Such Danger

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Bermuda Triangle

There are many stories of ships and aircraft that have mysteriously disappeared in the infamous Bermuda Triangle—an area of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Whether you believe the spooky accounts of vessels, crews, and passengers vanishing without a trace or dismiss them as too-tall tales, these weird waters have a fearsome reputation...

Crazy compasses

Some people claim that the Bermuda Triangle is an area where Earth’s magnetic field is so uneven that a compass points true north (the geographical north pole) rather than magnetic north, leading to all sorts of navigational mix-ups. However, research suggests that this hasn’t been the case since the 19th century, and so can’t account for those disappearances that occurred in the 20th century.

Horse latitudes

Sailors in the past relied on wind power to take them across the seas, with a real danger of becoming stranded mid ocean if the winds failed. A rotating ocean current - the North Atlantic Gyre - within the Bermuda Triangle could sweep a becalmed ship off course. The area was known as the horse latitudes because becalmed sailors would throw their horses overboard to conserve drinking water.

Hurricanes and waterspouts

This part of the Atlantic is well known for its violent storms and sudden changes in weather. Waterspouts—tornadoes over the sea—are not uncommon, and a hurricane could easily swamp a ship or crash a plane. But would this make a vessel disappear without leaving any trace?

Rogue waves

For years, scientists dismissed the notion of freak waves smashing ships to pieces, but, in 1995, a wave detector on an oil rig in the North Sea recorded a huge 65-ft (20 m) wave. Could similar waves explain the disappearances in the Atlantic? It would take a real monster to sink a 22.000 ton ship.

Underwater eruptions

Some people have suggested that the sea simply opens and swallows up ships. Incredibly, this could actually happen. Large eruptions of methane gas on the seabed have been known to make oil rigs collapse. A passing ship would sink like a stone, and the methane could set fire to planes flying overhead.

Snagged by seaweed

At the heart of the Bermuda Triangle lies the Sargasso Sea, named after the giant forrest of sargassum seaweed that grows there. Old sailors yarns tell of ships trapped for eternity in the choking mass of seaweed. In 1840, the French ship Rosalie was found here drifting, derelict - and deserted.

Abductions

Caribbean waters have long been a favourite hunting ground for pirates, who may have sunk the vessels that were later reported missing after taking whatever they could find onboard. But what about the ships that were found without a crew and with their cargo intact? Some blame abductions by aliens. Beam me up, me hearties!

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SAVAGE SEAS

Ahoy there, landlubbers! While you splash around in your blissful bath, spare a thought for those who spend their lives on the ocean waves. The sea is full of nasty surprises: one day it is dead calm, the next it is a seething cauldron. Mountainous waves can toss a small craft to and fro or leave a giant tanker high and dry. If you hear sailors’ tales of Davy Jones’s locker, icebergs, fog, and fire, take heed! One day you, too, could find yourself in stormy waters...

All at sea

Winds and currents are the powerful elements that are scarily in control of a vessel’s movements on the open sea, with large waves tossing ships around as if they’re toys—a nightmare for any seasick-prone sailor. Without adequate protection and with the Sun’s rays being reflected by the water’s surface, exposed skin can suffer painful sunburn and the eyes can become bloodshot and swollen.

Wild waves

At sea, there is nowhere to hide from howling winds or giant waves that can send a ship the size of a small town to the ocean floor in about 12 seconds. In 1995, the luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II survived being hit by a rogue wave, said to be a staggering 10 stories high!

Whale tale

Rocks and underwater reefs aren’t the only things to steer clear of at sea. Whales are fishy mammals, so they need to surface to breathe, which can bring them into contact with any vessels floating on the surface. In 1851, a sperm whale smashed into a whaling ship, sinking it in minutes.

Iceberg ahead!

When the “unsinkable” ship Titanic hit a large iceberg on April 14, 1912, it sank in a few hours, killing 1,523 people. Icebergs are floating masses of ice, 90 percent of which is hidden beneath the sea’s surface. So even small icebergs are more menacing than they look—floating just above the water’s surface, they can be very hard to spot in fog.

Shiver me timbers!

Unless you’re in the balmy Caribbean, chances are you’ll be in cold water. Icy seas will quickly numb the bones of even the hardiest sailor. Even in water of 50oF (10oC), you cannot survive more than three hours without a wetsuit or by huddling up to other crew members.

