Which animals do you fear the most? Sharks? Jellyfish? Spiders? Lions?  All of these are capable of doing you great harm but are they the most likely to kill you? 

How it Works Magazine have compiled a list of the top 5 people killers.

Top 5 Killers (numbers are human deaths per year)

1.Mosquitoes (725,000)
The statistics don’t lie; mosquitoes are the biggest killer of humans. They may not be classed as a predator, but their ability to kill through transmitting malaria means that they present the biggest threat to humans.

2.   Snakes (50,000) 
Not surprisingly snakes, everyone’s second phobia, rank second mainly due lack of antivenin in many parts of the world.

3.Dogs (25,000) 
Maybe a surprising number three but dogs due to their ability to spread rabies the almost always fatal infectious disease means they’re extremely worthy of their number three spot.

4.Tsetse fly (10,000)
This tiny fly packs a punch, found in Africa it feeds on the blood of humans and animals transmitting a parasite into the human which if untreated will become fatal.

5.Assassin Bug (10,000)
Deadly by name, deadly by nature this bug based in the Americas not only bites but spreads a parasite into the human which damages major organs. 

What about the iconic predators?
Crocodile Vs Alligator

Comfortably the world’s largest reptile, the saltwater crocodile is an extremely successful predator. Equipped with bony armour, beefy muscularity and a lethal bite force, they are able to overwhelm even the largest prey that live in their ecosystem. The crocodile reportedly kills on average 2,500 people a year.

Once endangered the American alligator is now thriving. They are stealthy predators and often float along the water, camouflaged as a drifting lump of wood. Like the saltwater crocodile, these gators are immensely powerful – their strong jaws can crack through a turtle’s shell – and they will eat almost anything, including a human, if they are hungry enough. The Alligator only really attacks humans in self defense with a reported eight attacks each year but they’re rarely fatal.

Polar Vs Grizzly Bear
The polar bear has no equal in the Arctic, roaming fearlessly in its hunt for food. There is no tougher environment to thrive in and life can be challenging when trying to meet insatiable hunger. 

The polar bear’s favourite snack is a ringed seal which is packed full of energy-rich blubber that is key to their survival, as you can imagine attacks on humans are rare but due to their size they can be deadly. 

The grizzly tends to live in solitude; it has no need to form packs or clans due to its ferocious defensive capabilities. They eat lots of nuts and berries, but can take down large animals with their immense strength. Due to their remote habitat they rarely kill humans and average at just three fatalities a year.

Shark Vs Killer Whale
If you happened to be a creature on the great white shark’s menu, then the proverb “out of sight, out of mind” wouldn’t provide much comfort. Its supersensitive snout is covered in sensory cells, enabling it to sniff out a seal colony from over three kilometres (two miles) away. Lurking below the surface to conceal its immense size – averaging 4.6 metres (15 feet) in length – the great white waits for an opening before torpedoing vertically through the water at fin-tastic speeds of up to 40 kilometres (25 miles) per hour. Between 2004 to 2014, the number of fatalities caused by sharks averaged out at less than five per year worldwide.

The killer whale, however, is said to be more deadly than even the great white shark but rarely attacks humans. They possess brainpower to match their brawn, with most scientists agreeing that these wondrous animals are capable of complex communication and even self-awareness.

How It Works magazine aims to educate and enlighten the knowledge-hungry. A bible of science, technology, transport, space and history, created by science and technology experts, How It Works will transform your brain in minutes with heaps of weird and wonderful facts and stats.

You can find out more here Howitworksdaily.com