mute swans are depicted as the most feminine and elegant birds all around. However, when endangered they use their strong beaks to peck and bite at a person leading to bruises and even blood.

Life underwater is always exciting to look at. Thus, it is no surprise that many people go seal tracking and love interacting with them. However, in case of a leopard seal, it's better to maintain your distance. This animal can inflict serious injuries because of its large size. In 2003, a British Antarctic Survey researcher was killed by a leopard seal in Antarctica. They are known to bite and drag people underwater.

While dolphins are generally known to be calm and fun, they can sometimes attack people with bites that can cause lacerations and broken bones. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth can cause much harm and also introduce bacteria into wounds, leading to infections.