The Deadliest Animals In Australia That Everyone Should Steer Clear Of

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The Top Deadliest Animals In Australia

By Joe Burgett - May 15, 2021

Australia is a beautiful nation/continent that seemingly defies nature. It might be a wonderful area, but it’s unlike most other major landmasses across the world. In fact, there are some dangerous animals that live here and nowhere else. The deadliest animals in Australia get a ton of press and for good reason. But how did Australia become so different compared to the rest of the world? Well, millions of years ago, Pangea already broke apart to leave Gondwana. Around 180 million years ago, the west and eastern portion broke apart.

On the west were Africa and South America. Meanwhile, in the east, we had Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica. Eventually, India broke off along with Madagascar to leave Australia and Antarctica. Those two then broke apart 30 million years ago. This is why they all share some similar creatures except Antarctica. Many of Australia’s creatures soon became more diverse as time went on. Removed from the rest of the world, they evolved very differently. While some differences are good, the Aussies also began to see very deadly creatures form. Our list will reveal them all for you!

The Top Deadliest Animals In Australia — *The Tasmanian Tiger. Photo Credit: Razik Maulana Ikram/Shutterstock*

Tasmanian Tigers

Danger Level: None (used to be kinda high)

We’d feel terrible if we did not include one of Australia’s most distinct creatures, the Tasmanian Tiger. Contrary to its name, this isn’t a tiger nor a cat at all. It’s actually a carnivorous marsupial, a lot like the Saber-Toothed Tiger. This is why it’s actually pretty easy to compare the two. The true name of the Tazmanian Tiger is the Thylacine, and they were hunted to extinction by humans. Originally, Dingoes rising up in number led to their extinction in mainland Australia, along with climate change.

This resulted in the Thylacine only having a small population on the island of Tasmania by around 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, but they were holding strong. The British then began to settle in Australian territories in the 1700s and 1800s. Van Diemen’s Land Company put a bounty on the creature as early as 1830. On top of that, between 1888 and 1909 the Tasmanian government paid money per Thylacine head. That ultimately led to their complete extinction by around 1930.

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Bull Ants

Danger Level: 3/10

It might be odd to call an ant one of the deadliest animals in Australia. However, it’s actually quite true. In fact, the Bull Ant happens to be one of the most venomous insects on the planet today. Among ants, it carries the most toxic venom. These ants can even be found in all Australian states, especially Tasmania. There, around 3% of the population is allergic to this ant’s venom and can suffer anaphylactic reactions if stung.

Many tourists that have allergic reactions are not aware that they are allergic to the bull ant’s venom. Of course, you only really see them in Australia and New Zealand mostly. Very few are allergic to only one sting, but several stings could result in even the non-allergic to have a reaction. Our bodies can only handle a specific amount of any venom before it can no longer be filtered out, just like with bee stings. Only 3 people have died from bull ant stings since 1936, however. Reactions are also easy to treat, and most get treatment before their life is in jeopardy.

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Emus

Danger Level: 4/10

Emus are usually quite good around humans and have been for a long time. However, they have attacked humans in the past and there are even some fatalities connected to those attacks. In spite of this, an emu is more than likely going to be inquisitive and friendly with humans. Yet this does not mean they should not be respected and dismissed completely as a possible threat for humans. They have incredibly powerful legs equipped with claws that could rip any creature open.

This is why even some of the most notable carnivores in Australia do not go after emu as often as you’d think. That is why they rank among the deadliest animals in Australia. Sure, they are not going to naturally go after a human. If they chose to, however, we’d be in trouble. They are capable of running at over 31 miles per hour. Usain Bolt is the fastest man in history, and his top speed is just under 28 MPH. Most of us are nowhere close to that. Therefore, we should respect emus as much as possible.

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Stingrays

Danger Level: 4/10

Stingrays have often been feared more than they should be. This does not mean you should not fear them at all, of course. The idea that they are cold-blooded human killers is simply not true though. Stingrays rarely attack humans but when they do, they can potentially injure or kill people. The reason for this is ultimately the barbed tail they have. Stingrays can be found all over the world but Southeast Asia and Australia happen to sport the largest you’ll see on the planet. Unsurprising, right?

As a result, their threat alone makes them one of the deadliest animals in Australia today. They are venomous, even when someone is only hit a little by the ray’s barb. The venom they possess includes cystatins, peroxiredoxin, and galectin. Of course, stingray venom is still relatively unstudied due to the lack of human death it causes. Again, the real threat is the barb while the venom is secondary. If left alone and you do not show yourself to be a threat, they tend to leave humans alone.

