The Fierce Snake / Inland Taipan Facts – Questions and Answers | Fun Facts You Need to Know! The Fierce Snake / Inland Taipan Facts – Questions and Answers The Fierce Snake / Inland Taipan Facts – Questions and Answers The Fierce Snake / Inland Taipan Facts! Questions and Answers – Venomous Snakes Of The World! Photo of a Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) taken at Australia Zoo. Photo by XLerate, GFDL Q: Where is the inland taipan found? General range of inland taipan (in red). Image credit: Taipan198, cc2.5 acheter du Enhance 9 30caps en France Q: How long is the inland taipan snake? Image credit: AllenMcC., cc3.0 A: The inland taipan is a large snake that can grow up to 8 feet long, although most are between five and six feet long. It is olive-colored in the summer and dark brown in winter with dark, smooth scales arranged in diagonal rows. The color change is an adaptation which allows the inland taipan to absorb more heat in winter and less heat in summer.

Q: What do inland taipans eat? Inland Taipan Diet. Credit: Plendil 2,5mg 5mg 10mg dosaggio e effetti A: The diet of the inland taipan consists mostly of native rats, particularly the long-haired rat. When there are plenty of long-haired rats, inland taipans grow large and fat. However, during drought, long-haired rats are scarce and inland taipans must feed on other rats, as well as mice, quolls , numbats and birds. Like other snakes, the inland taipan is an ambush predator that silently stalks its prey and then strikes when the time is right. Unlike other venomous snakes, though, the inland taipan doesn’t just deliver a single bite and then wait for the animal to die from the venom. Rather, the inland taipan delivers up to eight bites in a single strike, then holds its prey. Now, this may seem dangerous since prey usually fight back. But not for the inland taipan. The venom is so potent that the prey has no chance to put up a fight and the inland taipan swallows it whole without a fuss. A relatively effortless meal, don’t you think?

Q: Does the inland taipan have predators? A mulga snake or King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis), on the Western Cape, Western Australia. Image credit: Smacdonald, cc3.0 Arcoxia 60mg 90mg 120mg en ligne livraison express A: As fearsome a predator as the inland taipan may be, it has predators of its own. The inland taipan is eaten by the king brown snake, which is immune to its venom, and the perentie, the fourth largest living lizard which can grow over 8 feet long, as well. Q: Do inland taipans lay eggs? comprare Viagra Professional 100mg in farmacia A: Inland taipans are among the oviparous snakes, which means it lays eggs, usually in burrows abandoned by mammals or in deep, wide cracks in the soil. They can lay as many as 20 eggs or as few as 11, the average being 16. They can produce two clutches of eggs in a year, especially if there is a lot of food.

The eggs hatch after 9 to 11 weeks and the newly hatched snakes are around 18 inches long. They do not receive any parental care but already possess a deadly dose of venom with which to hunt and defend themselves. Q: Is the inland taipan endangered? acheter du Malegra FXT 100/60mg 100/40mg en France A: The inland taipan has not been assessed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). However, it is considered as Near Threatened or Rare in Queensland and classified as a species of Least Concern in South Australia. It is protected by law and a special permit is required to capture it, as well as a separate special license to own it. Q: Why is the inland taipan called the fierce snake? Photo of a Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) taken at Australia Zoo. Photo by XLerate, GFDL Menosan 60caps miglior prezzo A: One of the alternative names of the inland taipan is the fierce snake, making it even more fearsome. Fierce, however, in this case does not mean aggressive.

Rather, what is fierce is not the snake’s temper but its venom, which is highly toxic. The scientific name of the inland taipan is Oxyuranus microlepidotus. Oxyuranus comes from the Greek words oxus, oura and anus which, combined, mean ‘having a long-pointed tail’. Microlepidotus is a combination of the Greek words mikros meaning ‘small’ and lepidotos meaning ‘scaly’. Therefore, another name for the inland taipan is small-scaled snake. Q: Is the inland taipan the most venomous snake in the world? A: The inland taipan is widely considered to be the most venomous snake in the world. What this means is that its venom is the most deadly. The venom of the inland taipan is a complex combination of toxins, including neurotoxins or those that affect the brain and nervous system, procoagulants which make blood clot, myotoxins which affect the muscles and nephrotoxins which affect the kidneys. What makes this combination even worse is the addition of hyaluronidase, an enzyme which speeds up the absorption of the venom.

Aside from its quantity, the quality of the inland taipan venom is also deadly. There is enough venom in a single bite to kill 250,000 mice or 100 fully grown men. And remember, when the inland taipan bites, it doesn’t just do it once, but several times in rapid succession. Also, the inland taipan does not deliver a dry bite, like other venomous snakes, which means its bite is always laced with venom. Let us be clear, however, in saying that while the inland taipan is the world’s most venomous snake, it is not the world’s deadliest snake. To be a deadly snake, you need more than just lethal venom. Q: Is the inland taipan more dangerous than the coastal taipan? Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus). Image credit: AllenMcC. cc3.0 Aygestin 5mg senza ricetta acquistare A: There is another taipan living in Australia – the coastal or common taipan, cousin to the inland taipan. Like the inland taipan, it is venomous.

