Even more than for its gorgeous opera house, sandy beaches, or colourful reefs, Australia has cemented its reputation as home to some of the world’s deadliest animals. Or, if you believe the rumours, maybe even all of the world’s deadliest animals.
The numbers tell a different story. It is estimated that Australia hosts 66 venomous species, ranking beneath countries such as Brazil (with 79 species) and Mexico (with 80). But if it’s the amount of venom in those creatures that counts—which is certainly the case if you find yourself bitten or stung by one—Australia’s most-deadly status starts to make more sense. Its inland taipan snakes, box jellyfish, Sydney funnel-web spiders, and stonefish all rank among the most venomous of their kind.
The best illustration of Australia’s deadly-animal problem may be the Elapidae snake family: a venomous group characterized by its short fangs and agile nature. Out of 300 elapid species, which include the taipan, coral snake, and mamba, 60 can be found across the land and waters of Australia. Some are small and shy around humans, while others are large and obtrusive. Striking with a downward stabbing motion, elapids kill by injecting a neurotoxic venom that causes immediate paralysis in prey. Once bitten, a prey animal—which for an elapid may include rodents, small birds, and even other snakes—is unable to escape being completely devoured. The venom released by one bite of a taipan is, if given the chance, enough to kill 250,000 mice.
The reason why almost all Australian snakes are venomous is that almost all of them are elapids. Researchers use the theory of continental drift, which posits that Earth’s continents once experienced a large-scale movement away from one another, to interpret the lineage of this dangerous population. When landmasses separated, it is likely that Australia’s snake population was entirely venomous. Although other continents retained populations of venomous and nonvenomous snakes after the continental drift, resulting in a diverse snake population today, Australia’s modern-day snakes share purely venomous ancestors—a heritage resulting in the most toxic group of snakes on the planet.
But while Australia is home to some of the deadliest creatures on the planet (we haven’t even gone into detail about the Sydney funnel-web spider, whose bite releases a neurotoxin that can kill a child in only 15 minutes), that doesn’t mean Australia is actually the deadliest continent. Contact with its venomous inhabitants is, in reality, incredibly rare. With the development of antivenins to combat different species’ toxins, deaths from such a bite or sting are even rarer. Of the 41,000 people hospitalized as a result of a venomous bite or sting from 2000 to 2013, only 64 victims lost their lives.
Of course, it’s not only venomous species that can be lethal. Sharks have no venom, nor do cassowaries, which are considered perhaps the most dangerous birds in the world, thanks to the daggerlike nails on two of their six toes. Though both animals are common in Australia or its surrounding waters and are considered threatening, aggression toward humans from either is still relatively rare. On average, shark attacks historically have claimed fewer than one victim per year, with nonfatal attacks ranging anywhere from 8 to 19 per year between 2011 and 2020. Though cassowaries are more likely to engage with humans, attacking more than 200 people per year, only one cassowary-related death has occurred since the 1920s.
Does Australia deserve its deadly reputation? Certainly. Especially when compared with the creatures of other continents, Australia’s animals possess an uncanny ability to kill. But will an encounter with an Australian animal kill you? Unless you hunt down an inland taipan in its remote desert home and provoke it, probably not. Though science has not yet revealed why the Sydney funnel-web spider needs to be so venomous, visitors to the continent can rest easy in the knowledge that an antivenin for its bite exists, so a hairy spider face won’t be the last thing they ever see.
First of all, the animal that kills the most humans in Australia is the horse. Second in the ranking of most people killed annually in Australia by animals is the cow. Horses kill more people per year than sharks, box jellyfish, brown snakes, blue ring octopus, spiders and the infamous drop bear do combined.
Its inland taipan snakes, box jellyfish, Sydney funnel-web spiders, and stonefish all rank among the most venomous of their kind. The best illustration of Australia's deadly-animal problem may be the Elapidae snake family: a venomous group characterized by its short fangs and agile nature.
Cities and towns are your best bet. Living in a major east-coast city for nearly half my life, I've seen very little beyond mosquitoes and humans that are considered dangerous animals. I have only lived on the east coast of Australia, in a quite developed region (Western Sydney), but I have been to more rural areas.
Australia is home to some of the deadliest creatures on Earth. From snakes to spiders and scary sea creatures, this continent has it all. The inland taipan, for example, is known as the world's most venomous snake.
Each year, about 180,000 cats and 210,000 dogs are taken into care by councils, either directly or via shelters contracted to care for these pets on their behalf. Of these pets, more than 1 in 5 dogs and 1 in 4 cats are killed. Annually, this means around: 44,000 dogs.
Dogs. Man's best friend is actually one of the world's deadliest mammals. Worldwide, dogs are responsible for about 25,000 human deaths from rabies each year resulting from maulings and bites.
Here are the facts. Myths and urban legends have conspired against many Australian animals, giving some species an unflattering reputation. But ask any local, and you'll hear that Australia is safe, and most of our wildlife is more scared of you than you are of it.
Some spiders are active hunters. So, it can be difficult to avoid anywhere you may find a spider. However, in general, if you are going into any dark or hidden area, you want to be aware of the possibility of spiders.
As it's the country to most snake species, residents often encounter these unexpected coiling guests in the bathroom, in the ceiling, under the bed, and even right in front of their doorstep. Virtually everywhere, a snake can be encountered in Australia – a nightmare for many people.
The quokkas have plenty of natural resources and no natural predators, so you'll never be short of opportunities to experience them regardless of the time of year. Nocturnal by nature, they spend most of the day sleeping and resting under shady bushes, but can easily be seen lazing around the island.
Australia is home to some of the most dangerous insects in the world. Although spiders are known for their deadly venom and mosquitoes are known for spreading malaria and other diseases, there are some insects that seem harmless but claim more lives every year.
Spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis, the mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world.
Here are the facts. Myths and urban legends have conspired against many Australian animals, giving some species an unflattering reputation. But ask any local, and you'll hear that Australia is safe, and most of our wildlife is more scared of you than you are of it.
Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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