Stormy times

In 1947, Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl set sail across the Pacific on a balsa-wood raft, called Kon-Tiki, using only ocean currents and the wind. When a violent storm flooded the raft, his crew survived on rainwater and flying fish that landed on deck.

Into the abyss

The deeper you venture into the depths of the sea, the more the pressure builds, so submarines are built as strong as tanks so as not to be crushed. In 2005, the Russian submarine Priz was rescued after getting caught in fishnets 620 ft (190 m) below the surface. With a dwindling oxygen supply, the crew was lucky not to die from carbon-dioxide poisoning, which was the fate of 900 men aboard Thetis when it sank in 1939.

Water shortage

As any sailor worth his salt will tell you, oceans are deserts. Drinking salty seawater just makes you thirstier and sick. In 2004, a current swept Vietnamese fisherman Bui Duc Phuc 62 miles (100 km) from shore. After drifting for days, he drank his own urine to stay alive. Chewing fish eyes or drinking turtle blood are other options. Yo, ho, ho!

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Poisonous Plants

Step inside our little shop of horrors. While vegetation helps to sustain life on Earth, there are flowers, trees, shrubs, and even hedges out there that can kill. Some are dangerous to touch, while others are toxic if swallowed or inhaled. Nasty reactions range from irritation to death. Why are some plants poisonous? It’s simply their defense against being eaten. The stories of these green meanies will have you rooted to the spot.

Nightshade

Also known as belladonna or the devil’s cherry, the leaves and berries of this plant contain atropine—a deadly chemical compound. A snack-size portion of berries causes slurred speech, blurred vision, horrible headaches, breathing problems, and convulsions. That’s not berry nice.

Manchineel Tree

This resembles an apple tree, but the fruit are nicknamed “apples of death.” Eating the fruit causes blistering in the mouth and throat, and can be fatal. The tree leaks a milky white sap that can blister the skin, while smoke from a burning tree causes blindness. This is one bad apple tree.

Castor Bean

These brutal beans contain the deadliest plant poison on Earth: ricin. Just a handful of beans contain enough of this poison to kill an adult within a few minutes. Even harvesting the plant can give a person nerve damage. Do not serve baked.

Doll’s Eyes

Named after its startling appearance, the entire plant is poisonous but the berries pack a particular punch. If you pop an eye into your mouth, the poison relaxes heart muscle tissue, leading to cardiac arrest and death—all in the blink of an eye.

Rosary Pea

Pea-shaped pods along this vine split open when dry to reveal bright red pealike seeds. Popping a few peas leads to drooling, vomiting, a high temperature, convulsions, seizures, and may eventually cause death. You most definitely must mind these Ps.

Larkspur

These blue-purple plants are popular in gardens, but they are packed with alkaloids. A nibble on the leaves and flowers brings intense burning of the mouth and throat, a feeling of lightheaded confusion, severe headaches, vomiting, and, at worst, suffocation.

Water Hemlock

This relative of the parsnip is extremely poisonous. The toxins—concentrated in the roots, but also found in the leaves and stems—act so quickly that there may be no time for treatment. Touching hemlock can cause a reaction, but should you ingest it, expect grand malseizures, loss of consciousness, violent muscle contractions, and possible death. Stick to its harmless relative.

Narcissus

Are daffodils a delightful sign of spring or toxic killers? Both! The onionlike bulbs are the enemies, not the flowers. The bulbs contain a strong poison that can numb the nervous system and paralyse heart muscle with deadly consequences.

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HOW ABOUT A DIP?

Do you like to be beside the seaside? Be wary: there may be something in the waves. You don’t have to go very far to wade into dangerous waters. A whole poolfull of potentially perilous creatures lurks just off the world’s coastlines and riverbanks. They may seem relatively harmless, but they have been known to attack people without provocation. Take a look at some of the most beastly of these bathing beasts.

Hippopotamus

Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the horrible hippo has earned a terrible reputation for its vicious attacks. Its enormous bulk makes it a formidable foe, and it is surprisingly agile, able to tip over boats and munch the former occupants with its huge teeth. On land, a hippo can charge at you and swing its head like a hammer to bash you into oblivion.

