Does Australia have the most venomous creatures in the world? | Did You Know?

Australia has a reputation as being home to the deadliest or most venomous creatures in the world. There's plenty of videos and stories online making the claims and listing the top 10. But does Australia deserve that reputation?

The University of Queensland's Bryan Fry put together a Lethal Dose 50 list for us showing the world's most potent stakes drop-for-drop. Here's the top 10.

1. Inland taipan, Oxyuranus microlepidotus, 0.025 mg/kg (Australian species)
2. Eastern brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis, 0.0365mg/kg (Australian)
3. Coastal taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus, 0.106mg/kg (Australian)
4. Many banded krait, Bungarus multicinctus, 0.108mg/kg
5. Congo water cobra, Boulengeria christyi, 0.12mg/kg
6. Peninsula tiger snake, Notechis a. niger, 0.131mg/kg (Australian)
7. Banded water cobra, Boulengeria annulata, 0.143mg/kg
8. Saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus, 0.151mg/kg
9. Western tiger snake, Notechis a. occidentalis, 0.194mg/kg (Australian)
10. Tiger rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris, 0.21mg/kg

Interviews:
Associate Professor Bryan Fry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland.
Dr Ronelle Welton, Centre for Integrated Critical Care, University of Melbourne.

#didyouknow

[two_tier_gary_rumain]

Right, so even horses are deadly in Australia. Got it.

[vsboy]

The most toxic thing in Australia are local councils.

[parentscitizens]

At no point is population density or size brought into it. We have 20 or so million in Australia compared to over 1.3 billion people in India. 382 people per sq km vs 3 for Australia, with a huge proportion between 0.1 to 1 persons per sq km. Australia's population is nearly completely centralized where snakes are very rare. This year alone I have removed a tiger snake and a Dugite (brown) from within metres of my family home. No access to antivenom due to remoteness so prevention and awareness is the only option. I teach my children about where you don't put your fingers as redbacks are also prolific.

[Boozoobajou]

As a kid, I grew up in the bush wandering around in bare feet encountering hundreds of snakes all highly venomous. Always watched where I walked but I was still very fortunate I wasn't bitten on more than one occasion such as sitting on a rock with a Death Adder wedged between the two granite rocks looking up at me. Because of my many encounters, I became somewhat indifferent towards snakes but I now realise that was very wrong.

[michaelcoley]

This is a weird presentation. I have been the local snake catcher in my area, trained by the SES and WIRES, for about 15 years, having arrived in the district 20-odd years ago. There are two things missing from this presentation. First, the most important life saving matter was the introduction of appropriate first aid for snakebite; to me, that was Dr Sutherland’s great achievement. Secondly, I live in a community where most people who have lived here all there lives either hate or are petrified of snakes; it was explained to me by one of them that until about 1975 people believed that a snakebite meant a fatality; this wasn’t something that had gone away many years ago, as stated in the presentation.

[dennishunt]

That is why Australians are snake smart, and have access to protective clothing and footwear. We are very, very snake savvy in Australia. WE HAVE TO BE!

[razzaus]

I used to kill brown snakes with a shovel when i was a kid growing up in the country.

[starlord]

We don't have Bears, lions Tigers etc . I would rather be 3 meters away from a Tiger snake than 30 meters from a Tiger

[adelahogarth]

Australian researcher: Look, our healthcare means you have more to worry about horses than any snake or spider.




News media worldwide: Researchers discover that horses introduced into Australia *become merciless killers* ....

[sunnchilde]

The Fierce snake (inland Taipan) may be fairly docile and un-inclined to bite, but the "common brown" is a highly mobile, very aggressive snake. Extremely dangerous, and did I mention, common?

[robertcubinelli]

We've still got redbacks under dunnie lids in some places in OZ; we have the brown snake and the white-striped transparent spider; we have many types venomous marine snakes too....but Australia is my homeland and I would never trade it in with any other country. Luckily, kids in primary school are taught how to distinguish venomous animals and insects and what to do if you encounter them...these campaigns continue into high school too.

[TheOriginalDeckBoy]

It certainly is highly dependent on any one Australian's desire to actually go for an 'off the beaten path' bush-walk and I can assure you.. If you go to any undisturbed habitat and know where to look, we've still got tonnes of awesome deadly critters... So far I've snorkeled reefs north and south, been stung by plenty of Jelly's the worst being a Portuguese Man of War that was literally hanging on my naked back, effects ware-off by next day... Been bitten by 2 Carpet Pythons and a Green Tree snake, all hurt a bit but nada happened... Had a Paralysis tick the size of your thumb on the left testie, pulled off, got some venom in because it felt like a gentle breeze to the nut for about 2 days after, nice, like leach therapy... But the one thing that Hurt like NOTHING else, was a big fat green jumping spider I was showing kids... it just spun about on my thumb and bit down so hard in front of the kids and jesus, burning brutal pain for a solid 4 days with little to no respite no matter what my Dr father tried... epic.... Worst I've seen... Massive local Maori guy, local bouncer and Crabber, gets 1 tentacle from a box jelly on his shoulder, screams so loud the entire town knew and he came in punching holes clean through the plaster board trying to wretch at where the tentacle 'had' been but where it was clearly hurting so bad we had to knock him out as he was a threat to others.. Also Stone Fish.. omg, wait till you see someone blasted in the foot by one of those... you'd swear the person was wearing a ski boot...

[Jilly_Bean_Cam]

Education about our animals must account to the lack of incidents. I grew up around most of these creatures..i was taught how to avoid them. For example...using heavy steps when walking through snake known environments...stay clear of rock pools (blue ringed inside...become a hermit and never see the sun...etc.

[RillaVanillaKilla]

Yeah it’s a bit silly to be honest. I think North America is much more dangerous with bears, wolves, mountain lions and various other large fauna that could kill you (elk, moose ect).
I think the croc situation would be worse if the north had a larger population density, but we don’t, so it’s not.

[robertcubinelli]

I remember reading in the local Mercury that a 26 yr old mom and the baby in her womb died after an hour from a redback's bite....they are very dangerous critters.

[CaptainSchlockler]

@5:37 She obviously hasn't come across and annoyed an eastern brown. 8D

[marcoponce]

God placed Australia where it is for a reason.

[eddenoy]

CLICKBAIT ! I thought this was about Aussie women !

[kobinewman]

We do have the most venomous jellyfish in the world...

[SugarRay]

Geez, population would be a factor! If no one lives where the taipans are, then obviously no one will get bitten. You're research is flawed!