Most Dangerous Lizards And Turtles In The World

Exotic pet collection has been of human interest since at least Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Whether for intimidation, aesthetic appeal, or a marker of status, sometimes the desire to own a rare breed all comes down to a smile. Such is the case for the African helmeted turtle, a species found throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa across and even Madagascar (from Africa Freak). A species of side-necked turtle, the African helmeted turtle's other major source of appeal comes from its family's unique form of tucking, which according to Encyclopedia Britannica, involves swinging its head beneath the overhang of its shell, rather than retracting it straight back into its body. Amongst other turtles, nothing about the African helmeted turtle is especially dangerous, and in fact they pose no known threat to humans at all. Birds and smaller mammals, on the other hand, should maybe watch their backs.

Unlike any other turtle species, and few other reptiles, African helmeted turtles are occasional pack hunters, notes Turtles of the World (via animals.jrank.com). This unique behavior has earned them the nickname "Crocodile Turtle" due to the specific way in which they cooperatively take down their prey. When large enough population densities occur, African helmeted turtles will collectively latch on to animals much larger than themselves, drag them into bodies of water, drown them, and then tear their lifeless bodies apart with their beaks and forelimbs, not unlike a crocodile.

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