The Top 10 Deadliest Animals in Australia
The Top 10 Deadliest Animals in Australia
Australia is infamous for it’s deadly animals. While the country does have a plethora of dangerous spiders, fish and reptiles, you should not be worried. Honeybees kill more people in Australia every year than sharks, snakes, or spiders. Horses are actually the most deadly animal in Australia and have been attributed to 77 deaths in the last ten years. That’s more than double the next deadliest animal. If you’re not afraid of horses or bees in your own country, you shouldn’t be afraid of animals in Australia. Statistics aside, here’s a list of deadly Australian animals that are far more rare, far more interesting, and certainly more scary.
1. Box Jellyfish
Since 1883 this jellyfish has accounted for 79 reported deaths in Australia. The box jellyfish lives in waters worldwide, but can be found on the eastern coast of Australia near the Great Barrier Reef. It has long tentacles with a powerful venom that can send a person in cardiac arrest and subsequent death in minutes. Many survive and have some nasty scars as a reminder of the havoc this clear jelly can serve.
2. Eastern Brown Snake
Also known as the common brown snake, this snake is responsible for more deaths in Australia than any other. It has the second most toxic venom of any land snake and is notoriously ill tempered. Often chasing after an aggressor and repeatedly striking. The real problem is that this snakes preferred habitat is also along major population centers in Australia. Less than 1/14,000 of it’s venom is enough to kill an adult human, but luckily less than half of their bites contain any venom at all.
3. Saltwater Crocodile
The largest saltwater crocodile ever measured was over 21 feet long. Crocodiles as large at 26 feet have been reportedly seen in Australia. These ancient giants account for on average 2 deaths per year in Northern Australia. Most deaths are due to reckless swimming in areas that are clearly signposted and known to have crocodiles. Attacks are sudden, fast, and rarely survived.
4. Bull Shark
This shark has more testosterone than any other animal on the planet. A highly aggressive shark (no surprise), it accounts for more attacks on humans than any other. Most attacks are unfortunately due to curiosity of the shark as it tries to identify what you are. Growing up to three meters, this shark is unique in it’s ability to swim in both saltwater and freshwater. Bull sharks have been found miles upstream fresh water rivers such as the Brisbane River on the east coast.
5. Blue-ringed Octopus
This golf ball sized octopus has enough venom to kill 26 adults. A bite can completely paralyze you and subsequently kill you in a matter of minutes. There is no known antidote, but luckily this octopus is most active at night, and is very rarely seen.
6. Coastal Taipan
The good news is that this snake generally stays away from people. It tends to reside in forests and sugar cane fields where it is fond of hunting rats and other small mammals. The bad news is that it can grow to almost ten feet long, has the 3rd most toxic venom of any land snake, and has by far the longest fangs. Before anti-venom was created, there were no known survivors of a taipan bite. Death would usually occur within an hour.
7. Funnel Web Spider
It looks like a tarantula, has fangs that can pierce shoes, and may be the most venomous spider on the planet. Sounds great right? Luckily it resides in dark/moist areas, usually away from most human contact. Since the anti venom was made available in 1981 there have been no fatalities.
8. Cone Snail
With a venom 1000 times stronger than morphine, this little bottom dweller packs a punch. A single sting has enough venom to kill 15 healthy adults. Luckily there has only been one reported death in Australia.
9. Great White Shark
I’m sure you already know about this dangerous animal. The great white shark can be found along the eastern, western, and southern coasts of Australia, generally staying in the southern coastline and moving up the east and west coasts during the winter. From it’s sheer size this shark is most dangerous because one test or curiosity bite can be fatal for us. In 2009 a 10-foot great white shark was found off the Queensland coast nearly bitten in half by a larger great white. The larger great white shark was estimated to be about 20 feet long. For reference, the shark in Spielberg’s classic “Jaws”, was only 25 feet long.
10. Stonefish
Known as the most deadly fish in the world the stonefish camouflages among coral and reef rocks. The spines on it’s back have been known to pierce the rubber soles of a shoe and the foot within. The resulting pain is known to be excruciating, and not even helped by pain relievers including morphine. The severity of the venom depends on the number of punctures made by their 13 spines. There has only been one unconfirmed death from a stonefish in Australia.
