Sometimes we get so used to dreamy landscapes and cute puppies that we forget about nature's dark side. But it's there. Regardless of whether we pay attention to it or not. To remind you about some of the Mother Earth's scariest 'children,' Bored Panda has compiled a list of photos that should send shivers down your spine. Or at least make you say a loud "NOPE." From half-dead spiders covered in fungus to mutated frogs with eyes growing in their mouth, consider viewing these images as a contest: if you can scroll to the very end, you win. The prize? Nightmares.
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What Do You Do When You See A Flying Fox In Your Backyard? (The Philippines)
No that isn't the camera angle, that is actually one big bat. The flying fox also called the fox bat are among the largest bats in the world with a wingspan of 5 feet (1.5 metres) and a head and body length of about 16 inches (40 centimeters). They are found on tropical islands and the mainland of Asia. As scary as they look, these gentle giants only eat fruit.
Haven't Cleaned Behind The Dresser In Months
Did you know that some lizards lay eggs while some give live birth? That's right, while you will find lizard eggs of geckos, iguanas and monitor lizards, you won’t see blue tongue lizards, Solomon island lizards and shingle-back lizards laying eggs! They give birth to their live offspring.
Crazy Bird Tornado
This may look like a shot from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, but this eerie scene was created by none other than mother nature herself. A Reddit user posted the shot to the site's r/WTF thread and titled it "birdnado." The cluster is thought to be made up of starlings, a bird known for flying in thick flock formations called murmurations. These clusters reduce the amount of energy required during travel and protect them from predators. If starlings sense a shift in one part of the flock the entire pattern will shift.
Toads Riding On A Python
68mm just fell in the last hour at Kununurra. Flushed all the cane toads out of my brothers dam. Some of them took the easy way out - hitching a ride on the back of a 3.5m python.
Aaaand to break the news: the toads don't ride the python as in free public transport, they "ride" it as in they're horny af and they're humping the danger noodle. They are trying to mate with the nope rope.
Believe It Or Not, This Is One Of The Least Dangerous Spiders We Have In Australia
This is the huntsman spider, a common friend to be found in houses and garden across Australia. He's harmless really, don't let his large size intimidate you. Huntsmen won't bite humans unless provoked, are not venomous and are actually handy to have around the place, he'll use his speed and agility to keep your cockroach population under control.
Think of the huntsman as a handy pet. Respect his space, let him do his job and he'll look after you well.
Birds Using A Dead Pike's Mouth To Nest
Pike fish are freshwater fish known as ambush predators because of their ability to lie perfectly still for an impressive amount of time, thankfully for these birds this pike is out of water so it's safe to say it's actually dead.
I Want To Ride My Bicycle
Did you know that bees swarm when when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees? It's how a new honey bee colony is formed. In the prime swarm, about 60% of the worker bees leave the original hive location with the old queen. This swarm can contain thousands to tens of thousands of bees. Usually, swarming takes place in spring, within a two- or three-week period, but occasional swarms can happen throughout the producing season as well.
There Was A Friggin Gecko Hiding In My Son's Toy Spider
Geckos are reptiles found in all parts of the world except for Antartica. To avoid predators they have developed special features such as camouflage to help them hide in any environment (even a toy spider). Most geckos are nocturnal creatures which means they are active at night, but there are day geckos which are willing to venture out during the daylight hours in search of food.
My Town In Central Texas Has A Bird Problem
Every autumn, flocks of birds migrate to warmer territories. Most birds migrate at night (when the air is cooler and calmer, and there are fewer predators), flying in tandem even when they are 655 feet (200 meters) or more apart. Some of them, however, can be spotted during the daytime as well.
I looked at the foreground of the image first and was confused...and THEN
Sawfish
Sawfishes are large rays that are characterized by their long blade-like snouts. Along this elongated snout are lateral tooth-like denticles set inside sockets - which give the allusion of a giant chainsaw. Sawfishes use their "saw" (rostrum) during feeding time and to defend themselves. The rostrum will slash in a side-to-side motion and dislodge invertebrates from the substrate to stun fish.
Lizard Shed His Entire Face In One Go
If you want to peel of the skin from your pet lizard's head, you should try to take it off in one piece, and you want to make sure that it's 'released' around the ears. Also, be extra careful around the eyes.
Mother And Girlfriend Found This On The Beach Today. Any Idea What It Is?
