Results: As Tough As They Come Conclusion

A honey badger (Mellivora capensis) makes the list of toughest animals because it doesn't back down when approached by a predator – even if it's a lion or a leopard! Do you remember my survey about honey badgers that I did recently?

A jaguar (Panthera onca) is not the biggest cat in the world, but it's certainly the toughest. After capturing and killing a large deer, this cat can drag the deer's body up a tree to have dinner on its favorite branch. Jaguars live in the tropical rainforests, savannas, and grasslands of South and Central America. They can grow to six feet in length and weigh up to 250 pounds. Are you familiar with Jaguars?

The Black mamba snake (Dendroaspis polylepis) makes the list of the toughest animals because of its deadly venom. It's referred to as the world's deadliest snake. This snake lives in the southern and eastern parts of Africa. When attacked, a Black mamba raises a third of its body off the ground, spreads its neck hood, and opens its black mouth. If this doesn't scare off a predator such as an owl, vulture, or mongoose, the snake will strike. However, instead of striking just once, this snake strikes many times to make sure a large amount of venom goes into its attacker. This snake's venom kills a predator within 20 minutes. Before today's survey, were you familiar with these toxic snakes?

A Dung beetle (Scarabaeus viettei) weighs less than 3.5 ounces and measures just three or four inches, but it can move a ball of dung (poop) that's 200 times its own weight. They can survive in deserts and forests. These insects find a pile of dung, roll it to another area, and bury it, then they eat the dung or lay eggs in it. While it may seem like a gross role to play, removing the dung of animals is important to keep land clean and free of pests. Are you familiar with Dung beetles?

Scientists believe gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) have 20 times the strength of an adult man. These animals can be four to six feet tall and weigh up to 440 pounds. Gorillas live in the forests of Africa, specifically the Congo Basin. They're normally gentle animals with a preference for snacking on ants, bamboo shoots, fruits, and grubs. There are two distinct species of Gorillas in the world, the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas. There are only a little more than a thousand mountain Gorillas (a subspecies of the eastern gorillas) left in the wild today. The total number of eastern gorillas have dwindled to around four thousand, earning them a conservation status of endangered species. Do you think it's important to protect these magnificent animals?