While we as humans continue to try (and fail) to live in peace and harmony, it is worth remembering that the world around us is a brutal, unforgiving place.
We have tamed our lives to such an extent that it is easy to turn a blind eye to the horrors of nature, sure, we as a species are far more damaging to our planet than all others put together, but let's not pretend that it's all sweetness and light out there!
This list, compiled by Bored Panda, is a reminder that we live in a scary world. Some of these things are simply wonders of nature that we may not like the look of, like spiders and centipedes. Some show the raw power of the elements, while others illustrate the horrific things that other creatures to do each other in order to survive. All of these things are awe-inspiring examples of nature, something not to be feared, but to be respected. Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
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Wrap Around Spider, Named For Its Ability To Flatten And Wrap Its Body Around Tree Limbs
Spiderbro Guarding Me From Malaria Outside My Window
I love "pet" spiders, as I call them. They live in one corner of your apartment, feed on insects and sometimes climb down to investigate your belongings. If I happen to become roommates with one, I always make a point to leave some water for it to drink, if it needs it. My favourite spider of this kind used to live in my mom's bedroom. It only had 5 legs and we named it Oggie. The tiny spider loved to crawl on my mom's sketches(she's an engineer) and kept her company. I was 5 at the time and it was one of the first examples of invertebrates' personalities I was to see.
Seaweed In The Waves
Xylaria Polymorpha, Commonly Known As Dead Man's Fingers, Is A Saprobic Fungus
A Firefly Kept Right On Flashing After Being Eaten By A Frog
This Frog Was Found All Dried Up And Withered Outside The Store In The Morning... The Store Manager Said, "Let's Try Splashing Some Water On It," And Holy Sh*t It Came Back To Life
Something similar happened to me once, but well, the other way round. I was on a sea holiday and came upon a large blue dragonfly, drowned in the sea. Now, I was saddened for the poor thing, but also ecstatic, for I have a collection of pinned insects, all of which were found dead, for I just can't bring myself to kill alive ones for the purpose. I carried it around in my palm, wondering where exactly was I to put it, for I didn't have any other dragonflies and the thing was huge. Suddenly, it moved! A second later, again! It became progressively more active, until it could stand on its legs and turn his head around in curiosity! I separated its wings carefully(they stuck to each other from the salty water) and it shook itself a little. I left it cleaning itself on an oak on a quiet path and I do hope it recovered completely. :)
The Skeleton Of A Puffer Fish Is Pretty Metal
Damn Nature, You Scary...
A planting enthusiast wasn’t scared of anything, but when they found a skull of a 50 year old oojomaku breed, their life changed.
Rome Yesterday
My Mum's Toilet After A Recent Flood
I actually think those frogs are cute. Not the best place to find them, but not terrifying.
Snapdragon Seed Pods Look Like Skulls
Well, This is nature being nature! Fully of mystery and creativity!
Those Fishes Are Literally Lit
The Eyes And Teeth Of A Scallop
This Is A Hammerhead Bat And Is By Far The Creepiest Animal I've Seen
My Gecko Ate His Tail
This Is Why You Always Have To Check The Toilet In Australia
That's a long pile of s**t! Someone is eating too much fibres!
These Plants Look Like Tiny Hands
The Clathrus Archeri Fungus Resembles Some Pretty Metal Tentacles Sprouting From An Alien Egg When It Blooms
I have watched too many alien movies which have gutted my mind to point that I refuse to believe its a plant! Fck me, I am running from here and calling ARMY, NAVY or fckng SWAT team.
Currently Renovating Our Floors. Seems Everyone Has Come Out Of Hiding
That was in your house and you just chilled and took a picture of it. Your bravery has no end
Australian life. (Never putting a step there)
Load More Replies...Did the renovations involve burning the whole house to the ground and just rebuilding?
You know what? Id just forget the renovations and just move to Antarctica
I was thinking a few states far from said spider, but Antarctica sounds great!
Load More Replies...A few commenters have asked - yes, it's Australian; it's a huntsman spider. Generally harmless and quiet, but occasionally they can have a real attitude. I once waled into a roon to see one on the oposite wall about 5 metres away, and the beastie reared up and waved its legs at me whichever direction I walked. And I once was bitten under the armpit by one that had crawled under my sheets - stung like a wasp and itched for two weeks, with the blood vessels in the area looking dark and swollen. I did put the poor thing outside though - I felt sorry for it being pressed against me...