Electric Eel

Ready for a shock? This predator can stun its prey into submission by releasing a 600-volt burst of electricity. Organs on its body store electricity like batteries between attacks. An eel’s shock is not actually powerful enough to kill a human outright, but you might suffer a heart attack or drown in the aftermath.

Weever Fish

This small sand-colored fish is not a great swimmer. Instead, it lies buried on the seabed with just a fin sticking out until something tasty swims by. If you should step on a weever fish, its spines will pump venom into your foot. A sizzle of pure pain will shoot through your body as your foot turns red and swells up like a foot-shaped balloon.

Flower Sea Urchin

Small and spiny, these creatures make their way across the bottom of a tidal pool munching on algae. Some of their spines are capable of releasing venom as they pinch their prey, presenting a prickly problem: the venom causes extreme pain and can lead to death. Blooming awful.

Catfish

There are more than 1,600 venomous species of these finned fatales. Venom glands are located alongside their bony spines. When defending itself from attack, the killer catfish locks its spines into place, stabs its predator, and releases its terrible toxins into the open wound. Bad kitty!

Blue-ringed Octopus

Do not disturb this rock-pool dweller. If you do step on it or pick it up, someone is going to get hurt. Its bite isn’t painful, but its saliva carries a venom powerful enough to kill—and there is no antivenin. Within minutes, you feel woozy, your vision dims, your senses of touch and speech disappear, and you stop breathing as paralysis sets in.

Sea Snake

An aquatic relation of the cobra, this slippery customer lives in the shallows, feeding on fish and eel and popping up for a gulp of air from time to time. If provoked, it may sink its venom-laced fangs into your leg. In a matter of minutes, your muscles stiffen, your jaw spasms, your vision is blurry, and you struggle to breathe.

Crenulated Fire Coral

This yellowish pore-covered sea coral branches out on reefs or attaches itself to walls, cement pilings, or other solid objects under the water. There is only one thing you need to know about it: reef it alone. Should you touch it, your skin will burn and erupt in a painful, blistery rash.

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MONSTERS OF THE DEEP

Splash! A daring deep-sea diver ventures from the sunlit surface waters down through the darkened ocean depths. The quest: to find a long-lost chest of buried treasure. The diver descends even farther, searching for a glint of gold, but is unaware of the fate that awaits...for there in the waters lurks a gruesome gang of hideous undersea creatures. Dive in!

Viperfish

I could scare that diver right out of his suit with my fearsome fangs. Maybe I’ll swim straight into him as fast as I can, impaling his flesh on my terrible teeth. My hinged jaws enable me to swallow large prey whole...but something his size may be out of my depth.

Ocean Sunfish

Face it, I’m freaky. I look like a huge flattened fish head with a tail stuck onto it. I tip the scales at 2,200 lb (1000 kg), and I’m as long as an adult human. As I often roam near the ocean’s surface, that diver might get an early fright on the way down - but don’t panic, I mostly eat jellyfish.

Sperm Whale

When that diver gets a look at all 60 ft (20 m) and 55 tons (50 tonnes) of me, he’s so gonna blubber. I can eat a ton (tonne) of fish and squids a day and still have room for dessert. Lucky for him, I don’t have a taste for humans, although I may accidentally capsize boats that get in the way of my enormous tail.

Chimera Fish

Emeralds glinting from a treasure chest? Afraid not, sucker. You’re looking at my oversize catlike eyes. Slippery skin covers my body, tapering to a ratlike tail. My dental plates are strong enough to munch on clams and crabs, shells and all, so keep your hands to yourself if you don’t want to lose those fingers!

Dana Octopus Squid

Hey, diver! I may be shining like gold, but I’m not what you’re seeking. I have a pair of lemon-size light-making organs called photophores on the ends of two arms. I can flash them on and off, making blindingly bright light to stun and disorient my prey.

Megamouth Shark

A close encounter with me would make that diver’s jaw drop—mine already did. The sight of my huge mouth and head is awesomely scary, but the real reason I’m opening wide is to filter food as I propel my bulky body through the ocean depths.

Fangtooth Fish

Not far now, diver, but you need to get past me first. I may be little, but my mouth is stuffed with teeth. In proportion to my body, I have the biggest teeth of any fish. They don’t even fit in my mouth, so pockets in the roof of my mouth fit the fangs on my lower jaw when it closes.

