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Unfortunately, Australia isn’t entirely populated just by friendly locals, cool kangaroos, and cute koalas. The Land Down Under sometimes seems like the most dangerous country on the planet and should be renamed the Land of Nope.
The country largely owes its reputation to its ruthless natural hazards, the dangerous animals that live there, and all the scary things that want to make us yell ‘nope!’ and run away faster than the speed of sound in the opposite direction.
Bored Panda created a list of all the dangers lurking in the Land Down Under to show you just how scary animals in Australia can be. Keep scrolling, share with friends, and upvote your favorite dangerous animals in Australia!
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#1
Roofhanger. Suspended Grey Headed Flying Fox, A Megabat Native To Australia
Batwing is fine and dandy. He dried off and flew away as soon as it was night time. He was not sick, just wet.
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From enormously big spiders to deadly venomous snakes, ferocious crocodiles, octopuses, and disgustingly overgrown earthworms, the Great Southern Land seems to have it all when it comes to nightmare fuel and creepy crawlies. We can probably all agree that some Australian animals look absolutely terrifying, but how dangerous are they really?
#4
Believe It Or Not, This Is One Of The Least Dangerous Spiders We Have In Australia
This is the huntsman spider, a common friend to be found in houses and garden across Australia. He's harmless really, don't let his large size intimidate you. Huntsmen won't bite humans unless provoked, are not venomous and are actually handy to have around the place, he'll use his speed and agility to keep your cockroach population under control.
Think of the huntsman as a handy pet. Respect his space, let him do his job and he'll look after you well.
#5
Meanwhile In Australia
An olive python (Liasis olivaceus), western Australia's largest python, having a feed on an Australian freshwater crocodile (crocodylus Johnstoni).
Around 170 snake species live in the country, 100 of which are poisonous. However, that’s not even the worst part: 21 out of the world’s 25 most venomous snakes inhabit Australia.
#8
Ladies And Gentlemen, The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus)
I'm from Darwin, Australia and our rivers here are full of these monstrosities. This guy here is nicknamed Nifty, and he is about 6m long.
Snakes kill less than 3 people a year in Australia, and the number of casualties seems even smaller when you compare it to the 11,000 individuals that snakes annually kill in Asia.
If poisonous snakes don’t cause you to scream and panic, then what about spiders? More than 2,400 different species of arachnids call the Land Down Under their home.
Among them is the deadly Sydney funnel-web spider, which can end a person’s life within 15 minutes of biting them. This spider always gets into the top lists of the world’s deadliest arachnids and doesn’t mess around: if you see one, nope, right out of there!
RELATED: 50 Animals That Would Be Nightmare Fuel To Non-Australians
#13
Toads Riding On A Python
68mm just fell in the last hour at Kununurra. Flushed all the cane toads out of my brothers dam. Some of them took the easy way out - hitching a ride on the back of a 3.5m python.
#15
This Giant, Hot Pink Slug Is Only Found In A Single, Isolated Forest On An Extinct Volcano In Australia
That’s not to say that every single spider you encounter abroad is going to be a threat to you. Fortunately, less than 50 Australian spider species pose a threat to people. Let’s also not forget that most spiders are our friends and help keep the native insect population down.
Obviously, these tidbits of good news won’t really make Australia’s spiders any less scary to look at. Anyone with arachnophobia should probably still avoid Australia until they get over their fear of spiders and travel elsewhere for their summer vacation.
What is Australia’s Deadliest Animal?
It might come as a surprise, but Australia’s deadliest animal isn't one of its many venomous creatures. Forget the spine-chilling spiders or the fearsome crocodile. According to the NCIS (National Coronial Information System), the title of Australia’s deadliest animal goes to a far more familiar creature: the horse.
In the wild and rugged landscapes of Australia, where one might expect the most danger to come from its notorious wildlife, it’s actually horses, ponies, and donkeys that pose the greatest risk. From 2001 to 2017, horses have been responsible for the highest number of animal-related deaths in Australia, with 172 fatalities, mostly due to falls.
Cows and other bovine animals also rank high on the list, with 82 reported deaths for the same period of time, mainly through accidents rather than direct attacks. Even our loyal companions, dogs, hold a surprising rank as the third leading cause of animal-related fatalities, responsible for 53 deaths. Most victims were children and elderly people.
Meanwhile, creatures like snakes and spiders, while dangerous sometimes, have caused far fewer fatalities than one might expect.
