10 October 2008
Dangerous Creatures of Australia
Posted by Mick under: Misc .
Exploring around the continent of Australia can be really interesting…and for those of you that think Australia is only full of cuddly creatures like the Koala, here are a few descriptions from wikipedia of some of our nastier co-inhabitants:
Inland Taipan (aka the Fierce snake)
Being the most venomous snake in the world, a single bite from the Inland Taipan contains enough venom to kill as many as 100 human adults or 250,000 mice.[3] The average venom yield of this snake is 44 mg, with a yield of 110 mg being the largest recorded. Its venom is 50 times more toxic than that of the Indian Cobra and 650–850 times more toxic than that of a Western or Eastern Diamondback. The Inland Taipan has an extremely neurotoxic venom that can kill an adult human in as little as 45 minutes.
Eastern Brown Snake
The second most venomous land snake in the world.
Tiger Snake
Ranked amongst the deadliest snakes in the world, and while antivenom is effective, mortality rates approach 45% if not treated.
Funnel Web Spider
The primary range of the Australasian funnel-web spiders is the eastern coast of Australia and are probably one of the three most dangerous spiders in the world and are regarded by some to be the most dangerous.
Red Back Spider
Considered one of the most dangerous spiders in Australia, although only about 20% of bite victims require treatment.
The Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish venom is the most deadly in the animal kingdom and has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954. Box jellyfish are abundant in the warm waters of northern Australia.
Irukandji (A Jellyfish)
Irukandji syndrome is produced by a very small amount of venom and includes severe pains at various parts of the body (typically excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, and a burning sensation of the skin and face), headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, high heart rate and blood pressure.
Blue Ring Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus is the size of a golf ball, but its venom is powerful enough to kill humans. There is no known antidote.
Stone Fish
They are the most venomous known fish in the world.
Salt Water Crocodile
Found in Northern Australia, an adult male saltwater crocodile can grow 20 feet (6 meters) long, and weigh more than 1000 kilograms (2,200 pounds). Most attacks by adult “salties” (Salt Water Crocodiles) are fatal, given the animals’ size and strength. In Australia, attacks are rare and usually make headlines when they do occur. There are, on average, no more than one or two fatal attacks reported per year in the country.
Great White Shark
Reaching lengths of more than 6 m (20 ft) and weighing up to 2,250 kg (5,000 lb), the great white shark is the world’s largest known predatory fish. Great white sharks live in almost all coastal and offshore waters which have a water temperature of between 12 and 24° C (54° to 75° F), with greater concentrations off the southern coasts of Australia, off South Africa, California and Mexico’s Isla Guadalupe.
Drop Bear
Drop bears are commonly said to be unusually large, vicious, carnivorous koalas that inhabit treetops and attack their prey by dropping onto their heads from above.
So…with open arms, and hospitals at the ready, we welcome our international explorers to experience the wonders of Australia ;)
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