Saying that sharks are scary is not controversial, and the same thing goes for hippos and lions and wolves. Remember that trailer for the fake horror movie Hungry Hungry Hippos that cirulated a few years back? Someone made that because hippos—with their massive teeth and even more massive bodies and bad temperaments—are terryfing beasts!

But enough about the hippos. Anything that’s more than 15 feet long and weighs 10,000 pounds is going to catch your eye and set off “Run!” bells in your head. But what about the world’s smallest creatures? The ones you don’t see or hear coming until it’s too late, like mosquitos, tapeworms and flies? This data visualization highlights 15 animal assassins that account for more than one million human fatalities per annum. 

The world is a jungle. So watch your back. And check your shoes. And don’t forget your bug spray!

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Written and Produced by Gabriel Reilich
Graphics: Jake Infusino
Music: Full Metal Jacket - Dirty Art Club
https://www.facebook.com/DirtyArtClub

Sources: (All figures have a wide margin of error)

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/ascariasis/en/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs115/en/

http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_topics&view=article&id=10&Itemid=40743

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61728-0/abstract

http://www.unodc.org/gsh/

http://www.toxinology.org/gsi-epidemiology2.htm

http://www.crocodile-attack.info/

http://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/Most-Lethal-Animal-Mosquito-Week