Australia is home to some of the deadliest animals on the planet. 17 out of 26 of the world’s most poisonous snakes are in Australia. The most poisonous spider in the world calls Oz home. And they have a fish that the pain of its sting alone can be lethal. Still don’t believe me? Take a look at this list of the deadliest animals in Australia:
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Deadliest Animals in Australia's Oceans
Sharks
Sharks are arguably the most famous deadliest animals in Australia. In fact, according to theconversation.com, Australia has the world’s highest diversity of sharks and rays, with over 180 of the 509 known species calling it home. Of that 509 known shark species, only about 26 are known to bite humans without provocation… and of course, 22 of those can be found in Australian waters.
The three that are most known as the deadliest are the Great Whites, Bull Sharks, and Tiger Sharks (pictured above).
Saltwater Crocodiles
Some say, the Saltwater Crocodile is the animal most likely to eat a human… just let that sink in. When visiting Queensland, I was SHOCKED to find out that you can’t swim at most of the beached because of crocodiles! I expected sharks at the beach, but not crocodiles?!
Box & Irukandji Jellyfish
Venom from the Box and Irukandji jellyfish can cause vomiting, back & kidney pain, cramps & psychological feeling of impending doom or death. So I guess that rules out swimming at the beaches… EVER.
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Stonefish
The Stonefish is THE most venomous fish in the world. Blending in perfectly with the ocean floor, swimmers can accidentally step on it, which it then injects a deadly venom. Apparently Stonefish can also survive out of water for up to 24 hours, which means stings can occur on the beach.
Cone Snail
Though small, it is mighty. Some species of Cone Snails have venom powerful enough to kill a human being. Lucky for us, of the hundreds of species that are venomous, only a few can kill a human. Unfortunately, Australia is home to a couple of those.
Stingrays
Stingrays are found all over Australia. We all remember Steve Irwin who was tragically killed by a stingray (RIP), and I will hate the entire species for that forever. I also had a not so great incident with some myself in Grand Caymen…
Blue Ringed Octopus
A Blue Ringed Octopus’s venom is strong enough to kill 20 adult human beings! These octopuses only bite humans when they feel threatened, so best not to mess with them.
Lionfish
The Lionfish lives off the coasts in Australia. It has venomous spines, though luckily, most won’t kill a healthy human. It will, however, cause an immense amount of pain and discomfort, especially if not treated properly.
Deadliest Animals in Australia on Land
You may be thinking, “oh I’ll just stay out of the ocean in Australia then to avoid their most dangerous animals.” But we’re just getting started…
Funnel-Web Spider
While not all funnel web spiders are dangerous, several are highly venomous. The Sydney Funnel-Web Spider is the most dangerous and deadliest in Australia. It’s venom can kill a human in under 30 minutes.
Dingoes
While they may look like a cute, wild dog, dingoes can be dangerous. It is rare, but dingoes have been known to attack humans, usually smaller, young children. To further my point, check out this crazy photo of a dingo eating a SHARK.
Australian Paralysis Tick
The Australian paralysis tick is just 1 out of 75 different tick species found in Australia. Luckily most tick bites are not deadly, though they can have some life-threatening effects if a severe allergic reaction occurs. They also can spread diseases to humans and animals they bite.
Raining Spiders
Australia is homes to tons of dangerous spiders (see the top 10 here), but let’s just take a minute to acknowledge that it literally “rained” spiders one time…
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Giant Centipedes
Of course Australia would have giant centipedes. While not actually deadly to humans, a bite from one of these can be extremely painful due to its venom. They can get to be over 6 inches long.
Cassowaries
This dinosaur looking creature is capable of inflicting injuries that are occasionally fatal to dogs and people when provoked. Read more about how dangerous Cassowaries are here.
Snakes…
I saved the worst for last… all the damn Australian snakes. I am so scared of snakes that it freaks me out to even write/get photos for this post.
According to NSW government website, Australia has over 140 species of land snakes, and 32 species of sea snakes. Of those, ONE HUNDRED SPECIES are venomous. Luckily, only 12 are considered venomous enough to kill a human. Australian Geographic names these snakes as the top 10 most dangerous in the country:
- Eastern Brown Snake
- Western Brown Snake
- Mainland Tiger Snake
- Inland Taipan
- Coastal Taipan
- Mulga Snake
- Lowlands Copperhead
- Small-eyed snake
- Common death adder
- Red-bellied black snake
K I’m going to have nightmares, bye. Kidding (sort of)… BUT I will say, in the entire time I lived in Australia, I never once saw a snake in the wild. And I even camped in The Outback.
While there are tons of deadliest animals in Australia, this post is meant to be lighthearted and not meant to discourage you from visiting Australia. It’s an amazing country and I loved living there!
Which is the scariest animal on this list? Let me know in the comments!
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xx Chels
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