#21
Mother And Girlfriend Found This On The Beach Today
This was found in Broome, Western Australia and looks like an anemone. More specifically, Dofleinia armata, the armed anemone. Also called the striped anemone. It is considered extremely dangerous as it can inflict painful stings that take months to heal.
SkyNews reported 3 shark-caused fatalities in South Australia in 2023. This number is notable as there were only 8 deaths in the previous 22 years. Meanwhile, crocodiles kill an average of 1 or 2 people every year in Australia, with a peak in 2014 when 5 crocodile-related deaths have been reported (via The Guardian). However, it’s not just animals that can harm you in Australia.
The country is also known for its giant 10-kilogram pine cones that can fall on top of you, as well as tennis ball-sized hailstones that can cause severe damage if your head is unprotected. When in Australia, it’s best to either keep looking in all directions at once in search of threats or shut your eyes and wish you were somewhere safe and sound.
No wonder the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, beloved zookeeper and one of the bravest people in history, hails from Australia, where danger lurks around almost every corner, and you’re not sure which animal poses a threat.
RELATED: 30 Ways People Destroyed PETA For Criticizing Steve Irwin
So, How Many People Are Killed by Animals in Australia?
Based on the available data, from 2001 to 2017, there were 541 animal-related deaths in Australia, with an average of 32 deaths per year. As we’ve seen, among the most deadly animals in Australia, we don’t find any exotic dangers but very familiar faces—horses, cows, and dogs—with land mammals accounting for 71% of all deaths by animals in the country.
These tragedies mainly happened on public roads (30.3%), homes (20.7%), and farms (19.2%).
What is the Most Unusual Animal in Australia?
We’ve been all about the numbers so far, but what about picking Australia’s most unusual animal? There’s no objective answer to this (there are too many weird animals in Australia), but here’s our personal favorite.
Thorny Devil Lizard is a tiny, colorful reptile covered in spiky scales, which give it a dragon-like appearance and help collect and direct water to its mouth—something this species adapted for to survive in arid environments.
Found primarily in the central deserts of Australia, the Thorny Devil Lizard has a peculiar way of walking. He moves in a slow, rocking motion that helps it escape predators and feeds almost exclusively on ants.
#33
Damn Nature You Scary
Picture of a termite mound in the northern territory of Australia, termites build the tallest structures out of any of the creatures on Earth. Humans would have to build something 10km (6.2 miles for those not on the metric system) tall to equal the scale of size of person to building. Termite mounds are also stronger than cement.
#35
A Friend Of Mine Left For A Holiday In Australia Some Weeks Ago. I Asked Him How Things Were. He Send Me This Picture With The Reply "The Things I've Seen.."
#37
The Net Casting Spider (Ogre Faced Spider) Hang Upside Down With A Net Made Of Their Silk Waiting For Their Prey To Walk Underneath Them
Ever been in the country and met any of these Australian creatures? Or maybe you’ve got a story about an animal that deserves a spot on this list? Scroll down, leave a comment, and don't forget to upvote the scary Australian animals that amazed you the most!
RELATED: This Online Community Celebrates The Land Of ‘Nope’, Here Are 34 Of The Best Posts (New Pics)
#41
A Whole Lot Of Pain. Thousands Of Portugese Man O War Jellyfish Washed Up On A Beach In Australia
#54
In Australia, Hornets Kill Spiders The Size Of Your Hand And Then Drag Them Across Ones Backyard. Twice In 24 Hours
#60
It's Pretty And From Australia, So Must Be Deadly. But Actually This One Is Almost Harmless
#61
A 'Mysterious' And Unknown Species Of Jellyfish That Washed Up On The Shore Of Tasmania, Australia
#70
This Snake Got Into My Friends Bird Cage And Ate Their Parrot, Then Was Too Fat To Get Out (Australia)
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What do you think ?
Sasha Taylor 6 years ago
Honestly.....I have lived in Australia and this is overrated...I have seen spiders but none quite as big as that....I have seen maybe 2 snakes outside of a zoo....and just don't leave your shoes outside! To me that is common sense!
Magic567 6 years ago
do u live in the outback cause these are all locals to me...
Load More Replies... Sasha Taylor 6 years ago
Honestly.....I have lived in Australia and this is overrated...I have seen spiders but none quite as big as that....I have seen maybe 2 snakes outside of a zoo....and just don't leave your shoes outside! To me that is common sense!
Magic567 6 years ago
do u live in the outback cause these are all locals to me...
Load More Replies...
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