Deadly Australia Lecture ☠️

Jessi gave a lecture on the deadly stuff in Australia.

Most of Australia's organisms are found in the Australian Bush. Many plant species are germinated by fire. Australia gets lots of bush fires. Regeneration comes back rather quickly... Unlike Arizona.

Top 10 Most Deadly in Australia

1. Saltwater Crocodile
2. Box Jellyfish
3. Inland Taipan Snake
4. Eastern Brown Snake
5. Blue Ringed Octopus
6. Coastal Taipan Snake
7. Sydney Funnel Web Spider
8. Cone Snail
9. Common Death Adder Snake
10. Stonefish

SPIDERS

Sydney funnel web spider very deadly venemous spider. It is #7 on top 10 deadliest. The most venomous on entire planet. They are common around Sydney. Only 13 deaths total from this spider. None since 1981 because of anti-venom. Males will bite you. Females do not wander.

There is a Southern funnel web and Newcastle Big Boy spider. It is twice the size as the Sydney funnel web spider

Redback spiders are also all around Australia and in urban areas. Check boots if left outside. They kind of look like black widows. The females are the only ones that bite. About 250 cases per year. No one has died from this spider for decades because of anti-venom.

Huntsman Spider has venom but not enough to cause problems. They will give you a mild heart attack. They are huge which is why. They have a 15 cm leg span. Not dangerous but terrifyingly big.

Peacock Jumping Spider is adorable and only found in Australia. Not going to hurt you.

SNAKES

Coastal Taipan is #6 in Australia's most deadly. 3rd most venomous on planet. 3 meters in size. 13mm fangs. Anti-venom is created otherwise it would be a 90% chance of fatality in 30 minutes. Lots of terrifying symptoms. Nervous species.

The Inland Taipan are much more dangerous as they are #3 on Australia's most deadly. Most venemous snake. Can be fatal in 45 minutes. No one has died from it. They are far inland in Australia, in the outback. Shy species. The head changes color with the season.

Eastern Brown Snake are #4 on Top 10 Most Deadly. 5 fatalities since 2022. Second most venomous snake on the planet. Very fast and aggressive. They can be found in the urban areas. Venom causes paralysis and can someone to collapse in minutes. Lots of anti-venom to counteract venom.

Common Death Adder is #9. Fastest striking snake on planet. Excellent camouflage as they like to stay still. Tail has different coloration with a tiny lure to attract prey like lizards and mice. Venom is neurotoxin which causes respiration issues. 60% chance of fatality without anti-venom.

Tiger snake is responsible for second highest snake bite. Found in major cities like Melbourne. If left untreated, will cause pain in neck and feet, respiratory, and fatality. 17% of all snake bites. 4 fatalities ever before 1930. Many adults have stripes.

Olive Sea Snake is in the water. Over 70 sea snakes in Australia. They have a flat end of the tail that acts like a paddle. Can hold their breath for 30 minutes to 8 hours.

KANGAROO

Kangaroo are usually docile and not often as pets. About 40 attacks on humans in the last decade. Big males can be dangerous. They balance in their tail to give a powerful kick. They have sharp fire laws, also. Do not corner a kangaroo. Hitting a kangaroo in a car is as dangerous as hitting an elk. 100% of kangaroo fatalities occur from cars.

DINGO

Introduced about 4000 years ago. They are wild dogs. Rare that dingoes will attack humans. Do not feed or pet dingoes. Frazer Island had a large quantity of dingoes. 35 attacks since 2021. Don't leave small children around dingoes. A 9 month old baby was attacked in 1980 by a dingo.. "A dingo ate my baby!"

BIRDS

The cassowary is a dangerous bird. They've been around 60 million years. Can be about 200cm in size. Very fast. Very long and sharp claws and powerful legs if kicked. The only bird among ostriches and chickens that have caused human fatalities. 2 recorded attacks leading to fatalities in 1929 who was hunting one and one in Florida in 2019. They live in the Daintree Rainforest.

Magpie has beautiful songs early in the morning. Nesting season these birds will be dangerous. Wear sunglasses on the back of your head. Don't travel in groups. It is an annual turf war. Birds will swoop down and attack anything that looks like a threat. They go towards bicyclists and children. Nesting season is right around right now. Yay.

Platypus is also dangerous. Adult males are the dangerous ones. They have a spur on each hind leg around their ankle with venom sacks that cause severe pain and swelling.

MARINE LIFE

The Blue Ringed Octopus is #5 on the top 10 deadly. They have 3 hearts and pump blue blood. Most venomous on the planet. Venom is around the beak. So do not pick it up. Dizzy, numb, hard to talk and then hard to breathe. When threatened their blue rings become more intense. Only a few people have died from it. Dying while still awake is awful. Perform CPR and wait for paramedics to save their life.

Cone Snail are #8 on most deadly. There is no anti-venom for these snails. They fire barbs / harpoons into prey at around 31 miles per hour. Toxins are so specialized. Do not touch. 36 documented fatalities for a snail. A snail.

The stonefish is #10 on top 10. Most venomous fish on planet. Venom is painful. Swelling and fatality if left untreated. They bury themselves in sea floor and often get stepped on which is how humans get attacked.

Bluebottle jellyfish are also venomous. These are also the Portuguese man of war in other parts of the world. Nasty sting. Don't touch! They have 4 species. It is made up of a lot of organisms that live together. Only deadly if stung around throat, neck, or face. Not fatal but very painful. Peeing on a jellyfish sting does not work. Common household vinegar does work. It won't stop the pain, it'll just stop the stinging cells. Pour on, do not rub it on.

Box jellyfish are #2 on most deadly. They are the most venomous on the entire planet. The pain is awful like having a kettle of boiling water poured on body x10. In 2-3 minutes you will die. They have 24 eyes that can see through their bodies. They don't have a brain. Found in northern parts of Australia.

Irukandji jellyfish are found in northern parts of Australia. 17 species. Nasty sting. Don't notice sting until 30 - 60 minutes after stung. Symptom is impending doom.

Reef Sharks are not actually as dangerous as they are more like puppy dogs.

Bull Sharks can be dangerous as they can survive in both brackish and ocean water.

Tiger Sharks eat everything.

Sharks have all their sensory organs on mouth which is why they bite sometimes.

Great White Shark attacks are 47 unprovoked shark attacks. Only 4 of which were fatal. Australia has 15 unprovoked, 1 was fatal. This year 11 attacks and 4 were fatal.

Saltwater Crocodile is #1 on top 10. They are #1 even though they cause 2 to 3 fatalities per year. If grabbed by one, you will not survive. Nicknamed a giant salty. Only 30 seconds before you die. They can climb trees and gallop. They can get up to 19.6 feet in length. Also intelligent creatures.Læs mere