Dangerous animals questions

The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and the Sahel, but widespread in sub-Saharan countries except rainforest regions. On the IUCN Red List it is listed as Least Concern.

Penguins live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere but native range of polar bears lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean (Northern Hemisphere). So there is not probably that any penguin has been ever consumed by polar bear in natural environment.

Green mambas have characteristic big green rinds in various shapes and with black edges. Like all other mambas, the western green mamba is a highly venomous.

Hippopotamuses are by nature very aggressive and tend to be very territorial. They commonly attack humans (as well as other animals) whether in boats or on land with no apparent provocation. Zulu warriors preferred to be as brave as a hippopotamus, since even lions were not considered as brave and deadly.

The venom produced in the crural glands of the male platypus is not lethal to humans. However, it produces excruciating pain which does not respond even to morphine; sometimes the pain develops into a long-lasting hyperalgesia that can persist for months. Some biologists suggest that the venom may work directly on the brain's pain receptors. Other venomous mammals are small insectivores and vampire bats, which produce toxic saliva.

Electric eel lives in muddy floodplains of Orinoco basin. It is well adapted to this low-oxygen environment: it can breathe atmospheric air using a vascularized respiratory organ in its oral cavity. In fact, electric eels must rise to the surface every 10 minutes and inhale, otherwise they die not having enough oxygen from the gill.

Tigers living in the southeast Asia are semi-aquatic. They spend much of their time in rivers and feed on fish. Young tigers like to play in the water, and adults often take a bath just to keep cool during hot days.

The ant named on account of its powerful and potent sting. It inhabits humid lowland rain forests from Nicaragua to Brazil, where it is often called "Hormiga Veinticuatro" or "24 (hour) ant", referring to the "waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours".

The praying mantis chews its victims in a manner similar to the way mammals do; however, its jaws close sideways, and not from the top or bottom like mammals' mouths. Mantis always eats the head first.

The biggest recorded "beachmaster" male of the southern elephant seal was 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) and 6.9 m (22.5 ft) long. A bear can grow up to 1,000 kg - five times less.