Australia has a bad wrap for being full of dangerous nasties that can kill you, which is pretty far from the truth really! Most of our wildlife is actually non-threatening, made up mainly of harmless cute and cuddly marsupials. We have a few species that might give you a hard time if you come across them, most of them being snakes. Like most species if you leave them alone & take a few precautionary steps, they won’t cause you any grief.

So what are our deadliest Australians?

1. GREAT WHITE SHARK (White Pointers)

   The world’s largest predatory fish usually 4 – 5 metres long. Attacks on humans are rare, but about a dozen attacks occur in Australian waters each year, with maybe 1 -2 deaths a year and divers or surfers being the most suseptible. Great whites are found along the east and south-west coasts of Australia

2. EASTERN BROWN SNAKE

   The second most venomous snake in the world, the Eastern Brown is responsible for the most snakebite deaths in Australia. Because the Eastern Brown stays close to homes it’s one of the most common snakes humans encounter. The Eastern Brown is found along the east coast of Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

3. TAIPAN

   The Taipan is one of the most potent of all snake venoms. Most of the time they stay away from humans but will defend themselves fiercely if cornered or threatened. Most snakes will flee after attacking, however, the Taipan will attack repeatedly, injecting as much venom as possible into the victim’s body. The common taipan is found in the far north of Australia, in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. There is a very rare inland taipan which is the most venomous snake in the world, being up to 50 times more toxic than a rattlesnake

4. DEATH ADDER

   A Death Adders bite will cause paralysis and can kill a human in under six hours. Step on one and you are very likely to be bitten. The Death Adder will strike in a quarter of a second and has the fastest strike of any Australian snake. The Death Adder is found everywhere in the country except for Victoria and Tasmania

5. TIGER SNAKE

   The Tiger Snake’s venom contains neurotoxins which attack the nervous system, paralyse the muscles and causes asphyxiation. The Tiger Snake has anti-coagulants in the venom which causes heavy, often uncontrollable bleeding. The Tiger Snake is found in coastal environments, wetlands and creeks around Australia.

6. FUNNEL WEB SPIDER

   The Funnel Web spider spins a trap so it’s aware of prey is passing by. The Funnel Web’s venom can kill a human in 15 minutes. The Funnel Web spiders live in burrows, stumps, tree trunks or ferns along the east coast of Australia, but are found in all states except for Western Australia.

7. RED BACK SPIDER

   The Red Back spider hides in the dark and often damp corners and spaces around the yard & garden. The Red Back’s venom blocks nerve impulses and causes severe pain, vomiting, muscular weakness and sweating. Red-back spiders are found throughout the country.

8. SALTWATER CROCODILE

   The Saltwater Crocodile is largest & oldest reptile in the world. The Saltwater Crocodile’s predatory nature keeps its body concealed underwater until it’s ready to strike. Often the victem is taken into a death roll and then wedged under a log in the water or in bushes until the Crocodiles return. The Saltwater Crocodiles are found on the northern coast and inland areas of Australia. Floods can often cause them to venture further south than their usual natural habitats.

9. BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS

   The Blue Ringed Octopus is the size of a golf ball and it changes to a vibrant blue when it strikes, with a beak that can penetrate a wetsuit. It has a venom that is 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide and can kill a human in up to 90 minutes. The blue-ringed octopus can be found in rock pools and coral reefs around the nation, so always a good idea to wear wet boots or sandshoes when walking on reefs.

10. BOX JELLYFISH

    The Box Jellyfish has a venom that attacks a human’s cardiac and nervous systems. If stung you have virtually no chance of surviving unless treated straight away. The Box Jellyfish tentacles have the ability to sting even when separated from the jellyfish, which makes it a very dangerous species. The Box Jellyfish come out in numbers after it rains and move towards the shore in calm waters when the tide is rising. The Box Jellyfish are commonly found in the ocean across the northern top of the country as well as Queensland and the north Western Australia coast.

11. STONEFISH

    The Stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world. While not very aggressive, the Stonefish’s proximity to shores and the ability to camouflage itself in coral makes it easy for people to accidentally touch or step on them. The Stonefish has 13 dangerous spines and a dorsal fin, and when stung it causes death to body tissues. The stonefish is found predominantly on coral reefs, mud, rocks and coastal ocean sands of Western Australia and Queensland.

12. CONE SNAIL

    The Cone Snail is an underwater snail which has a tooth-like stinger that acts like a harpoon. The Cone Snail has enough venom to kill a human as it paralyses the respiratory muscles. Because the cone snail’s shell is pretty and colourful, tourists often unknowingly pick them up and get stung. The Cone Snail is located in the coastal waters of Australia, and live in mud, sand flats and shallow reef waters.