How much do you know about Australia's Dangerous Creatures? | Quiz

Answer: Inland taipan

Also known as the fierce snake, the inland taipan, is native to dry and rocky plains located in remote regions of inland Australia. Fortunately, it is rather rare and avoids humans. It has been estimated that, without treatment, a person would die of its bite within 45 minutes. Despite its extraordinary toxicity, inland taipan bites are very rare, and no human deaths have been reported.

Answer: Eastern brown snake

These snakes are found throughout eastern and central Australia and thrive in populated areas, which is one reason they pose such a threat. Their venom is the second most toxic of any land snake in the world.

Answer: Platypus

Platypus venom is not lethal to humans but is known to cause excruciating pain. Fortunately, getting stung by a platypus is an unlikely event for most people, as they are reclusive creatures. The males only produce venom during the breeding season and seem to use it in fights with each other rather than to defend against predators.

Answer: Lace monitor

The lace monitor is the second largest of Australian lizards, growing up to 2.1 metres long. The fact that monitor lizards, or goannas as they are known in Australia, have venom glands was only discovered in 2005. Prior to that, it was widely thought that the only poisonous lizards were in North America, being the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard. Goanna venom is not known to be deadly to humans but can cause swelling, localised disruption of blood clotting, and shooting pain that can last several hours.

Answer: Geographer cone snail

These are found in tropical reefs around the Indo-Pacific region including Australia's Great Barrier Reef, a popular tourist destination. Cone snails have the remarkable ability to protrude a harpoon-like venomous tooth that they can use to paralyse and capture their prey.

They can even reach the tooth around to their rear to sting anyone trying to pick them up from behind. The venom of the geographer cone snail contains a potent cocktail of neurotoxins and is highly dangerous. In fact, this species of cone snail may be one of the most venomous animals in the world.

Hence, one should never try to pick up a cone snail with one's bare hands.

Answer: Irukandji jellyfish

Irukandji jellyfish are found in northern marine areas of Australia. The name Irukandji comes from that of an Aboriginal tribe of Northern Queensland. This jellyfish is typically about one cubic centimetre in volume, yet its small size belies its dangerousness. Stings cause excruciating pain and feelings of impending doom and victims require urgent medical treatment and hospitalisation.

Answer: Blue-ringed octopus

Like octopuses generally, this creature can change colour rapidly; it is noted for the distinctive iridescent blue rings on its skin that appear to flash brightly when it is threatened. The venom of this octopus is highly potent and can cause both heart failure and inability to breathe, resulting in a quick death if not treated immediately. Fortunately, these small creatures are not aggressive and try to avoid humans, only biting someone who is foolish enough to try to touch one instead of letting it escape.

Answer: Cane toad

The cane toad is the world's largest toad and secretes poison through its skin as a defence against predators. Introduced to control the cane beetle, a pest that was threatening the sugar cane industry, it had no effect on this insect at all, and became an even bigger pest itself as it preys on just about anything it can fit in its mouth. Because it is highly poisonous, most predators will die soon after eating one, so it has proven nearly impossible to control.

A human who is stupid enough to eat one might die as well, but this doesn't happen very often.

It is best to avoid handling them, as they can squirt poison for short distances from the glands behind their head, and if this enters one's eyes, it can cause shocking pain and temporary blindness.

Answer: Sydney funnel-web spider

These spiders are named for their distinctive burrows in which they wait for their prey and are native to eastern Australia, particularly the greater Sydney region. Although the male is smaller than the female, its bite is more dangerous, and they are more likely to encounter humans, as they wander around looking for mates.

Although their venom is highly dangerous, no fatalities have been recorded since an antivenom was developed in 1981.

Answer: White-tail spider

These spiders are native to southern and eastern Australia. Although horror stories of people losing limbs after being bitten by a white-tail spider have been circulated in the media, spider experts agree that there is no scientific evidence that this is true. White-tail spider bites usually cause only localized pain and at worst may result in pain and an irritating red lesion lasting from 5-12 days, although the latter is less common.