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Dingos

Danger Level: 4/10

Many will tell you that a Dingo would not harm a fly, but those people would be wrong. They are pretty much dogs, but even dogs in the wild will bite or attack humans. Thus, dingos are no different in that vein. However, they are not exactly like dogs entirely. They have incredible athletic ability, with the ability to climb trees and jump quite high. Today, since dogs were brought over with the British, dingos have mated with them for a long time.

Today, there are more hybrid dog-dingo creatures than pure dingos in Australia. Breeding programs exist at several zoos to continue pure dingo breeding so that the dingo population never dies out in favor of the hybrid. Like dogs, dingos have been known to be pets among some Australians. This is not recommended by experts, however. The danger among dingos usually exists when a pack gathers and sees someone as a threat or if they are hungry. They have been known to attack humans due to both reasons. Dingos tend to avoid humans more often than not, however.

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Bats

Danger Level: 5/10

Interestingly, Australia only has two species of bat that are native to the continent. The rest were introduced. This could be why Australia has a full 7% of the world’s bat species. In Australia, you’ll see the Arnhem Land Long-Eared Bat, Bare-Backed Fruit-Bat, Beccari’s Freetail, Cape York Pipistrelle, Bristle-nosed Freetail, and many more. Usually, bats do not tend to be among humans as they like dark, wet areas like your average cave. Australia is full of these types of places.

However, Aussies also come across bats in random areas all over the continent and in most of its island states. Slowly, the human population has been encroaching on bat territories, causing more human interactions. Bats are known to bite humans at times, although rare. Yet more interactions will almost certainly cause more of these. They rank among the deadliest animals in Australia mostly due to the high rate of diseases the species carries.

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Redback Spiders

Danger Level: 5/10

Redback Spiders (also known as the Australian black widow) are among the deadliest animals in Australia today, but they happen to be one of the few truly deadly spiders to humans in the region. Most of the others either stay far away from humans, cannot pierce human skin, or have no interest in biting us. Redback spiders differ here, as they are one of the most common to cause serious spider bites in Australia. They could even kill humans due to their powerful venom.

It is mostly filled with a neurotoxin that will hurt us. Also in humans, it will also cause latrodectism. Pain will begin the moment the bite occurs with pain and swelling around the bite site. Pain will increase over the next 24 hours, and we will sweat as well as become nauseated from the venom. Headaches will come and it’ll be almost like a bad flu virus, accompanied by pain. Of course, antivenom has existed since 1956 for this spider, so very few die from their bite. But there is still a danger of that.

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Giant Centipedes

Danger Level: 5/10

Australia is filled with creepy crawlies, and as we already know, a lot of them can kill people. The Giant Centipede is ultimately not going to bother most people. It would rather stay away from us. Yet the moment we go into its environment or surprise it in our own, they might attack. It often wraps around its victim like a boa constrictor and then bites to insert its venom. While it is capable of killing large animals or humans, it takes quite a while to work.

However, in all humans attacked, the giant centipede’s venom will cause intense pain that might last for a few days. Most adults can handle the bite with nothing more than pain issues and potential swelling. Others are not so lucky. We know that their bite is capable of killing children because at least one young girl died from being bitten by one. This is why it’s one of the deadliest animals in Australia. If it can kill any human, that is worthy of merit.

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Cone Snails

Danger Level: 5/10

You might rightly be asking, how could a snail, especially a cone snail, actually harm you? It is a valid question and worthy of exploring. While they do not go on the attack, these creatures tend to act more in defense than anything else. People often mistake them for being weird-looking seashells. Patterns of the shells can be pretty awesome, so we do not blame people for wanting to pick them up.

However, when you do there is a good chance that they will sting you with a sharp barb. This often occurs in the finger or hand, and it can be deadly. The cone snail possesses something known as a “conotoxin.” It often acts as a basic neurotoxin and makes them one of the deadliest animals in Australia. The toxin is filled with peptides that target specific nerve channels or receptors. The venom causes severe pain and can also make it hard to breathe or speak. It can even paralyze victims.

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Cassowary

Danger Level: 6/10

Many ignorantly assume that a Cassowary will be a lot like an Emu. While the two are semi-related, they act VERY differently toward humans. Often referred to as today’s version of a raptor, cassowaries are known as “the most dangerous bird on the planet.” This is for a legit reason, they do not mind attacking anyone or anything. Most of the time, one would assume if you feed an animal that comes up to you, they will leave you alone and focus on the food.