Oh, and to scare the pants off all the arachnophobes - these things run like the blazes. The beastie in the photo could probably go from ceiling to floor in less than a couple of seconds if it had a mind to...
Load More Replies...That is hunsman spider. They like wooded stuff and eat cockroaches and crickets. Their bite is painful but in most cases not life threatening - it just swells locally and it's gone in a few days.
Anything that eats cockroaches is automatically my best friend!
Load More Replies...For the first time in my life I actually couldn't look at the internet, and I've seen two girls one cup
is that a wolf spider? arent they harmless? i find it kinda cool actually :x
It's a huntsman, which get much bigger than wolf spiders. Both are non-venomous. I prefer both to be outside, not inside.
Load More Replies...seriously??? that thing is gigantic! Inside the house? *buys a flamethrower*
Yup! It's a huntsman- a common house spider in Australian lo m p
Load More Replies...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! OH HELL NO! I'M MOVING M***********S!!!!!
did i say renovating? i'm sorry, i really meant setting everything on fire and leave the country for good.
...so I thought I'd make a last picture before I burned down the house ...with a nuke... ...from orbit...
People ask me why I have a gun sometimes... this is one of the reasons. After all, you're already renovating.
As long as they don't touch me I'm good. Had a similar spider in bungalow while on vacation in Costa Rica, it ran when I got out of bed. Couldn't find it so went back to sleep. NON issue.
But f-ck!!! This is still from Australia right??? The OTHER reason I refuse a trip to Down Under! The first lay in the toilet above!
Dream: "oh no im scared of you Mr. Human ima run off out!" Reality: "GET OUT OF MA HOU- GET OFF MEEEEEE NOOOOOO!"
Where do you live? Hell? I'd be packing. (Shaking everything out first)
That's a huntsman spider. Harmless and shy, easily frightened. They are good to have in your garden. They live under tree bark and catch insects.
I lived in Sydney for ten years. Never saw the deadly funnel web spider except in museums, but I did see two huntsman spiders. I took a picture and then got the bug spray. They were just outside my door in the 5th floor, and I was worried they'd come inside. Scary looking, but not dangerous.
Its clearly looking at the photographer... wondering what will the human do next.
Damn just how many babies does she have ? no no a little to big for me ;=]]
Holy Mother..... 1-800-TERMINEX!!!! Pest control company in Florida
I once saw a spider as big as a tiny tiny bowl, and freaked out know im FREAKED out
Winter can be cold and harsh but I will gladly take it to have stuff like this die yearly.
How can you stay in the same building as this let alone the same room.
Well forget about that renovation and just put everything on fire
There is a time and place for the use of a bazooka. This is both that .time and place.
No. No. No. No. NO. It is NOT fair. How can a country/continent have amazing animals like the Wombat and then also THIS??!!!!
I'm sorry, but if there's one, there's more. You need to burn that house down!
I would have burned my house down right there and then!😱🙅♀️🙅♀️🙅♀️F**k that noise!!!😰
Huntsman spider? I've seen those in real life and they're f*****g terrifying.
Headline: Man finds giant spider while renovating house and is killed after taking a picture and posting it to Bored Panda. Authorities believe spider are man alive as his body still has not been found
ok this is the most incredible and horrible creature I´ve ever seen...
I'm not even finish typing and hit the send button because to excited of this.
Load More Replies...All I Know Is That It Needs To Burn
I feel quite sorry for them really as they're just trying not to drown
Deer Skull After Sitting In Water For Over A Year
The Frog That Caught A Spider
...that wriggled and wriggled and jiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly, perhaps she'll die.
A Leopard Seal Peering Through A Veil Of Plankton
Acid Spitting Ants
Articulated Cobra Skeleton
Wow, whoever put it together, must be having most non-shaking hands in the world.
Black Swallower Died Trying To Eat A Fish 4 Times Its Size
The Statue Being Swallowed By A Tree
Once upon a time there was a man who did very bad things. The emperor turned him into a statue and trapped him in a tree. If he's freed the whole world is doomed. I made up this story
A Lizard Eating A Cockroach Alive At My House Porch
My Dad Sent Me This Photo. Water Mocassin? Tennessee
Give a snake a fish an he'll eat it. Teach a snake to fish and he'll become the fishing rod.
Attack Of Legionary Ants (Also Known As Army Ants Or Marabunta) To A Wasp Honeycomb
Chameleon Mummified Alive By The Tropical Sun
The Inside Of A Gooses Mouth
Well, I knew they have teeth, but I didn't know they have some on the tongue as well!
