Australia Warnings or Dangers

It's very difficult to be a victim of these animals while you are in Australia, but this is to alert you of their existence. Despite the fact that they can harm us, they should be protected from unnecessary killing. It is just a matter of leaving them alone.

Box JellyFish
The Jellyfish has extreme toxins present on its tentacles, which when in contact with a human, can stop cardio-respiratory functions in as little as three minutes. The tentacles may reach up to 80 cms in length. It is found along the coast of the Great Barrier Reef.

Irukandji Jellyfish
This is a deadly jellyfish, which is only 2.5 cenimetres in diameter, which makes it very hard to spot in the water. It inhabits Northen Australian waters.

Saltwater Crocodile
The Saltwater Crocodile has been reported to grow to lengths of 7 metres, but the average size of a Saltwater Crocodile is 4 metres long. They are found on the northern coast of Australia and inland for up to 100 kms or more. The crocodile is now a protected species in Australia.

Blue Ring Octopus
This octopus has distinctive blue rings on its body and eight tentacles. With the tentacles spread, it is about 20 cms in diameter. The Blue Ring Octopus is a deadly venomous octopus which inhabits warm waters and shallow reefs off the coast of Australia. It also lives off the coast of New Guinea, Indonesia and the Phillipines.

Stonefish
The stonefish is well camouflaged in the ocean, as it is a brownish colour, and often resembles a rock. It has thirteen sharp dorsal spines on its back, which each have extremely toxic venom. They inhabit shallow waters along the coast.

Red Back Spider
These spiders are small in size, the females being about 1cm long and the males about 4mm long. It is Australia's most well known deadly spider. They are found all over Australia, and are common in urban areas. The Black Widow Spider (found in the USA) is a close relative of the Red Back. These spiders are usually found under logs, rocks, bricks, sheds and outdoor toilets.

Brown Snake
The brown snake is approximately 1.5 metres long, and is one of Australia's more deadly creatures. They have venom which can cause death to humans relatively quickly if left untreated. Brown snakes up to 2.3 metres have been recorded in Australia. These snakes are found in Eastern Australia, however they are not found in Tasmania.

Tiger Snake
They are usually around a metre long, and have a striped marking. This is not always the case however, as the markings can change due to the seasons and the age of the snake. They can grow up to 1.5 metres in length. These are venomous snakes, and will attack if they are disturbed or threatened. Otherwise, they can live quietly. They are also often territorial. Death from a bite is quite rare these days, as anti venene is readily available.

Great White Shark
They range between 3.5 to 5 metres long, and weigh on average 1,300kg. They are grey in colour from the top, and white underneath. They have an amazing sense of smell, and can pick up blood in water a long way away. They are solitary animals, but have also been reported to swim in pairs or groups. They are found on all coasts of Australia.

Funnel Web Spider
Funnel-webs are large spiders, 1.5 - 4.5 cm body length, with glossy dark brown to black carapace. The abdomen is usually dark plum to black and not patterned. Bites are dangerous and can cause serious illness or death. They are found in gardens, houses, garages and sheds - particularly ground-level dwellings on concrete slabs. They are found in eastern Australia, including Tasmania, in coastal and highland forest regions - as far west as the Gulf Ranges area of South Australia.

Australia Warnings or Dangers

Visiting Australia?

Visiting Australia?