Cassowary might do that, but when humans feed them they begin to expect it. As a result, they have attacked humans for food they might have on them. A study conducted in 2003 looked into 221 cassowary attacks. 75% of them were cassowaries that were fed by. 71% of the time the bird chased or specifically charged at them and 15% of the time they kicked. 150 of these attacks were on humans while the rest were on other animals. Some deaths have occurred from cassowary attacks, but there has not been one since 2019.

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Bull Sharks

Danger Level: 6/10

Bull Sharks are one of the few shark species in the Australian region that actually attack humans just because. Yes, bull sharks can be found elsewhere but they do seem to love it around the Aussies. The weird part is that this is both a saltwater and freshwater shark. This is referred to as a diadromous species, or one that spends time in both freshwater and saltwater. In case you thought rivers and lakes were safe, now you know better!

That makes them a problem in a place like Australia that is surrounded by both freshwater and saltwater territories. They love to swim in shallow waters, making it easy to bump into humans. These sharks have attacked swimmers in the Sydney Harbour alone! You’ll often see them swimming in waters of 100 feet or less in terms of depth. That is often why they attack humans quite a lot annually. Remarkably, sharks attack a lot but do not tend to kill many humans.

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Portuguese Man O’War

Danger Level: 6/10

While the Portuguese Man O’War is not technically part of any one country specifically, they sure do love Australia. They can be found all over the region, and are often confused for other things. Due to their unique look, some assume they are a toy or plastic and mistakenly pick them up. They also love to hang around random areas of the ocean, sometimes even near shorelines. That is why they tend to sting around 10,000 people in Australia annually!

While they do sort of look like jellyfish, they are actually a siphonophore. These creatures appear to be one individual organism but when you look closely, they are actually a major colony of organisms. The Man O’War is composed of medusoid and polyploid zooids that have morphed together and function to do specific jobs. It’s absolutely fascinating, but the creature is one of the deadliest animals in Australia today! They inject painful venom that is enough to kill some humans.

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Australian Paralysis Ticks

Danger Level: 6/10

While some might say that a tick should not be completely feared, we feel you should specifically be afraid of the Australian Paralysis Tick. Why? It’s pretty simple. The tick actually operates like any other normal tick. But instead of simply biting in to suck up blood, they include a neurotoxin in their bite. The toxin makes it to where you won’t feel them biting into you, allowing them to stick around longer. Most humans do not have life-threatening interactions with the tick.

However, some can be allergic to them and have a reaction. The real thing to worry about for all humans is a specific tick-transmitted infectious disease known as Rickettsial Spotted Fever. While not always deadly, it can be for some but it typically can give people flu-like symptoms. Another issue they cause is tick paralysis, which can give humans some severe respiratory trouble and sometimes a lack of mobility. Any of these issues are worthy of immediate medical attention.

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Tasmanian Devils

Danger Level: 6/10

Tasmanian Devils at one point were nearly going toward the way of their cousin, the Tasmanian Tiger. They were slowly dwindling in number but thankfully proper breeding programs have prevented their major decline. How are these little devils some of the deadliest animals in Australia? First, you should know that many like to work in packs to take down animals. They do not mind going after a creature larger than them, but this is due to the powerful weapons they possess.

They have teeth that can rip through just about anything, as well as claws that are perfect for digging into the ground or into tough skin. Do they tend to go after humans? No. In fact, they rarely have contact. But when they do, it is often due to one getting in the road and being run over accidentally. The devils are often aggressive the most when it’s feeding time, but they are not like this 24/7. However, they are still dangerous and “could” kill people but don’t. At most, they just injure us.

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Lionfish

Danger Level: 7/10

While Lionfish are slowly becoming an invasive species in the Americas, they are traditionally from the Australian region. In fact, they had been native to the coral reef there. Currently, NOAA and its partners are trying to fix the issue and move more lionfish back to the reefs. Lionfish serve a great purpose to reefs due to removing pests that cause the reefs harm. They are feared fish in the ocean for an understandable reason. They possess venomous spikey fin rays.

These rays are filled with venom that has negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, as well as the ability to drop blood pressure. The latter is potentially happening to animals and humans due to nitric oxide being released. People often have neurotoxic effects such as convulsions, confusion, dizziness, headaches, numbness, paresthesia, etc. Severe effects might be paralysis of the limbs and heart failure. Adults might have severe issues but rarely die, it is often children most at risk of death.

