The idea that females are, by definition, more “caring” and less aggressive than males does not often occur in nature, where the ‘song’ is different. From cannibals to male “limpets”, here are the 11 most deadly females in the animal kingdom.
In several species, it is they, not them, who hunt, defend territories and offspring, compete with each other and resort to extreme strategies to secure resources. And we’re not just talking about the classic example of the lioness.
The need for energy to produce eggs or gestate, the protection of broods, reproductive competition and, in some cases, the anatomy itself — as with bees and wasps, in which the stinger is a structure linked to egg laying — contribute to this reality.
Here is a portrait, species by species, of 11 “deadly females” cited by as maximum examples of ferocity in the animal world.
1. Spiders and the strategy of sexual cannibalism
A black widow spider
You’ve probably already heard that, in several species of spiders, mating can end with the male being devoured. This “sexual cannibalism” occurs before, during or after copulation and can bring direct benefits to the female, such as nutrients, for egg production.
A black widow It is the best known case, but it is not the only one. On the male side, evolution also “responded”: there are species in which they try to distract their partner with a food “gift”, pretend to be dead or use quick maneuvers to escape.
2. ‘Mosquitoes’, the most lethal to humans
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / Wikimedia
Anopheles, malaria mosquito
Mosquitoes are the animals that cause the most human deaths annually, mainly because they transmit diseases such as malaria, which causes more than 600 thousand deaths per year. The fatality is the responsibility of the females, since they are the ones who, in many species, need blood to mature eggs.
The bite itself is not “deadly”; the danger lies in the parasites and viruses that can be inoculated. Among thousands of species, only those of the genus Anopheles are associated with the transmission of malaria.
3. Praying mantis decapitates in full reproduction
In praying mantises, there are also records of sexual cannibalism. The female, larger in size, can bite and tear off the male’s head during copulation, a behavior that does not prevent reproduction, because the male can continue mating even when decapitated, due to the functioning of his nervous system.
The female, in turn, dies shortly after laying her eggs. It’s a situation lose-losebut that’s how nature ordered it.
4. Green Anaconda: giant, dominant, cannibal
The green anaconda is known for its enormous size as a female. During the breeding season, a “mating ball” can form with a female and several males for weeks.
The female may eat some males — a rare behavior in vertebrates, but compatible with the high energy requirement: pregnancy can involve prolonged fasting and the birth of 20 to 30 live offspring.
5. Anglerfish: the female hunts, the male “merges”
In deep-sea anglers, the roles are so different that they appear to be distinct species.
The tiny male’s mission is to find a female and attach himself to her, fusing with her body and becoming dependent on her nutrients. The female is the hunter: she uses a bioluminescent bait to attract prey in an environment where food is scarce.
6. Meerkats and strong competition within the clan
Despite their “adorable” appearance, female meerkats can be very violent. The matriarch tends to monopolize reproduction and intimidate rivals with aggression and dominance.
If other females manage to have offspring, they may be expelled, and there are reports of infanticide, including consumption of the offspring of subordinates.
7. Lionesses and the power of teamwork
In a pride of lions, the males may dominate the popular imagination, but it is the lionesses who do most of the hunting, as many people already know.
They work in groups, with coordination, speed and resistance to take down larger prey. “Lethality” is collective: effectiveness depends less on an individual and more on the group’s strategy.
8. Common Buzzard: Size Matters
In several birds of prey, the female is larger than the male. In the buzzard hawk, this size advantage translates into additional strength to capture larger prey.
Still, during the incubation and rearing phase, the female may depend on the male for food, because she stays longer in the nest.
9. Bonobos and female coalitions
Bonobo or pygmy chimpanzee
Bonobos are often presented as more tolerant than chimpanzees, but that doesn’t mean they’re cuddly. In matriarchal societies, females may form coalitions to confront threatening males.
10. King cobra: the female can attack
The king cobra is large and venomous, but tends to avoid humans. The most dangerous exception is when defending the nest: a female incubating eggs has less room to escape and can attack if she feels cornered. The venom’s potency has enough neurotoxins, in theory, to kill dozens of people.
11. Bees and wasps: the sting is “female”
Specimen of bee of the species Bombus terrestris
In the case of bees and wasps, the difference is anatomical: males do not sting. The stinger is a structure derived from the ovipositor, linked to egg laying. In particularly aggressive species, such as certain large wasps, they are the ones who sting and defend colonies.