Sea Lamprey

I have big reddish eyes and a mouth filled with a spiral of sharp teeth and a rasplike tongue. I’m a parasite, so I latch my mouth onto prey and stay there for days or even weeks, feeding on their blood and bodily fluids. You, diver, had better hope that I don’t become too attached to you.

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SWARM!

Many animals prefer prowling for their victims in groups. A pack of hunters can sometimes do a better job of bringing down prey than a single animal, especially if their target is a large one. A pack is also likely to confuse the victim. Other animals hunt in swarms or gangs because they live in extended families and do most things together.

Killer Whales

The largest type of dolphin, killer whales earn their nickname, “wolves of the sea,” by ganging up in pods to hunt. They sneak up on schools of fish and marine mammals, communicating with one another with almost silent calls that are undetectable to their victims. Killer whales attack from all sides to make a kill, then they share the catch of the day.

Barracuda

Wolves of the sea, meet the “tigers of the ocean.” Barracuda are natural-born killers equipped witha mouthful of fanglike teeth and huge appetites. When these fierce fish hunt in a group, they herd their prey together and then ram into their victims with a sudden burst of speed, snapping off chunks of fish flesh.

Army Ants

These ants live in huge colonies of up to 700,000 individuals. When they hunt, a regiment of up to 200,000 ants overwhelm their victims, including other ants or large arthropods, in an attack called a swarm raid. They chop up the flesh of their dead prey with machete-sharp jaws. It’s no picnic.

Honeybees

When thousands of buzzing bees pour out of a hive to swirl in the air like an angry striped cloud, they aren’t coming after you... they’re just moving to a new house. Bees swarm when they run out of honey storage space. The queen bee and the gang may swarm on a tree branch while bee scouts look for a good place to build a new hive.

African Wild Dogs

Roaming the plains and woodlands of Africa in a family pack, these wild dogs have colorful markings, unique to each dog, that help them spot one another. They hunt together in a deadly gang. A group of up to 20 dogs cooperates to tackle and bring down their much larger prey. Their bites are much worse than their barks.

Harris’s Hawks

Although many birds of prey hunt alone, these birds work together to attack lizards, rabbits, large insects, and other birds. A few birds at a time may set off on patrol to look for prey until they eventually land dinner, which they share. In other cases, the hawks quietly surround their prey, and after one bird swoops in to startle it, the others attack.

Mormon Crickets

When a million or more of these crickets get together in a huge gang, they are capable of destroying entire fields of crops and vegetables. The densely packed swarm stretches as far as the eye can see and covers 1 mile (1.6 km) a day, devouring every plant in their path. No one knows why they swarm, but they really do bug people.

Piranhas

With wide mouths packed full of razor-sharp teeth that are capable of stripping flesh from bone, these fish are deadly enough individually. But when they get together, it’s murder. In a feeding frenzy, they can devour their prey in seconds, ripping off one chunk of flesh after another. By swarming together in a group, they also deter their own predators.

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Poison Perils

Here’s a jarring thought: there are thousands of different poisonous animals out there. These creatures have a toxin in their glands or skin that can kill or sicken any animal that tries to nibble, sniff, or touch them. The poison attacks the nervous system or stops the heart and lungs from working. Poisonous animals are often brightly colored, so take the hint and stay away.

Hooded pitohui

This family of strikingly colorful orange and black birds from New Guinea feeds on toxic beetles. As a result, neurotoxins build up in their skin and feathers. If a snake or bird of prey pounces, the toxin-laced feathers instantly repel it, causing numbness and tingling.

Flamboyant cuttlefish

These odd-looking fish found in the seas of Australia and Indonesia stroll along the ocean floor with their arms, looking for dinner. Cuttlefish can change color in an instant to camouflage themselves when stalking their prey. To keep themselves safe from other predators, their muscle tissue contains a sickeningly strong poison.

Stonefish

Lying on the seabed, stonefish are armed with spines on their backs to protect themselves from predators, such as sharks and rays. Should a predator pounce, they shoot out poison, causing paralysing pain. Stone me!

Cane Toad

Sensing danger, the cane toad begins to “cry,” oozing out a white fluid from glands near its eyes and along its back. Contact with this milky poison causes twitching, limb collapse, breathing problems, then cardiac arrest. So don’t kiss a tearful toad to make it feel better or you will feel much, much worse.

