Real-Life Animals That Are More Like Nightmares

By Michael Avery in Nature On 19th March 2017
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.