17. Megalania : The Giant Venomous Lizard
Australia has a reputation for hosting some of the world’s deadliest creatures, and the prehistoric giant monitor lizard known as Megalania was no exception. Resembling a larger version of a Komodo dragon, Megalania could reach a massive 23 feet in length, more than twice the size of its modern-day descendants. Researchers believe that Megalania had venomous glands inside its jaw, producing hemotoxin that entered its prey’s bloodstream through sharp, curved teeth.
This venom acted as an anticoagulant, preventing the prey’s blood from clotting and leading to rapid decrease in blood pressure, systemic shock, and eventual death. The arrival of humans in Australia around 50,000 years ago is believed to have contributed to Megalania’s extinction, whether through direct hunting or overhunting of its prey due to competition.