This was found in Broome, Western Australia and looks like an anemone. More specifically, Dofleinia armata, the armed anemone. Also called the striped anemone. It is considered extremely dangerous as it can inflict painful stings that take months to heal.
Cthulhu’s daughter would look better than this thing!
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The way the title is written makes it sound like Mother & Girlfriend are the same person 😆
and this, folks, is why grammar and punctuation is important. Ignore me. I'm a bad example.
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Yes, google images of "black and white sea anemone"
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this is biggest nope i've yet to see in this list. literally makes my skin crawl 😨 I dont even wanna touch the picture
Someone's fascinator has become sentient and is going on a rampage.
damn i should never go to Australia because my first reaction would have been to pick it up and put it back in the ocean. Do All Aussies get a booklet upon being born/ moving there on what will and won't kill you?
Identifying venomous creatures and first-aid for bites, etc., was certainly part of my primary education. But for the most part, it's pretty uncommon to encounter anything really dangerous - depending what part of the country you're in and the season of course. Most venomous snakes will avoid humans except for some species of brown snake, and interactions with humans and other things are usually accidental. In the far North beware the Cassowary, especially when he's defending his chicks coz he has a huge and nasty claw which will disembowel you, (as can a big male Red Kangaroo if he feels like it). But at least (according to science) we don't have big, violent predators like bears or big cats so with the exception of sharks and saltwater crocodiles one is less likely to get eaten than in North America.
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Anemone found in the North of Australia.. Can be fatal to small people+dogs+extremely painful when affected. The sting can take months+months to heal.. Please avoid
This picture is from that Reddit thread if you look at the image credit... Click the 'Horrorwolfe' at the bottom of that picture and you will see the original context of this image.
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Starfish, very poisonous. Can kill you, or at least itch. Either way NOPE
Not a starfish (sea star actually) it's an anemone. But yes, quite poisonous
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Anything black (and white) in the marine world seems to be venomous - thinking particularly of banded sea snakes
I probably would have said "Oh poor baby!" and scooped it up and ended up with no arms forever.
Searched the Nopus description and came up with nothing. Seems to be as described, an armed anemone. Pictures on net show similar black/white all over pattern.
rare to see an Anemone washed up on the beach unless very rough water has brought it in. Highly dangerous do not kill but for those who have been stung wish it did; very very painful.
ah... gotta love Australia and our multitude of naturally lethal flora and fauna. <3 (and all the aussies say "meh...".... LOL)
It's an 'Abomination'. Leave it where you found it and let it make its way back to hell where it belongs.
It's a dying sea anemone. You can see it's 'mouth' in the middle and then tendrils that help it catch food.
I'd guess that would be some sort of microorganism colony, like a man-o-war that is shaped like that, or perhaps it is a species of Jellyfish or Octopus that is yet to be classified, or perhaps it is all on its own, species wise. I'd say you have just discovered a new species. You should report it to a nearby wildlife association, perhaps they can say what it is. Thanks for this cool image!
The Fox And The Hound
This poor fox obviously fell into the freezing water, perhaps pursuing prey onto thin ice, and drowned. We'd like to think that its doggy cousin is paying condolences in a sweet moment of canine comradeship.
This Fascinating Creature, A Deep-Sea Squid, Was Video Taped By Shell Out In The Perdido Area Of Alaminos Canyon, At 7800 Ft. Depth
We are well aware of the weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit the vast depths of the ocean, but this bigfin squid is very rarely seen, and little is known about them as a species.
This is the best and most recent footage of the elusive creature, taken on 11 November 2007 by an oil company in the Gulf of Mexico. The species are very distinct from all previously known squids, with the length of the elastic tentacles estimated to be up to 15–20 times the body length. Estimates based on video evidence put the total length of the largest specimens at 8 metres (26 ft) or more.
Death Shrouds From Hell - Spiders Cocooned These Trees To Save Themselves From A Flood
In 2010 a monsoon hit Pakistan that caused the rivers to swell and insects to run for cover. The strange anomaly was captured by aid worker Russell Watkins, a multimedia editor with the U.K.'s Department for International Development (DFID) in the Pakistani village of Sindh."There wasn't a scientific analysis of this being done. Anecdotally, I think it was pretty much any kind arachnid species, possibly combined with other insects," he told National Geographic. It was noted that because the flood waters took so long to recede, spiders who had sought asylum in the trees had just begun to spin weaves. Locals said they had never seen anything like it before.
