When reading the news this morning, I came upon this information that animals with large teeth and fearsome reputations such as the lion, tiger, or shark are not the world’s worst killers.
If you judge a creature’s killing prowess by the number of human fatalities they cause every year, the tiny mosquito comes out on top.
If you judge a creature’s killing prowess by the number of human fatalities they cause every year, the tiny mosquito comes out on top.
www.dailymail.co.uk Next down, little brown freshwater snails cause the deaths of more than 10,000 people every year. They live in rivers and lakes in subtropical and tropical regions across the globe. When people drink the water, they ingest snail eggs. These burrow into the human stomach to lay their eggs, which cause deadly disease schistosomiasis associated with poor living conditions, overcrowding, and lack of sanitation or clean water. Symptoms can include paralysis of the legs and vomiting blood as well as flu-like symptoms caused by the immune system reacting to the eggs.
While humans wipe out 475,000 fellow people in murders and wars, the three traditional predators kill only 120 across the globe annually.
So … beware the little freshwater slug.
While humans wipe out 475,000 fellow people in murders and wars, the three traditional predators kill only 120 across the globe annually.
So … beware the little freshwater slug.
Here's a news report from TMU News, April 20, 2009
Killer Snail Kills German Reseacher
Suluwasi Indonesia
Today the body of Hans Feinkelstien of the Invert Research Foundation was found in a remote location of Suluwasi Indonesia by a local fish collector. Hans has been missing for 10 days when he failed to return from a scientific study of Anentome Helena or commonly called the Assassin Snail in the aquarium hobby.
His body was discovered in a quiet pool near the Faketun River where Hans had been conducting his field studies. According to reports there was little left of Hans but that the entire body was covered by Anentome Helena. The Medical examiner that examined the body has determined that Hans was attacked and killed by the Anentome Helena. “All indications are that the snails he had collected were the cause of his death. We have found evidence to indicate that Hans was first attacked by the snails he had collected and then fell into the river as he struggled for his life.” stated the state medical examiner who examined the body.
“This is why we need tighter restrictions of importation of species into the United States” screamed the senator from Guam when she heard the news. “I will get this bill through even if the science behind it is based on the same science the global warming scientist use. I mean how long before a Anentome Helena attacks and kills a child why they are cleaning their Spongebob Fish Tank.”
There have been reports of Anentome Helena attacking and killing dwarf shrimp and according to researchers it would not be that big of a jump to assume that larger animals are on the menu. Anentome Helena has not been really studied in depth and the death of Hans has set back all information on this species by years since all his notes were lost when his notebook fell into the water with him.
I don't think I'll bother installing an aquarium. If I tripped, knocking the lid ajar as I fell, some of these slimy creatures could sense my helplessness and slither up and over the glass to suck the life out of me where I lay.
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