15 Terrifying Animals That Are Way Smaller Than You

Out of all the highly venomous snakes in the world (of which there are many), it is the African Black Mamba that ranks as most terrifying, even though there are some snakes out there that are more aggressive and some that are more venomous. But what makes this snake so terrifying is that it can raise up to 40% of its body length above ground, which gives it considerable striking range, making it much easier to bite a person somewhere other than an extremity.

But what also makes it so terrifying is that it can slither at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour for short bursts, making it arguably the fastest snake on earth. That's an exceptionally terrifying prospect, because it can disappear before you'd even realize, capable of concealing itself easily in the vegetation around it.

As for its bite, well, it's called the 'Kiss of Death' for a very good reason. This snake is the most feared species in all of Africa (which, given the other dangerous snakes that live on that continent, says a lot), and its bite can kill a person in as little as 45 minutes.

So you have a long, black snake that can move with surprising speed (for a snake), tends to come into frequent contact with humans, and delivers a terrifyingly-powerful bite. Are you sure you still want to visit Africa?