Small (50-90 cm), sandy-coloured viper with serrated scales that rasp together producing a warning sound. Despite size, considered the world's deadliest snake by total kill count.

Estimated to cause 20,000+ deaths annually across its range — more than any other snake. Hemotoxin causes uncontrolled bleeding. Highly aggressive — strikes without provocation.

Dry regions from West Africa across Middle East to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Sand, scrub, rocky desert.

Nocturnal. Makes a distinctive 'sizzling' sound by rubbing serrated scales — a warning. Strikes faster than human reflexes — multiple times per second.

Grey or brown with a distinctive zigzag along the back, up to 80 cm. The northernmost venomous snake in the world — found inside the Arctic Circle in Lapland.

Hemotoxin causes pain and swelling. Around 0.5% of bites are fatal — usually only in children, the elderly, or those with allergies. About 7,500 bites per year across Europe.

Forests, bogs, heathland, and mountain meadows up to 3,000 m elevation.

Shy and retreating. Bites only when stepped on or cornered. Active by day in cool weather, by night in summer.

Yellow-brown, up to 8 cm. Found in Spain, southern France, Italy, the Balkans. The largest scorpion in Europe.

Sting is intensely painful — comparable to a wasp — and can cause swelling, fever, vomiting. Healthy adults recover in 24 hours; risk for children and allergics.

Dry rocky terrain, vineyards, ruins, and old stone walls of the Mediterranean.

Nocturnal. Hides under stones and bark by day. Stings when stepped on, sat on, or while putting on shoes left outside overnight.

European wolf, smaller than its Russian or American cousins. Returning to Western Europe after centuries of absence — first wolves in Belgium since 1900 arrived in 2018.

Healthy wolves almost never attack humans — only 0–2 fatal attacks per decade in Europe. The real risk is rabid individuals; rabies is now mostly eliminated in Western Europe.

Forests and mountains of Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Balkans, and increasingly Germany, France, Belgium, and the Alps.

Hunts in packs. Highly intelligent and avoids humans. Communicates by howling over distances of 10 km.