These Tiny Animals Can Take Down Creatures 10 Times Their Size

It's easy to imagine Goliath beating David, but in the wild, there are little Davids everywhere. It just goes to show that size matters little for some. Sometimes they are equipped with powerful venom, and other times, their cleverness gets them out of sticky situations. Some insects take down mammals, while some sea creatures overcome their predators. You may be surprised by some of these unlikely champions, and by the end of this slideshow, you'll have decided on your favorite contender. Discover six tiny animals that can tackle others up to 10 times their size.

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The cleaner wrasse is the little fish that seems to be getting gobbled up by the fish in the photo. But do not be mistaken. This fish is only four to five inches long but cleverer than ever, acting as if they are other types of fish, cleaning the inside of the fish's mouth.

However, what the cleaner wrasse is really doing is taking tiny bites of their flesh, feeding on the fish they're pretending to help. Cunning little creatures, right? They show up as false cleanerfish, showing off their deceptive abilities. Their tiny size doesn't matter—instead of it being a hindrance, it becomes a helpful part of their plan to dominate larger fish.

Also known as butcherbirds, shrikes only grow up to 10 inches. They attack and feed on other small birds, rodents like mice, and even reptiles like lizards. These birds have a specific tactic they use to take down larger prey, and it's pretty brutal. Using thorns, they impale their victims.

Once down, they move in with aggression, striking the head or neck of their prey, eventually killing it with their powerful beaks. Hence the name butcherbirds. They're ruthless in their killings, learning survival through the help of their unapologetic tenacity and the sharp tools they find.

This stunning photo makes the blue-ringed octopus feel massive, but in the next slide, you'll see just how tiny this ocean dweller is. They only grow to about five to eight inches, and their victims include large predators—and humans like you.

They're super small, but they have enough potent venom to do away with well over 20 human beings in just a couple of minutes. Talk about a serial killer! The venom it's packed with is called tetrodotoxin, and it causes paralysis. If a predator tries to snatch one of these up as a snack, it becomes their last meal. There's no known antidote for the blue-ringed octopus's venom.

Driver ants' power comes from their numbers. They're hardly 0.5 inches long, but they come together in massive swarms in perfect coordination to attack. They manage to kill several larger mammals along with birds and even reptiles. Together, they overwhelm their prey.

These ants have strong mandibles, and when they work together, they achieve the impossible. It's an example of teamwork making the dream work, only it's a nightmare for their prey. They can get much bigger animals to abandon their nests, and they also move in for the kill as soon as they can.

This isn't exactly a tiny reptile, as it can grow up to eight feet. However, compared to the size of the prey it tackles, it makes the list. These slithering snakes with intimidating postures go after mongooses and jackals, for example. They're also unafraid of going after human beings, who can stand tall, hovering over them.

The Egyptian cobra's power lies in its neurotoxic venom. While some snakes constrict, this snake knows it's equipped with something more powerful. Their bites are swift and more often than not, deadly. Mongooses are interesting because they've developed partial immunity, but if it's you versus an Egyptian cobra, say your goodbyes and prepare to meet your maker. However, if you encounter one, avoid it like the plague. It attacks and kills when it feels cornered or threatened.

These scrappy little fellas weigh up to 35 pounds, and despite that, they go after larger animals like lions. That's right—the roaring kings of the jungle don't intimidate honey badgers. These are fierce creatures with impressive agility and shocking brute force.

Those little faces look sweet, but don't be mistaken. They have a thick hide and don't hesitate to approach apex predators or venomous snakes. When an animal is absolutely fearless, it's game on and game over for the most unsuspecting larger animals who may think the honey badger has nothing on them. Boy, can they be wrong.