Video 15 Creepiest Ambush Predators

Not all animals that are at the top of the food chain are the scariest, the sneakiest animals can be more deadly!

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8. Scorpionfish

The most commonly encountered marine ambush predator is the scorpionfish. This fact shouldn’t be too surprising as there are more than 1300 species found worldwide in both tropical and temperate waters. These menacing fish have sharp spines that are coated with venomous mucus all over their bodies. Most species wait in disguise for their prey to pass before swallowing them whole. They are bottom dwellers that mostly feed on crustaceans and smaller fish.

7. Starfish

There is a small species of starfish that uses ambush tactics in a very mundane and uneventful way. They remain stationary on the floor of the sea for extended periods of time and wait until a small crustacean comes into contact with them. Using their tube feet and flexing their arms allows these starfish to push its prey into their mouths. These animals have five arms and have a slow growth rate that usually ends in them being around 3 to 4 inches in diameter. This type of starfish lives on the eastern seaboard of Canada and the United States.

6. Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle

With 95 percent of its life spent buried and motionless these turtles must have a lot of patience. They only surface twice a day to breathe. It's no wonder they are ambush predators. Their bite, capable of crushing bones, significantly adds to their effectiveness as a hunter. They are carnivorous that mainly feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and fish though they do eat aquatic plants in a pinch. Named after Danish physician and zoologist Theodore Cantor, this turtle is disappearing from places where they used to be abundant, making them an endangered species. They can grow to a length of six feet and mostly live in freshwater streams and rivers.

5. Bobbit Worm

This tiny terror is something you will want to locate and avoid at all costs. Bobbit worms are found, but usually not seen, on the ocean floor. Their hunting style involves the worms burying themselves into the ground until an unsuspecting sea creature wanders by, at which point they strike with incredible speed and razor sharp teeth, sometimes cutting their hapless victims in half.

4. Colossal Squid

Not the ferocious predator that it was once made out to be, these squids are slow drifting animals that ambush unwitting prey with the hooks on its arms and tentacles to ensnare anything that drifts too close to its grasp. Studies revealed that these animals have a slow metabolic rate and only need about 30 grams of prey per day. They also showed that their large eyes are mainly used for predator detection and not hunting. Fishers aboard the San Aspiring caught an unusually large specimen of the squid on February 22, 2007, in the Antarctic waters of Ross Sea. It weighed 1,091 pounds, making it the largest colossal squid ever captured.

3. Black Mamba

Known to prey on hyrax, bushbabies, and smaller birds the black mamba is relentless. If prey attempts to escape following the black mamba’s initial bite, the snake will strike over and over again until its victim stops moving. The mamba’s venom is composed of extremely potent neurotoxins that can cause symptoms instantly. When confronted it will open its black mouth and spread its neck flap while hissing. They can also strike from incredible distances, but luckily they will flee from humans unless threatened or concerned.

2. Cougar

While cougars are accomplished sprinters, they prefer to hunt by stalking through trees or brush and leaping onto the back of its hapless prey before delivering a fatal bite through its powerful jaws to finish the victim off. Cougar’s bodies are perfect for its ambush style of hunting. Their skulls are circular, and their ears are always erect. Its forepaws are incredibly durable and come with five retractable and deadly claws.

1. Nile Crocodile

Considered the second largest reptile in the world behind its relative the saltwater crocodile, these beasts are terrors for any creature that finds itself in their path. They are found throughout Africa’s lakes, rivers, and marshlands and pose a serious threat to anything within its range. Though their diet consists mostly of fish, birds, and reptiles, everything is fair game and a potential snack for the Nile crocodile. They lie submerged and can wait for days on end for the right moment to attack. Once they decide to strike, they do so with an incredibly strong bite and sharp teeth. When prey is in their vise-like grip, there isn’t much that can save them from being the croc’s next meal.