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Common Death Adders

Danger Level: 7/10

Unlike some animals on this list, the Death Adder snake is only native to Australia and New Guinea. One might assume with a name like “death” adder, they might kill many humans or even attack a lot. This is ultimately not true, but they are relatively aggressive if you enter their environment. Their lightning-fast strike is notable, but you’re only going to see this if the snake feels threatened. Unlike some snakes, death adders lack hardly any fat and operate on mostly muscle.

This aids their strike speed, but also the power and pain of their bite. Naturally, they are one of the deadliest animals in Australia for reasons beyond this. Specifically, the venom they possess can kill people. When the snake bites, it averages 100mg of its neurotoxin in each bite. That can cause a healthy adult to die in just 6 hours. Thankfully, there is an antivenom on standby at Australian medical facilities. This is one major reason their death total is so low. Getting medical treatment immediately is recommended by experts.

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Reef Stonefish

Danger Level: 7/10

While we might be discussing the Reef Stonefish in particular, all stonefish should be avoided if possible. The “reef” version is simply the most notable due to it being so widespread. This version of the species is also the most populous, so you’re more than likely going to run into it more than another. That said, stonefish are all over the world but this version of the species, in particular, loves the Australian region. Stonefish are the single most venomous fish species on the planet today.

They possess needle-like dorsal fins packed with venom. To hurt their prey, they essentially just ram into them to stick their spikes in. Different but effective neurotoxins are within their venom, which can be pretty painful. Pain lasts at least 24 hours but for many, it can take several days to fully stop as the venom works its way out of your system. Some people can die from their sting, specifically due to allergic reactions. While very few deaths occur, they can happen as soon as an hour after being stung. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek medical attention immediately.

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Blue-Ringed Octopus

Danger Level: 7/10

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is absolutely beautiful. However, it has long been said that the more beautiful an animal is, the more likely it is to kill you. Almost like humans in a horror movie. Sorry, we saw the movie “Species” the other day and still have nightmares from it. That said, while this octopus is not exclusively in Australian waters, they are often found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans between Japan and Australia. Making them an Australian species worthy of note.

What makes the blue-ringed octopus one of the deadliest animals in Australia today? The potent venom it possesses. They have something known as “tetrodotoxin,” which they tend to use rarely. When they do, it’s enough to kill pretty much any species. Of course, human deaths are rare mostly due to the octopus being in the deep ocean. Humans do not tend to venture down that far very often. If the octopus did sting a person, it can kill them between 1 to 10 hours. There is no known antivenom for their version of tetrodotoxin either!

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Funnel-Web Spiders

Danger Level: 8/10

While Australia is known for its wide variety of spiders, very few are actually a major problem for people to worry about. Yet some, such as the Funnel-Web Spider, are among the deadliest animals in Australia today. They possess a Delta-Atracotoxin venom that is often referred to as δ-atracotoxin, which is an ion-channel inhibitor. It is a version of neurotoxin that is quite powerful and acts super quickly. For animals, it can cause a reaction within minutes and kill in less than 20.

For humans, things are a bit different. It targets our sodium ion channels and motor neurons, making them no longer function properly. This will then affect our motor function, but also our breathing. Interestingly, the venom will kill humans and other primates but it cannot kill any other mammal species. They bite roughly 30 to 40 people every year but only an estimated 14 have died from it. Humans can die within 15 minutes to an hour, which is why you need medical attention quickly if bitten.

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Great White Sharks

Danger Level: 8/10

The Great White Shark is the most feared shark species in the ocean. Yes, they too are not just found in Australia but can also be found all over the globe. Why do they rank high among the deadliest animals in Australia? This is mostly due to the numerous attacks on humans within this region. They might attack surfers, water skiers, scuba divers, etc. They are the shark species with the most unprovoked bites on humans. However, these are global statistics. With a large population worldwide compared to other sharks, they are bound to have higher numbers.

They do not tend to like eating us, funny enough. The human muscle and bone ratio is hard to digest for the great white shark, so they more often attack but do not kill and eat us. We’re ultimately too boney for them compared to fatty seals (which they love). Humans often seem to escape after their initial bite too. Yet they attack several people annually. Great Whites have been a vulnerable species, according to the Australian Government, since 1999. This is why the nation does not allow the random killing or “shark culling” of the great white shark. New Zealand and other nations also have conservation plans for them too.

