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
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
What about this picture makes you go "Nope"? It's more like, "bless you, mister lizard".
Is this Hawaii? Because there are very few things that eat cockroaches. When we were in Kauaii the house had several resident lizards. They chirp at each other at night, and there are crunching noises all over the place.
The lizards eat all the bugs in my house, my cats eat the lizards
There is nothing wrong with that just might need some more of them to keep away the bugs ;=]]
Uwaaaaa. I can't stand cockroach.. :'( Seing one even in the pictures give me goosebumps. 😥😥
When i lived in Hawaii I loved the lizzards. Cute too. Ours were a little smaller though.
Lizards are really good for this (seen more than once in my home in Florida)
i have a cat to eat spiders, spiders to eat mosquitoes, and i just need a gecko to eat food scraps (im very lazy)
I have heard that in India it’s a blessing to have a lizard inside. They protect you by eating less adorable creatures.
It's so cute though, thanks friend for taking care of the roaches for me
That's a gecko and not from Geico either! The best little guy to have in your house to get rid of the bugs. Plus they make cute chirping sounds.
I stayed briefly at a hotel in Cairns that came with a salamander. I thought it was cool because it was translucent. When I used a flash it's insides lit up. Ended up moving to the Cairns International hotel before the first night was over.
Damn. I should have gotten lizards at my flat in Sydney. There were tons of cockies, flying ones. The first night I was there, I had no screens and they kept flying in through my fifth story window. My cat ate them at first but then gave up. I wonder if he would have eaten the lizards?
On vacation in Hawaii years ago we watched a gecko stalking a cockroach on the ceiling of the living room. We were wishing he would catch it but he never did.
I love you guys, thank you for all the catch roaches while I was in the bathroom <3
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
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
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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
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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?
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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
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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....
