Top 9 Apex Predators In The World

Just imagine a life without fear. Nothing could be as peaceful than leading such a life. But it can be hard, very hard. But some species in the animal kingdom are lucky enough to enjoy a life without fear because there is no other animal to hunt them within their habitat. Humans are the only threat to such apex predators on Earth. Here the list of top 9 apex predators in the world.

9

Komodo Dragon

Interesting Things About Komodo Dragon

• The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard on Earth. A fully grown Komodo dragon will measure 10 feet in length and up to 160 kg in weight. They are also known as Komodo monitor.
• Komodo dragons inhabit in tropical dry forests and savannas of five Indonesian Islands – Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, Flores, and Padar.
• Komodo dragons have no predators within their habitats. This apex predator feeds any type of meat including carrion, water buffalo, pigs deer and even humans.
• Komodo dragons kill the prey using their powerful legs and sharp teeth. Their saliva also contains toxic bacteria. So, even an escaped from the mouth of Komodo dragon will die within 24 hours due to blood poisoning.

8

Snow Leopard

Interesting Facts About Snow Leopard

• The beautiful snow leopards live in high mountains of Central Asia. They are known for their beautiful thick, gray hair. Unfortunately, only a small population of snow leopard have been left in the world due to habitat loss and poaching.
• The thick, gray hair of snow leopard provide perfect heat balance in all seasons. Their body is also adapted to live in harsh, steep mountain sides. On a single leap, they can cover a distance of 15 meters. The wide paws of snow leopard are covered with fur. So that they can easily walk on the snow covered paths.
• The stealthy snow leopards have no predators throughout their natural habitats. They can kill animals larger than their size. The diet of snow leopards includes Himalayan blue sheep and argali.
• Snow leopards and solitary animal, which means they come together only during mating season. They mostly become active at dawn and dusk.

7

Saltwater Crocodile

Interesting Facts About Saltwater Crocodile

• The saltwater crocodile is the largest of all living reptiles in the world. They can grow between 3m and 5m in length and weigh up to 1000 kg. Saltwater crocodiles inhabit in rivers, lakes, marshes and swamps of Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and India.
• The saltwater crocodiles are strong swimmers and can cover a long distance in ocean and rivers. Thier webbed feet and long tail aid in swimming. They also have long, powerful jaws.
• Saltwater crocodiles can be totally submerged in rivers or marshes for a long time as their eyes and nostrils are located on the top of the head.
• Saltwater crocodiles are the dominant predators throughout their habitats. They lurk beneath the water surface at the edges of lakes and rivers. When the prey comes near, they will make a sudden attack with their powerful jaws. Saltwater crocodiles feed on a variety of foods such as fishes, water buffalos, dingoes, monkeys, wild boar, and birds.

6

Golden Eagle

Interesting Facts About Golden Eagle

• The golden eagle is the largest bird of prey of North America. They found in mountains, hills, cliffs and coniferous forests across the continent. A fully grown golden eagle measure 26-40 inches in length and up to 7 kg in weight.
• With the broad wings, golden eagles glide high in the sky. They can also make quick dive from the great height. During such diving, golden eagles could reach a speed up to 200 miles per hour.
• There are no natural predators for golden eagles. The human activities are the only threat to them.
• This majestic birds have excellent eyesight and can spot even a small prey from the great height. They make use of astonishing speed they acquired on diving and sharp talons to snatch up the prey on the ground. Golden eagles mainly feed on jackrabbits, reptiles, small mammals and fishes.

5

Polar Bear

Interesting Facts About Polar Bear

• Reaching 7-10 feet in length and up to 720 kg in weight, the beautiful polar bears are the largest terrestrial carnivore (an animal that feed on meat) on Earth. They found in Islands, huge icebergs and sea in the Arctic circle.
• The powerful polar bears have no enemies except humans.
• Polar bears have very dense, water-resistant coat and a thick layer of warm body fat. It helps them to survive within the harsh climate of Arctic circle.
• Polar bears are strong swimmers. With a help of powerful paws, they cover over 63 miles in Arctic sea. In fact, polar bears spend the majority of their lifetime in the sea.
• Keep in mind that polar bears can cut you in pieces with a swipe of their strong paws.

4

Lion

Interesting Facts About Lions

• Nicknamed as ‘King of jungle’ the lion is a magnificent animal that found in savannas, grasslands and woodlands of Africa, Northern India and Southern parts of Eurasia.
• Lion is the second largest member of the family of cats called Felidae. An adult lion measures 5ft to 8 ft in length and over 225 kg in weight. The male lion has unique thick brown colored hair encircling the head.
• The human is the only threat to lions and they have no other predators. The population of lion in the wild also decreasing. The indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss are the main causes in a reduction in the population of lions.
• Lions are the only social animal in the Felidae group (family of cats). They live in a group called ‘prides’. A lion pride can have about 10-45 members.
• Cooperate hunting is the another great characteristic of lions. This technique lets them kill large preys such as giraffe, buffalos, and hippos.

3

Great White Shark

Interesting Facts About Great White Sharks

• Among the most deadliest sea creatures. Most of the shark attacks reported around the world have been linked to great white sharks. Measuring 4-6 meters in length and almost 2.6 ton in weight, the great white sharks are also the largest predatory fish on Earth.
• This dangerous apex predator on the ocean has over 300 sharp, triangular shaped teeth on different rows on the mouth. In hunting, great white sharks use their acute sense of smell to spot the prey. They also have a special organ which can detect the electromagnetic field generated by the animals.
• With powerful tail, the great white sharks can hit a top speed of 15 miles per hour which aid in hunting. They mainly feed on seals, sea lions, seals turtles and small toothed whales.
• Some theories have been suggested that the attack on humans by great white sharks are actual ‘test biting’. It is said to be the sharks will release the human body after confirming it is not a good food for them. But bites can be fatal due to the blood loss.

2

Tiger

Interesting Facts About Tigers

• Reaching a length about 3.3 meters and weigh over 300 kg, the tiger is the largest member of cat family called Felidae. Bengal tiger, Siberian tiger, Malayan tiger, Indochinese tiger, Sumatran tiger and South China tiger are the living subspecies of tiger. Tigers live in rainforests, grasslands and swamps across the Asian continent.
• Unfortunately, the Sumatran tiger and South China tiger are in the verge of extinction and other four remaining subspecies of tigers are also endangered. Habitat loss, poaching, and fragmentations are the main threat to tigers.
• Tigers are definitely among the most beautiful animals on Earth. They have a very muscular body and a long tail. Their beautiful fur comes in different color variations including orange, brown, gray or snowy color with black stripes.
• Tigers are top of their food chain and have no natural predators. They are solitary predators and hunt mostly at night. Tigers have excellent night vision which help them white nocturnal hunting. Their diet includes wild pigs, deer, water buffalo, monkeys, hares, and crocodiles.

1

Killer Whale

Interesting Facts About Killer Whales

• The killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family. They can be 7 to 9 meter in length and almost 5500 kg in weight. Killer whales are also known as orcas and among one of the most widely distributed animals in the world. They found on every oceans around the world.
• Orcas are one of the deadliest apex predators on Earth. They have no predators in the ocean. They only hunt by humans.
• Killer whales are called so because this powerful predator hunt large ocean creatures such as seals, dolphins, sharks and even other whales.
• Orcas are extremely social and live in groups called ‘pods’. Each pod contains up to 40 whales. They produce distinctive noise to communicate with each other.
• Orcas are one of the smartest living mammals on Earth. Each orca group or pods have known to use some special type of communication and hunting techniques. Interestingly, such techniques are passed across generations.