Monarch Butterfly

As larvae (an early stage of growth), these beautiful butterflies feed on the milkweed plant, from which they extract a supply of heart-stopping poison called glycoside. Come snacktime, birds that take a nibble of a monarch will soon learn that it is poisonous when they vomit it up. But this won’t stop some birds, such as black-beaked orioles, which have a greater tolerance to the monarch’s chemical defenses.

Puss moth caterpillar

The puss moth larva is covered in long, lush locks of hairlike fur that conceal a nasty surprise: underneath, there are hollow, quill-like spines connected to sacs of pure poison. Any contact with the caterpillar releases the toxin, causing searing pain, itching, and headaches.

Sea cucumber

When in danger, the sea cucumber expels a special organ loaded with toxins from its posterior. In the water, the organ splits into sticky toxic tubes that attach to the attacker, weakening its muscles and making it helpless. The poison can also cause permanent blindness if it gets into the eyes. Not to be used in salads!

Poison-arrow frog

One of the world’s most poisonous animals, the poison-arrow frog can kill a human with an amount of toxin equal to only two or three grains of table salt. Native to Central and South America, it secretes the poison through its skin. This terrifying toxin paralyses muscles and lungs, causing death.

Fire salamander

When a predator gets ahold of it, this colorful newt releases a milky toxin from pores around its head and along both sides of its spine. The poison causes muscle convulsions and attacks the heart and lungs. Newt good.

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STINGERS

Alert! Intruders are on the prowl, armed with sharp organs called stingers and extremely dangerous. Their lethal weapons are capable of piercing the skin of other animals to deliver venom—a toxic cocktail of nerve poisons and cell destroyers. Some stings may cause only momentary pain, but others are extremely potent, causing excruciating agony or even death.

Portuguese man-of-war

With an air-filled, jellylike blue and pink body topped with a pink-ridged crest, this marine invertebrate trails very long 59-ft (18-m) tentacles behind it as it floats on the surface. Do not attempt to touch the tentacles as they contain a poison that is powerful enough to burn and blister your skin on contact.

Cone snail

They may move at a snail’s pace, but these reef-dwelling gastropods can pull a fast one. Cone snails shoot a harpoonlike tooth from an extendable “arm” into their chosen prey (often a fish) and release hundreds of toxins to paralyse it. Their sting is deadly to humans, and there is no known antivenin. Stay away!

Honeybee

When a bee stings, the barbs at the end of its stinger catch in its victim’s skin. The bee must leave its rear behind as it exits, but that is not the end of the pain: the stinger continues to pump venom—a mix of 40 various ingredients—for 10 minutes, and a pheromone is released to alert nearby bees to attack. Evade!

Bullet ant

The pain from a South American bullet ant sting is likened to being shot with a gun. In fact, experts rate it among the most intense and excruciating sting of any insect. The agony lasts for three hours, along with nausea, cold sweats, and trembling. Gun it to get away!

Tarantula hawk wasp

Pregnant wasps paralyse tarantulas with their stings then lay their eggs on the stunned spiders. When the babies hatch, they gobble up the spiders alive. Tarantula hawk wasps rarely sting humans, which is good news, as their sting is similar to being struck by lightning. Buzz off!

Stingray

Equipped with one or more sharp serrated barbs on their tails, stingrays strike out when attacked. These fish spew vile venom through a painful puncture wound, causing instant agony. Although they’re not aggressive to humans, they may sting if you step on them.

Scorpion

There are thousands of scorpions, although most are harmless to humans. However, a few have a serious sting in their curving tails. Their venom sends pain radiating from the sting site throughout the body, causing numbness, twitching, breathing problems, and nausea. Hightail it away!

Asian giant hornet

A sting from this thumb-size beast feels like having a hot nail driven into your skin, but it’s the venom that really bugs you. Strong enough to dissolve human tissue and packed with pain-stimulating chemicals that shoot through the nervous system, the toxins can (and do) cause death.

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Blood Suckers

Be afraid...be very afraid. These creepy creatures thirst for the blood of other animals, including you. Piercing through skin and veins with their monstrous mouthparts, they suck or lap up the blood that sustains them, until they must feed again. Watch out, or you might be their next victim!

