The world is a scary place, but the things we are scared of during the day are hardly the most terrifying things out there. These real life creatures remind us that there are far scarier things in this world than sharks, spiders and bears.
Real-Life Animals That Are More Like Nightmares
1. Japanese Giant Hornet
These guys can grow to about three inches with a 0.24-inch stinger. In Japan, they kill about 30 to 40 people each year.
2. The Pacific Viperfish
This deep-sea monster's jaws are so big that it literally can't close its own mouth.
3. The Camel Spider
It's actually an ancestor of scorpions (and not a real spider). Its jaws are about 1/3 of the side of its body.
4. Star-Nosed Mole
The star-like appendages on its nose give it its name, and they're incredibly sensitive. Called "Elmer's organs," they have more than 25,000 tiny sensory receptors.
5. Giant Isopod
These guys are prehistoric; they've been around, largely unchanged, for thousands of years. They can also go for four years without eating.
6. Giant Spider Crab
The aptly named giant spider crab can grow to 12 feet from claw to claw.
7. Naked Mole Rat
Sure, it looks repulsive, but the naked mole rat is actually really important for humans. Why? Well, it's resistant to cancer, and it could hold the key to fighting the disease. It also remains "youthful" for most of its 28-year lifespan, so scientists are extremely interested in this bizarre monstrosity.