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Coastal Taipan Snakes

Danger Level: 9/10

Coastal Taipan Snakes are given their name mostly for sticking close to coastlines and being part of the taipan family of snakes, which isn’t really difficult. They do not truly kill many people per year because most know to steer clear of them if one just so happens to be nearby. All in all, they are the third most venomous snake on the planet today. Most of the time, they bite humans specifically out of defense rather than seek them out.

They are not highly aggressive but can be territorial. But if you steer clear of them. they’ll leave you alone too. The species know how powerful its venom is because they tend to warn us before striking. Usually, they freeze up after curling together, then lunge forward if they still feel threatened. The result is a deadly dose of venom every single bite. Their venom contains taicatoxin and neurotoxin at a 0.106mh potency that contains a 100% mortality rate for untreated bites. If medical treatment is sought out immediately, most humans survive their bite.

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Crocodiles

Danger Level: 9/10

Australia is heavily known for its crocodiles. While saltwater crocs can be found in other places, freshwater versions can too. It is only in Australia, however, where you’ll see both. Australia’s freshwater version is not known as a man-eater, mostly due to the size of freshwater crocs. They will bite out of self-defense, however. Australia’s saltwater crocodile is the real killer to look out for. They do not mind attacking any species near them. Crocs have attacked lions, cheetahs, hippos, deer, and more.

While the crocs of Africa are bad, Australia’s crocodiles are heavily notable. This is mostly due to Australian conservationist and television host, Steve Irwin. Nicknamed the “Crocodile Hunter,” he helped us learn more about them and was very effective in several studies on the species. In total, roughly 1,000 people are killed by crocs annually. Many of these happen here, making them one of the deadliest animals in Australia today. However, the best thing to do if you see a croc is to simply run in the opposite direction. Try to not randomly go into marshes or places they are common, to begin with, too.

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Eastern Brown Snakes

Danger Level: 10/10

Australia certainly has a lot of snakes, and the Eastern Brown Snake is one of the most feared. This is ultimately due to their venom level, which ranks as the second-most of any snake on the planet. Australians see them quite a lot, which is why they are responsible for up to 60% of all snakebites in the nation every year. They tend to be pretty solitary, however. That’s probably why their yearly human bite count is not exactly massive.

People in the bush tend to be the most common to be bitten, as the eastern brown snake usually does not live around human beings. Yet encroachment on environments that these snakes hold has led to more interactions with them. The species is certainly deadly, and that’s due to what their venom is packed with. It has a potency of 5.0mg and filled with neurotoxin, hemotoxin, and mycotoxin. This is why it is capable of killing within 15 to 30 minutes, with a maximum of just 1 hour!

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Box Jellyfish

Danger Level: 10/10

While Box Jellyfish can be seen in various places, they have been known for their heavy connection to the Australian region for many years. The species is responsible for more serious injuries to humans than sharks, sea snakes, and stingrays combined annually. Plus, they are known for killing up to 50 people per year. How do they accomplish so many injuries and even deaths each year? First, it’s due to traveling in packs where you won’t just see one jellyfish but often several.

Second, they rarely sting just once. When you are attacked with just one swipe of their venomous tentacles, they will send more in rapid succession. They contain what is known as “jellyfish venom,” which is mostly a combination of powerful neurotoxins. It can paralyze people, make it hard to breathe, cause heart problems, cause necrosis, shock, etc. That can make getting to safety after an attack quite hard. Depending on the severity, people can die from a sting or series of them anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. It’s all dependent on the person ultimately.

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Inland Taipan Snakes

Danger Level: 10/10

The Inland Taipan Snake is the single most venomous snake on the planet today. Just one bite from this snake is enough to kill 100 full-grown men. The crazy part is that you’d think with so much packed in one bite, they’d be unable to offer lethal doses in other bites. However, the snake has an excellent recovery rate and can offer a severe strike several more times in a row without falling off of lethality.

The venom that the inland taipan possesses is filled with neurotoxin, paradoxin, hemotoxin, oxytoxin, myotoxin, and som hyaluronidase enzymes. These add up to make the venom very deadly. Certainly enough to make this snake one of the deadliest animals in Australia. The venom is absorbed by the body quickly and results in human death anywhere between 5 minutes and just under 1 hour. There is an antivenom for it, but that’s if you’re lucky enough to get it in time.

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