nature's creatures worth the freight (under unique stories)

Snakes, tigers, bears, spiders: which of these spine-shilling and eerie creatures do you fear the most? Here are two most intimidating creatures you probably won't want to stand close to: (warning: may contain sentennot appropriate for the faint hearted) Box jellyfish pack a deadly sting Anders Garm The box jellyfish is squishy, with 24 eyes and a tangle of tentacles, each equipped with about 5,000 stinging cells. The creatures pack a special type of venom — the most deadly in the animal kingdom — that is activated by contact with certain chemicals found in fish, shellfish and humans. The venom can cause cardiac arrest, cripple the nervous system, and eat away skin. Several victims stung at sea die before they reach shore. Saltwater crocodiles eat people Greg Wood / AFP - Getty Images Saltwater crocodiles are aggressive and territorial. They regularly eat people. They live in saltwater estuaries, and freshwater rivers and swamps, ranging from Australia north to Southeast Asia. The biggest males weigh in excess of 2,200 pounds and measure 20 feet from toothy snout to scaly tail, making them the world's largest reptiles. Though they mostly dine on smaller prey such as fish and shorebirds, adults will occasionally tackle larger animals, including careless people. Tourists lure this croc out of the water with a chunk of meat. Mosquitoes kill millions every year USDA The mosquito. In some parts of the world, these pesky, bloodsucking insects spread diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and West Nile Virus that kill nearly 3 million people a year. Many of the malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where scientists and international aid organizations are busy developing strategies to stop the disease's lethal spread. Now you're scared. vocabulary enhancement: eerie, spine-chilling- scary cardiac: of or relating to the heart cripple: make useless or worthless perspective exchange: 1. What are the types of animals you fear the most? 2. What eerie creatures have you encountered already? 3. Do you get scared of spiders? If so, how do you react upon seeing them? 4. How would you react upon seeing a snake? 5. When you fear something, do you show it, or cover up those fears?