Australia is famous for its beautifully dramatic landscapes and has become known for its striking red dirt and crystal blue waters.
Unfortunately, the beautiful country is literally crawling with some of the most poisonous and dangerous animals on the planet. Here are the top 25 deadliest animals in Australia…
Jumper Ant
The jumper ant is a large native species of ant in Australia that measures about half an inch long. While one of the smallest creatures on the list, they are known for being aggressive and have a venomous sting that can cause anaphylactic shock for a small number of people.
Platypus
The platypus might not seem like much of a threat, but the mammal is incredibly unique. Not only is it the only mammal that lays eggs, but it is also one of the only mammals in the world that is able to produce venom.
Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devils are one of the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world and are known for having an incredibly strong bite. Today, the endangered species can only be found in the wild in Tasmania, an Australian territory off the coast of the country.
Wedge-Tailed Eagle
The wedge-tailed eagle or eagle hawk is a large bird of prey that is native to Australia. The bird of prey, which is the largest in the country, has actually been known to attack hang-gliders and para-gliders.
Stonefish
This aquatic species can be found throughout the reefs that surround the country and is infamous for its horrifically painful sting. “It produces such mind-blowing agony that the body goes into shock and the person dies,” associate professor Bryan Fry, a venom researcher at the University of Queensland, told Australian Geographic.
Cane Toad
The Cane Toad is an invasive species in Australia that has thrived without any natural predators. The species also happens to be incredibly poisonous if eaten.
Monitor Lizard
The monitor lizard or Goanna is the fourth largest living lizard on the planet and can be found throughout Australia. Their bite has been known to cause dangerous bacterial infections and, recently, scientists suspect they have glands that also produce venom.
Cassowary
The Cassowary is the third tallest and second heaviest bird in the world. The massive creature is known for being extremely aggressive, running up to 50 mph, and having razor-sharp claws that can kill humans.
Dingo
The dingo is a species of wild dog in Australia that is known for being extremely unpredictable. They generally avoid contact with humans but are skilled predators and scavengers.
Common Death Adder
The common death adder can be found around the Sydney region. If bitten, their venom causes you to go numb and causes respiration to slow. Eventually, people can become paralyzed after being bitten and even die.
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile, which is most often found in northern Australia, can be found both in the ocean, in estuaries, and sometimes in freshwater. They are particularly skilled at ambushing their prey. By the time you see them coming, it’s often too late to escape their sharp teeth.
Irukandji Jellyfish
The Irukandji jellyfish is a small species of box jellyfish. Despite their small size, however, their sting can cause cramps, sweating, anxiety, severe back pain, and other fatal symptoms within just 30 minutes.
Bull shark
The bull shark is found in the warm and shallow waters around Australia. The shark species are often considered the most dangerous type of shark in the world and are known for being extremely aggressive.
Honey Bee
While the honey bee isn’t the most ferocious species on the list, they are considered dangerous because of how common they are and because so many people are highly allergic to them, which makes just a single sting lethal.
Blue-Ringed Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus is small but packs a mighty punch. Just one of these camouflaged aquatic creatures has enough poison to kill 26 adult humans. The venom is about 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide and, unfortunately, there is no antivenom for their bite.
Sydney Funnel Web Spider
The funnel web spider is most often found in the Sydney region, but they can also be found in other areas in New South Wales and Victoria. The spiders are known for being aggressive. If antivenom is not administered quickly, their venom can be deadly to humans.
Mainland Tiger Snake
The mainland tiger snake is a highly venomous snake species found in southern regions of Australia. Normally, the timid snake prefers to hide or flee around humans, but have been known to aggressively attack if it feels threatened or trapped.
Coastal Taipan
The coastal taipan is the third most venomous snake in the world. They typically are shy creatures but are famous for their lightning-fast bites. They manage to strike several times before a person even knows they’ve been bitten.
Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
The yellow-bellied sea snakes are skilled at camouflaging and can stay underwater for up to three hours without taking a breath. Their venom is extremely toxic and has been known to kill adult humans.
Eastern Brown Snake
The eastern brown snake is the second most venomous snake in the world. They can be found across the eastern coast of Australia as well as in the desert. They are known for being aggressive and are responsible for the most human deaths by snakes in the country.
Box Jellyfish
The box jellyfish’s venom has some of the strongest toxins found in nature that attacks the heart, skin, and nervous system. Just one sting from a tentacle can lead to death within minutes and the species is often considered the most venomous marine animal in the world.
Cone Snail
The cone snail is another deceptively small creature that is native to Australia. Despite its size, the snail has a tiny harpoon that carries neurotoxins powerful enough to kill 10 people.
Beaked Sea Snake
The beaked sea snake is extremely aggressive and venomous. The venom from just a single bite is strong enough to kill 50 humans.
Belcher’s Sea Snake
The Belcher’s sea snake is the most venomous snake in the world, as just a small amount of venom can kill around 1000 human beings. However, the deadly creatures are not typically thought of as a threat because of their peaceful nature.
Inland Taipan
The inland taipan is the deadliest land snake in the world. While they are generally not aggressive creatures, their venom is so strong that a human can die just 45 minutes after a single bite. More than 80 percent of victims tragically don’t survive the lethal bite.