Found A Beehive While Renovating An Old House
Bees can find a cozy space between walls, causing issues for homeowners. How do you tell them to leave? We all know the value that bees have for ecosystems so simply gassing them should not really bee and option.
They can cause damage and mold though, especially if they are honey bees, so should be removed. Call a professional beekeeper to come and take the hive away, don't attempt it yourself!
In Case You Ever Wanted To Know What A Hedgehog Skeleton Looked Like
As you can see, our spiky little friend wears his spines, which are made of keratin like our hair and nails, like a fur coat. The spines, unlike porcupine spines, don't easily attach from their bodies and are neither poisonous nor barbed. They can still be painful to the touch though!
Snaggle-Toothed Snake Eel Found On The Beach In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
This nightmarish creature is the snaggle-toothed snake eel or the Aplatophis zorro. It is a tropical eel found in the eastern central Pacific Ocean. According to the specimen found and studied by John E. McCosker and David Ross Robertson in 2001 they can reach a maximum length of 104 centimeters or 3"4 in feet (gulp). The eels live at 5-10 metres deep and live in burrows.
Frog With Eyes In Its Mouth As A Result Of Macromutation
A macromutation is a mutation that has made a significant impact on an organism, caused by a change in a regulatory gene that’s responsible for the expression of an array of structural genes. It’s been suggested that the cause of the mutation was the result of a parasitic infection by a trematode worm (Ribeiroia ondatrae). Trematode infections have reportedly been linked to an increasing number of amphibian limb mutations, particularly missing, malformed, and extra hind legs.
You Can See The Back Of An Owl’s Eye Through Its Ear
"Like all birds, owls lack the external ear structures found in most mammals," photographer Jim McCormac said. "The birds' ears are unadorned openings in their skulls, visible only when the feathers on the sides of the animals' heads are parted. But these owls' unusually large earholes and eyes also offer a "behind the scenes" peek at their visual system, showcasing the evolutionary adaptations in sight and hearing that make the birds so successful at stealthy nighttime hunting."
Lactarius Rubidius Growing Out Of Fox Skull
Lactarius Rubidius, more commonly known as the 'candy cap' mushroom, is found in western North America and is known mainly as an aromatic mushroom. Instead of being eaten as a vegetable, they are instead used mainly as a flavoring in a way similar to vanilla, saffron, or truffles. Would you eat this one if you found it?
Again, I think this is actually pretty gorgeous, in a strange way.
This Spider Web That Looks Like A Spider-Man Mask
Light, temperature, and humidity can affect the strength of a web. The adhesive droplets that spiders apply to their silk become sticky only when the silk leaves the spider’s body. But its strength can be affected by environmental factors, thus transforming into a creepy skull like this one.
Snake Was Electrocuted Then Bitten By Another Snake, Which Was Also Electrocuted
This shocking situation occurred within a power box and is just a terrifying ma-ssss-acre of serpentine proportions. Perhaps it was a botched rescue attempt after one poor snek found himself in trouble, his buddy tried pulling him away and suffered the same fate. Either way, it's truly the stuff of nightmares.
Someone Bugged His Phone
Things like this can happen when people fumigate. Insects try to escape chemicals by crawling into tight little places. Then they usually die.
Just Going To Run
This cozy fella has been identified as a ratsnake. Native to North America, ratsnakes are commonly found in the forests of the eastern and central United States and are essentially harmless to humans. If bitten by one of these critters, the most you will need is a small bandage, they are not venomous.
As the name suggests, their diet consists largely of small rodents, meaning they can often be found around barns and garages. Careful handling them though if you do find one in your shoe, instead of biting they are more likely to cover their victim with a foul-smelling musk!
Hydnora Africana
The plant grows underground, except for a fleshy flower that emerges above ground and emits an odor of feces to attract its natural pollinators, dung beetles and carrion beetles. The flowers act as temporary traps, retaining the beetles that enter long enough for them to pick up pollen.
Something Is Growing Inside A Bottle Of Natural Orange Juice I Abandoned Inside A Cabinet For Over A Year
This looks like it could be a cylindrical yeast colony. They form when nutrients settle on the bottom below the colony, allowing it to form vertically.