Mosquitoes

Beware of the female of this species. Sensing the chemicals and heat that you give off, she lands on your skin and sticks in a sharp, thin proboscis. Her saliva stops your blood from clotting as she feeds, and her abdomen swells with your blood while you swell with a nasty itch

These wingless insects, which can leap 200 times their own body length onto their victims, have thin bodies to maneuver through fur or hair. Fleas pierce your skin with hollow mouthparts and suck up a meal of blood, leaving behind a very itchy bite.

Bedbug

What living nightmares await you in your cozy bed? Lurking within the sheets or hiding out in tiny crevices, bedbugs launch their attack at night. With beaklike mouthparts, they suck up their fill of blood and can grow as large as apple seeds.

Ticks

Waiting in tall grasses for a host to pass by, ticks stab their victims with pincerlike mandibles and tooth-covered feeding tubes. The teeth curve back on themselves to anchor the creatures into the host. After getting stuck in, they may feed for days until sated, but they can leave the host with more than just an itchy bite. Ticks carry a number of dangerous diseases, such as Lyme disease, from one host to another.

Leech

This wormlike segmented sucker connects to its host, releasing an enzyme that stops the host from feeling anything as it sucks a banquet of blood. A leech may feed for up to 20 minutes, swelling up to five times its size, then falling off to digest its feast. Not a fussy eater, it also feeds on animal carcasses and open wounds.

Ambush bug

Master of disguise, the brightly colored ambush bug hides completely motionless on a flower. When its prey—such as a bee—comes near, the ambush bug strikes, using its thick front legs to capture the victim, paralysing it with toxins injected through its short beak. Finally, it sucks out the prey’s blood and other bodily fluids.

Vampire bat

Under the cover of darkness, the vampire bat crawls or flies onto its prey and finds a spot where blood flows near the victim’s surface. Using its fangs to make a sharp incision, the bat applies saliva to the wound with its tongue to stop the blood from clotting. It then feasts ferociously for 20 minutes.

Vampire finch

Beware this blood-craving bird found in the Galápagos Islands. When food such as flower nectar is in short supply during the dry season, it pecks at a sea bird until it bleeds and then sips the escaping blood. Other finches line up to have a turn, and as soon as one bird finishes, the next one starts pecking.

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Spectacled Bear

This South American bear is named for the cream-colored rings around its eyes. During the day, spectacled bears sleep in “tree houses,” which they build by placing a row of sticks high up in the treetops. At night, they use these platforms to reach fruit and leaves.

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White-bellied pangolin

Rows of overlapping scales—a bit like human fingernails—cover this mammal’s body. At night, it sniffs out termite and ant nests, rips into them with its sharp claws, and licks up the insects with its sticky tongue, swallowing them whole. If attacked, it rolls into a ball.

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Common Brushtail Opposum

Possums are cat-size marsupials that feed at night on insects, fruit, spiders, tree nectar, and seeds. Although many are quiet, the common brushtail possum makes an unpleasant hissing call. Some possums carry bovine tuberculosis, which can damage a cow’s lungs and lead to death.

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Red eyed tree frog

Native to Central American rainforests, these frogs sleep by day, hidden among the foliage. At night, they hunt insects to eat. If a predator approaches, they pop their blood-red eyes and flash their huge orange feet to startle it while they make their escape.

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Natterer's Bat

This expert night hunter finds its prey through echolocation. This means that it makes a high-pitched noise through its mouth or nose as it flies. Then, it listens to the echo that returns, figuring out the exact location of the prey, its size, and what direction it’s moving in.

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Owl

This silent hunter feeds on mice, shrews, and other small mammals. Special wing feathers muffle the sound of its approach so that it takes victims by surprise. Superior eyesight helps owls locate prey—some owls can hunt in complete darkness, relying on sound to guide them to their prey.

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Green Anaconda

The largest snake in the world, this South American slitherer can grow up to 29 ft (8.8 m) long and 1 ft (30 cm) in diameter. It gets that big by feeding on wild pigs, deer, birds, turtles, and jaguars. This snake coils its huge body around its prey and squeezes, suffocating its victim.

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Jaguar

Stalking silently through the trees, this fearsome and ferocious big cat uses its sharp hearing to detect prey (deer, capybaras, and tapirs). Then, the jaguar pounces on its unfortunate victim. A jaguar’s bite is so strong that it can crush through the skull of its prey to pierce the brain.