Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down Which Animals May Look Innocent But Are Actually Quite Vicious

Don't pet the platypus.

It looks cute (and a little weird, which is probably why you want to pet it in the first place).

But I implore you to resist the urge!

Did you know that the platypus has a poisonous kick?

That's right. The platypus has venom glands that are connected to hollow spurs on its hind legs. It's one of the few mammals to produce venom. While it's not lethal to humans, it can cause excruciating pain.

People told us about other animals with deceiving appearances after Redditor [deleted] asked the online community,

"What animal looks innocent but isn't?"

"My mom was attacked..."

"Otters. My mom was attacked by one while she was swimming in a lake and she got 10 deep cuts on her legs that left gnarly scars. Some of the deeper cuts were infected so she had to go through months of antibiotic and IV treatment all because of a water rat."

nahif11954

That's pretty terrifying.

Aaaaaaand this is why I'm a city boy who steers far away from wildlife.

"Like what could possibly go wrong..."

"Jellyfish, specifically box jellyfish. Like what could possibly go wrong if I touch this little box shaped piece of jewelry with strings on it? Aaaaand I'm dying."

ficey9450

I was stung by a jellyfish once. Thankfully not the lethal kind. But it was terrible. I thought it was a plastic bag!

"Australia has too many..."

"Australia has too many… The platypus has 'excruciatingly painful' stingers on the back of their heels. Blue ringed octopuses can make you die. The cassowaries have a dagger as a beak. There's even this microscopic jellyfish that, if you are stung, literally makes you suicidal. Irukandji Jellyfish."

Catask

See?! What did I tell you? The platypus is one of nature's more deceptive and scary creatures!

"I used to love..."

"I used to love chipmunks and squirrels. So cute. Then some got into one of my coworker's attic. $15,000 of damages. Yeah. I now see them for the vermin with fluffy tails that they are."

Condex

I don't know what people see in them... yes, I have chipmunk prejudice.

"They look like..."

"Cone snails.

They look like empty shells on the beach. Then they spear you with a venomous barb when you pick them up."

Aussieboy393

"Don't be fooled by..."

"Hippos. Don't be fooled by how the cartoons and folktales are portrayed. They are dangerous and unpredictable. They are the animals crocs are afraid of."

LordCoke-16

I once stayed up all night reading about hippo attacks. Wikipedia can take you down some rabbit holes.

"They are more aggressive..."

"Geese.

Especially Canada Geese.

They are more aggressive than wasps, attack more people than the scariest-looking animals do, and have teeth on their tongues."

Boss_Pigeon

"Because of their endangered status..."

"Pandas. Because of their endangered status and how they are portrayed in media people seem to forget they are still a f****** bear."

theearthhasnoedges

"One of the most terrifying facts..."

"Golden Poison Frog.

One of the most terrifying facts about the Golden Poison Dart Frog's toxins is that they can kill nearly any species in under ten minutes, and there is no cure for the toxin."

Back2Bach

Another reason why I don't want to be in the jungle anytime soon!

"Nothin' innocent..."

"Raccoons. Nothin' innocent about rabies, or the other diseases they can carry, including an infection in your eyes!"

ral365

Nature is terrifying, isn't it?

If you're looking to enjoy it, remember that it's best to keep a safe distance.

Have some opinions of your own? Feel free to tell us in the comments below!

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

JD Vance; Jen Psaki
Johannes Simon/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Vance Gets Brutal Reminder After Accusing Jen Psaki Of 'Attacking' People For Praying Following School Shooting

Vice President JD Vance was criticized after he lashed out at MSNBC host Jen Psaki for saying that "prayer is not freaking enough" to end school shootings after a shooter killed two children and wounded 17 others during the first week of classes at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.

Psaki spoke out on X shortly after the shooting occured, to stress that "thoughts and prayers" don't actually address or prevent mass shootings and gun violence overall:

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @andydouglas.trumpboy's TikTok video; President Donald Trump
@andydouglas.trumpboy/TikTok; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Video Of Little Boy Sobbing After Finding Out Trump Is A Real Person Goes Viral—And We Totally Get It

Whether it was Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, or some other important facet of childhood, most of us found out when we were kids that something we loved did not exist, and it was absolutely devastating and world-changing.

But imagine there being something that you deeply disliked or feared, only for you to find out that it actually exists on the same plane and in the same timeline as you.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @originalsugarphly's TikTok video
@originalsugarphly/TikTok

Woman Stunned After Best Friend Of 23 Years Ends Friendship Over Her 'Mom Shorts'

We will all have friends who come into our lives for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime. There are those situational friendships, like from work or school, that dissolve when we exit that space, and there are friendships that might form from knowing the same people.

Then there are those tried-and-true friendships that we think will truly stand the test of time—but even those sometimes fracture under pressure. And sometimes for the most ridiculous reasons.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @nurse_xtina129's TikTok
@nurse_xtina129/TikTok

Woman Sparks Debate By Putting Out Small Fire At Dunkin' Donuts After Workers Ignored It

Imagine hitting that afternoon slump and seeking out your favorite caffeinated beverage: a highlight in an otherwise dumpster fire kind of day. But then you arrive at your coffeehouse of choice—and there's literally a fire.

TikToker Cristina Conklin was waiting in line for a beverage at Dunkin' Donuts in Warwick, New York, when she became either a villain or a hero, depending on who was watching her TikTok video.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former Republican congressman and Fox News host Trey Gowdy
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

MAGA Fumes Over Fox Gun Control Talk

The nation is reeling after yesterday’s mass shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, where a gunman opened fire during a Catholic school Mass, killing two children and injuring more than a dozen others. The tragedy has not only shaken the community but also reignited the national debate over guns in America—this time sparked by an unlikely voice.

Former Republican congressman and Fox News host of Sunday Night in America, Trey Gowdy—long seen as a staunch defender of gun rights and a past recipient of National Rifle Association contributions—surprised many of his own allies when he called for a national reckoning on firearms access.

Keep ReadingShow less