Grow Bigger Or Die
It's hard to say how large these terrifying-looking locusts actually are. Are they true giants, or is the snake just a lil nipper? Either way, they appear set for a lovely sit down meal.
That's either the smallest snake ever, either those are some big a*s crickets. There's a post with a snake in an embryonic sack just after birth in this post and coiled is at big as a hand. So those crickets seem bigger than a human hand?!
Weird Mold Growing Out Of Cat Food Can I Left In An Empty Room For 10 Days
By the looks of it, this could be a type of fungi called phycomyces. Phycomyces is not known to produce toxins, although its chemical composition has been investigated in considerable detail. It is probably safe for mammals: the fact that the dung of small mammals is the best natural source for Phycomyces spores suggests a regular consumption as food.
The Assassin Bug - The Ferocious Bug That Sucks Prey Dry And Wears Their Corpses
This terrifying and aptly named insects inject a lethal saliva into their prey which liquefies the insides, which are then sucked out.
The corpses of the emptied out creatures are then worn as camouflage by the cunning assassin. The camouflage is to protect the bug from being preyed on by jumping spiders, but if anything you'd think it would make them look even more tempting!
I find most of this pictures really interesting. I dont understand why people freaks out so much about nature.
Don't know about others, but me, personally, I freak out because I've got a very picturesque and wide imagination. Honestly. And weird dreams. So, yeah. I do freak out. Especially to spiders. But I still find these interesting none the less.
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I need to look at kittens after all of this. I’m thoroughly unnerved.
I think I could go without seeing half of those :D Our world is sooo strange :D
Most of these pictures are pretty cool, but I can't imagine how scary it would be if I was the one discovering these things. Maybe not so cool then
I like pictures of unusual things. I am not squeamish, as so many seem to be. Though strange, all of these pictures are interesting and part of the natural world. It is human behavior that I find repugnant.
I often come to Bored Panda when I can't get sleep. Now I won't sleep ever again...
Did you guys know there's a bug called the tarantula hawk wasp? bug-from-h...57d3b0.png 
I don't have a weak stomach but this article had some bizarre critters!
Never knew that all these creatures existed. It was quite interesting. Lois N
Phhewwww, finally finished. And what i found most scary was the dead one, the fish's skull. Anyone?
Other than snakes inside the house, all of these made me say YESSS! not nope ahah
Holy c**p! I'm usually pretty chill about 'different' looking nature stuff, but even I lost it about halfway through these. That's a big nope from me.
I could NOT get thru this article, scrolled all the way down to post. My flesh is crawling. Please stop! :).
I found myself scrolling down very slowly. It was like watching a horror film. :D Hhahahahaa
And this is just the tip of the iceberg (which may contain frozen creatures.) So many wonders that are hidden from us.
I find most of this pictures really interesting. I dont understand why people freaks out so much about nature.
Don't know about others, but me, personally, I freak out because I've got a very picturesque and wide imagination. Honestly. And weird dreams. So, yeah. I do freak out. Especially to spiders. But I still find these interesting none the less.
Load More Replies... I need to look at kittens after all of this. I’m thoroughly unnerved.
I think I could go without seeing half of those :D Our world is sooo strange :D
Most of these pictures are pretty cool, but I can't imagine how scary it would be if I was the one discovering these things. Maybe not so cool then
I like pictures of unusual things. I am not squeamish, as so many seem to be. Though strange, all of these pictures are interesting and part of the natural world. It is human behavior that I find repugnant.
I often come to Bored Panda when I can't get sleep. Now I won't sleep ever again...
Did you guys know there's a bug called the tarantula hawk wasp? bug-from-h...57d3b0.png
I don't have a weak stomach but this article had some bizarre critters!
Never knew that all these creatures existed. It was quite interesting. Lois N
Phhewwww, finally finished. And what i found most scary was the dead one, the fish's skull. Anyone?
Other than snakes inside the house, all of these made me say YESSS! not nope ahah
Holy c**p! I'm usually pretty chill about 'different' looking nature stuff, but even I lost it about halfway through these. That's a big nope from me.
I could NOT get thru this article, scrolled all the way down to post. My flesh is crawling. Please stop! :).
I found myself scrolling down very slowly. It was like watching a horror film. :D Hhahahahaa
And this is just the tip of the iceberg (which may contain frozen creatures.) So many wonders that are hidden from us.
