Description

This article is from the soc.culture.australian FAQ, by Stephen Wales with numerous contributions by others.

9.5.4 Venomous Fauna

Australia's array of venomous fauna is unmatched by any other country.
They are not a serious concern for tourists.

Red-Back Spider, more commonly known in the U.S. as a Black Widow; it
is found all over Australia.

The Box Jellyfish or Sea Wasp (Chironex sp.). The most dangerous
jellyfishes. Sting produces excruciating pain, respiratory distress,
cardiovascular effects and sometimes death. Over 70 deaths known. An
antivenom is available but if death occurs it is usually within 10
minutes. Occurs in shallow coastal waters of northern Australia from
November to April. Does not affect Great Barrier Reef resort areas.

Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.). The most dangerous octopuses.
Shy inhabitants of reefs and tidal pools. If handled may bite producing
rapid painless paralysis, breathing difficulties and sometimes death
through suffocation within minutes. Death unlikely if artificial
respiration supplied. Few deaths known but likely some undiagnosed.

Inland Taipan/Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus). Probably most
venomous bite of any land snake. Found in remote arid areas of inland
Australia. Average bite injects sufficient venom to kill over 100,000
mice. Three bites known but no fatalities. Another ~20 Australian land
snakes are capable of causing death but fatalities uncommon since
antivenoms became widely available. About 20 sea snakes found in
Australian waters are also capable of causing death but bites rare as
they are normally only encountered by divers and fishermen.

Funnel Web Spider (Atrax sp). Some of the the most dangerous spiders.
Species occur in variety of habitats around Australia. Sydney Funnel
Webs are common in some Sydney suburbs. Since the availability of
antivenom fatalities rare. A number of other Australian spiders are
dangerous.

Stonefish (Synanceja sp. ) Probably most venomous fish. Well
camouflaged inhabitant of northern Australian reefs. If stepped on
dorsal spines inject venom causing immense pain. Death unusual but
symptoms are extreme and long lasting. Antivenom available but hot
water produces great relief of symptoms. Many other Australian fish
possess venomous spines but only a few approach the Stonefishes in
potency. For most species stings are unlikely unless handled.

Cone Shells (Conus sp.) Most dangerous molluscs. Attractive inhabitant
mainly of water. Predatory molluscs which can if handled inject a venom
with neuromuscular toxin. Few Australian fatalities.

Trapdoor Spider
Not deadly but can still give a nasty bite
Tree Funnel-Web
Another member of the Sydney variety's Atrax family which can be
found in northern NSW and Qld, but usually only in rainforests)
Bird-Eating Spider
Another relative of the funnel-web, and potentially just as
deadly

Others:
Red Bellied Black Snake
Brown Snakes
Death Adder

Important note for people overseas: There are effective antivenines for
all the dangerous poisonous land creatures in Australia. The Black Widow in
the US is more dangerous than the Red-Back Spider because there is no
reliable anti-venine in the US. To my knowledge, the only really
dangerous poisonous creature here for which there is no specific
anti-venine is the Clarence-river Tiger Snake, which can be effectively
treated with normal Tiger Snake anti-venine anyway.

Other Dangerous sea-creatures: Sea Snakes, Sharks, Box Jelly Fish.

Some things to note about the snakes above: The sea-snake has very
short fangs - in fact 5mm wetsuits are effective protection (provided
the snake tries to bite the wetsuit! ;). Of the land snakes, the most
dangerous is the Taipan, since it will attack unprovoked. I have seen
all of the snakes above except for the sea snake, and they were all in
more of a hurry to get out of my way than I was to get out of theirs!

I believe in terms of toxicity, the daddy-long-legs spider has a venom
more dangerous than the funnel-web, but doesn't have the fangs or
quantity to actually be dangerous to large animals.

Can anyone remember a serious attack recently? The thing with all
poisonous creatures is to treat them with the respect they deserve and
give them a wide berth. Try killing a Taipan with a shovel and you are
asking for trouble - they can strike across a distance of at least two
metres. If you're not sure what kind of spider or snake it is, assume
it is dangerous, and avoid it anyway.

Only one snake has ever looked like it was going to strike at me - a
small-eyed snake, which as it turns out is not dangerous. But when it
did - you should have seen me levitate backwards out of it's way! 8^)

Once when walking with a friend in Lamington National Park, she
suddenly stopped. I walked up and said "What's the problem?". She
pointed a quivering finger at a snake a few metres away. "Snake!" she
said. "Oh, sure. It's a Tiger Snake,"I replied. "You didn't have
to tell me that!"she said... laughter The snake in question was
sunning itself in a patch of sun, and was fast asleep, digesting a
meal. I doubt it knew we were there. Spiders and snakes are just
more of nature's beautiful creatures - treat them with respect and
they're not a problem.

Continue to:

• prev: 9.5.3 Tasmanian devils and Tasmanian Tigers [KB]
• Index
• next: 9.5.5 Australian Extinct and Endangered Species