Everyone loves to talk about the spiders. And sure, the Sydney funnel-web spider is legitimately terrifying. Its venom can kill you in 15 minutes if you don’t get antivenom. But here’s the thing: they’re shy.
Most bites happen when you accidentally squish one. So just… don’t squish them. Easy, right? Right?
Then there are the snakes. Australia has 21 of the world’s 25 most venomous snakes. The inland taipan has venom so potent that one bite could kill a hundred men. But again—they’d rather slither away than fight you.
You’re more likely to get bitten by a confused eastern brown snake if you step on it while wearing flip-flops. Pro tip: don’t wear flip-flops in the bush.
Creepy-Crawlies That Will Make You Scream
Let’s talk about the cassowary. This bird looks like a velociraptor that forgot to go extinct. It’s six feet tall, has a dagger-like claw on each foot, and can kick you to death if you get near its chicks.
Cassowaries are called “the world’s most dangerous bird.” And they are. But honestly? They just want you to leave them alone. So back away slowly.
What about the stonefish? It looks exactly like a rock. You step on it, and you get a dose of neurotoxin that makes you scream in agony. The pain is so bad that people have begged to have their foot amputated.
10 Most Dangerous Animals in Australia | Planet Deadly
But don’t worry—you can treat it with hot water. Just make sure you have hot water and a sense of humor when that happens.