This Snake Covered In Ticks
These New Fish Species Can Survive In Volcanoes And They’re The Stuff Of Nightmares
After A Weekend Storm In New England, A Puffer Fish Was Found In A Tree
The Lamprey Fish
A Mother Whip Spider Carrying Her Babies On Her Back
5-Legged Frog That Lives In The Marsh Behind Our Neighborhood
This Hornets Nest Looks Kind Of Like A Hornet’s Head
Dolphin Caught A Squid, Trailing The Ink Behind It
A Jungle Perch With A Surprise
Lavafall
This Spider Web That Looks Like A Spider-Man Mask
The Giant Isopod, Found In The Deep Seas And Is An Example Of Deep-Sea Gigantism
One Big Spider
Take A Seat
Goliath Tiger Fish, Congo River
When you boss tells you a joke which isn't funny at all, but you gotta pretend its funny as heck!
Sweet Potato Creepily Resembles Human Heart
The Largest Scar You'll Ever See
Close Up Of Moth Outside My Window
Something Took Two Clean Bites Out Of This Poor Sea Ravioli
When Mozilla Freezes
Ant On My Porch Carrying The Head Of His Vanquished Enemy
Eels In The Stream At Battle Hill Farm
Found Out The House We Are Living In Has A Bunker Below. I Managed To Squeeze My Phone In One Of The Cracks Of The Door To Take This Creepy Picture
Several names. Camel crickets in my area. Dang things are a pain in the b***.
Found An Icicle Held Only By A Spider's Web
Found In Mexico. Battle To The Death
Oregon Fires Next To A Golf Course
My Inlaws Are In A Bit Of A Froggy Situation Right Now
G'day Mates, Let's Be Friendssss!
A Lizard On Its Final Journey
Something Crawled Through The Keyhole And Made A Hive In The Garage Door Handle
These Ants Forming A Question Mark
Thousands Of Mosquitos Outside Of My Window At Work
Bleeding Tree
So My Friend Got Something In His Eye While We Were Walking Home
and you took a picture instead of getting it out. wow! we r intelligent beings.
This Sick Washed Up Gar Skeleton I Found
You kept it, didn't you? No, wait, there are probably laws for it, right? Gars are rare, after all. Pity, it's a nice skeleton for studies.
Millions Of Fire Ants Floating In Flooding From Harvey
Fireants Create A Floating Island Of Themselves To Ride Out The Houston Flooding
This Coyote Froze Solid During The Recent Winter Storm (Pine Barrens, Southern New Jersey)
Bored Panda please take note. We want more of this stuff and less of the Halle Berry yoga nonsense.
something flew in my ear whiilst scrolling lol
Load More Replies...Please don't put anymore frozen animals on here. It makes my heart hurt.
Because I'm best friends with piper but after Jason's death she hasn't been the same
Load More Replies...Just scrolled down to the comments, I didn't want to see the list after a few pics
anyone seen the picture of all those spiders in the tree after a flood or something a few years back?
These are informative, educational&facinating as well as entertaining...More please...
Would you rather have then in the evening before going to bed?
Load More Replies...What is with all these animals frozen in water? Water does not freeze that quickly. Surely they must all have been dead (or nearly so) when it got below 0 (Celsius)?
some of them are frozen standing up - spose that what happens in minud 50 degrees - nature is wonderful but extreme and takes no prisoners
Load More Replies...I liked the scary ones, but please stop with the frozen animals, they're sad not scary....
Bored Panda please take note. We want more of this stuff and less of the Halle Berry yoga nonsense.
something flew in my ear whiilst scrolling lol
Load More Replies...Please don't put anymore frozen animals on here. It makes my heart hurt.
Because I'm best friends with piper but after Jason's death she hasn't been the same
Load More Replies...Just scrolled down to the comments, I didn't want to see the list after a few pics
anyone seen the picture of all those spiders in the tree after a flood or something a few years back?
These are informative, educational&facinating as well as entertaining...More please...
Would you rather have then in the evening before going to bed?
Load More Replies...What is with all these animals frozen in water? Water does not freeze that quickly. Surely they must all have been dead (or nearly so) when it got below 0 (Celsius)?
some of them are frozen standing up - spose that what happens in minud 50 degrees - nature is wonderful but extreme and takes no prisoners
Load More Replies...I liked the scary ones, but please stop with the frozen animals, they're sad not scary....