Teddy Fotiou is a writer, a photographer, and a naturalist. He loves everything wild, especially the dangerous kind. If he's not scuba diving with sharks and barracuda, he's probably hiking along nature trails, looking for venomous snakes, alligators, and bears.
This shark is a lot like a torpedo! If you’re worried about sharks at the beach, you have little to fear from the shortfin mako. Shortfin makos are pelagic predators that live and feed far offshore, and because they do, they very rarely venture anywhere near the coast. They mainly prey upon ocean-going fish such […] More
Cheetahs are well-known as the fastest land animal on Earth, and they are also well-known for their beautiful yellow fur and black spots. But have you ever seen a cheetah that looks like this? At first glance, this cheetah appears more like an overgrown ocelot or jaguar; yet, despite its unusual fur pattern, it’s still […] More
On a cold, quiet night, a fierce, hairy beast roams the Sonora Desert. Its teeth are sharp and deadly, and its eyes are as dark as the night itself. Rearing up on its hind legs, the creature howls at the full moon, shattering the silence as it defends its territory. But what is this fearsome […] More
North America is home to two great animals: grizzly bears and bald eagles. Grizzlies are among the most feared animals in the North American wilderness. They have sharp teeth and knife-like claws that can rip off a person’s face, and they are extremely defensive of their cubs. Add to this an impressive running speed of […] More
Owls are terrifyingly skillful at the art of silent assassination, sneakily swooping in and snatching up their victims in the blink of an eye. With a series of helpful hunting adaptations and a voracious appetite, these devious night-time predators sometimes take on surprisingly large foes — and even other large birds like eagles aren’t out of bounds. In mythology […] More
The alligator snapping turtle is one of the heaviest turtles in the world, and it looks like a remnant of the Mesozoic Era. Named for its resemblance to alligators, this turtle is not your average pond dweller. Like other snapping turtles, it has jaws that can crunch through fish, fruit, broom handles, and even, bone. […] More
Horsehair worms, often perceived as among the most unsettling creatures in the natural world, have a way of challenging even the strongest of stomachs. Yet, there’s an undeniable intrigue to them. Why do they evoke such a strong reaction? The answer lies in their larval stage, during which they inhabit the bodies of insects and […] More
Rhinoceroses are archetypal African animals, and they are renowned for their size and aggression. Generally, they are indifferent to other creatures around them, but when you invade their personal space, you’d better watch out! Few animals are deadlier than an angry rhino. In fact, rhinos have been known to flip smaller animals, such as warthogs, […] More
If pigs could fly, we’d have a lot more bacon lying around, but if snakes could fly, we’d have a lot more fallout shelters everywhere. But here’s the thing: in real life, pigs can’t fly, but snakes CAN. Yes, snakes can fly. Well, glide actually, since they aren’t capable of flying like birds. But, still, […] More
This is the golden poison frog. Setting aside the name, it seems harmless enough, right? Just look at those adorable, beady little eyes. It’s just like a slimy gerbil! Well, don’t get your hopes up. This tiny creature would NOT make a good pet. If poison dart frogs aren’t already dangerous enough, the golden poison […] More
Gorillas don’t always take kindly to trespassers in their territory. Lions have traditionally been dubbed “king of the jungle”, yet they don’t actually live in jungles. Gorillas do. And they have no problem asserting their authority. In a previous article, we demonstrated why you shouldn’t beat your chest in front of a gorilla, especially a […] More
This creature is commonly regarded as the “demon fish” and boasts teeth longer than steak knives. Everyone’s heard of piranhas due to their insatiable hunger and shoaling behavior. Can you imagine falling into a river full of starved piranhas? They’d clean your flesh to the bone in minutes. Now, imagine a piranha that’s five times […] More