It is larger, however, able to grow up to 11 feet long and is more widely distributed. Whereas inland taipans prefer dry areas, coastal taipans prefer wet areas, such as wetlands, forests and grassy plains. Is the coastal taipan more deadly? While its venom is not as toxic as that of the inland taipan, the coastal taipan is considered more dangerous than its cousin because it is larger, more easily encountered and more aggressive, striking quickly when threatened. Q: How many people have been killed by the inland taipan? A: Yes, an inland taipan can definitely kill, but it actually hasn’t. In spite of the toxicity of its venom, there has been no single fatality recorded from the bite of an inland taipan. Only one bite is recorded per year, sometimes none at all, and the victims are usually adults healthy enough to travel through the outback. This means they have a better chance of surviving a snake bite from the start and with the treatment widely available, they are able to recover. Q: Why is a fierce snake bite so uncommon?

Zyloprim 100mg 300mg in farmacia online sicuro A: A fierce snake bite is not at all common since fierce snakes live far away from people and are usually only active in the early morning. Also, inland taipans are shy snakes. When encountered by humans, they flee and hide rather than fight back. Q: What happens when you get bitten by an inland taipan? Most common symptoms of any kind of snake bite poisoning by Mikael Häggström, PD image. Plendil 2,5mg 5mg 10mg pas cher en ligne A: Upon getting bitten by a fierce snake, you will experience a headache, nausea, abdominal pain or dizziness within minutes. As time passes, you will find it hard to move and breathe until you become completely paralyzed, collapse, have convulsions and eventually succumb to organ failure. Death can happen in as short as 45 minutes without treatment.

If you are bitten by an inland taipan, then remove yourself first from striking distance, call for an ambulance or have someone drive you to the nearest hospital and while waiting, apply a compression bandage to restrict the blood flow and position yourself in such a way that the bite area is below your heart. Once you get to the hospital and receive antivenom, consider yourself saved, though it can take you weeks before you get out of the hospital depending on the severity of the bite. Inland taipan are featured in the following books: Steve Irwin Plays With Inland Taipan (Fierce Snake) by amorlombresias Deadliest snake in the world by 601ProductionLTD worlds most venomous poisonous snake by Gotcha29 Teenager Survives “Most Venomous” Snake Bite by NTDTV Are poisonous creatures usually small? And why? - Quora Quora Since the question has been tagged in the topic evolutionary biology, I take the liberty of decomposing it into the following two questions: How did venom evolve? Are all poisonous/venomous creatures small? A study shows that venom has evolved from proteins, and actually is a form of mutated proteins which are otherwise involved in bodily functions such as circulation and digestion.

[4] For instance, the Taipan's venom (most venomous snake on the planet) has evolved from the proteins which were responsible for the clotting of the very own creature's blood. Venom genes are closely related to other genes that carry out entirely different jobs, both in venomous animals and non-venomous ones. Some venoms are closely related to immune system proteins, for example, which attack bacteria invading the body. Others are closely related to digestive enzymes. A Taipan's bite will end up the victim's blood clotting in the circulatory system and bleeding from any possible orifices, such as the nose, ears or even gums and shuts down the livers and the kidneys. As far as an evolutionary standpoint is concerned, snake venom is believed to have evolved from the same species from which the snakes evolved - early lizards, which are similar to the present monitor lizards. [4] A mutation can, for example, change the signal a gene gets about where it should make its protein. Instead of becoming active in the pancreas, for example, it might start making proteins in the mouth. When an animal bites its prey, the enzyme can then get into the wound.

It might happen to have a harmful effect. Even a small effect could help the animal catch more prey, and thus be favored by natural selection. And the new proto-venom gene may undergo more evolution. It may become more and more toxic. Or it may duplicate, and the two venom genes may become deadly in different ways. Two genes can become four, four eight and on and on. The rate at which cone snails duplicate venom genes, scientists have found, is the fastest gene duplication ever found in the animal kingdom. [1] The image shows how different animals have ended up with venoms that zero in on the same molecular targets. The targets fall into two main categories: the channels and receptors on neurons, and the molecules involved in clotting blood. [1] This puts forwards a question: if it is so useful, why didn't other species in the animal kingdom evolve venom? The answer is simple - you don't simply have to evolve venom, but also a complex engineered way to inject it into your victim.

Be it the hypodermic fangs of a snake, the spines of a stonefish, the spurs of a platypus, the tail of a scorpion, or the sting of a jellyfish, all these animals have expended a sizable biological energy in evolving a method to inject venom, apart from mutating their bodily proteins to venom itself. These methods are biologically efficient, but also biologically expensive and require precision. [4] Now addressing the latter part of the question, we have seen that venom evolution has been extremely complicated and diverse, therefore it would be incorrect of me to address the fact that venomous creatures are usually small. I'll try to give some counter intuitive examples of "relatively large" venomous creatures: Slow Loris [3] The Slow Loris is one of the few mammals which is venomous. It produces a toxin on the inside of its elbows, which it smears on its young to prevent them from being eaten. In addition, it will lick these patches to put the poison in its mouth, giving it a venomous bite used for self defense.

[2] Komodo Dragon [2] Their saliva contains more than 50 types of bacteria, of which 7 are highly septic and 4 have no known specific antidote. However, if treated with powerful antibiotics, it proves non-fatal to humans. Duck Billed Platypus [2] The male platypus has a spur, located on the heel behind each leg. Their venom is not known to be deadly to humans. The venom is produced only by mature males and is most potent during mating season, leading some researches to believe that it is used primarily against competing males. Hope that answers the question! References: Written Aug 6, 2013 Note that "poisonous" and "venomous" are not the same thing. I am answering the question, as asked, for poisonous creatures, not venomous. Poisonous creatures are usually small. But then, almost all creatures are small. Even within the vertebrates, probably 95% of creatures are smaller than cat size.

The largest poisonous land animals I can think of are some birds, such as the pitohui and migrating quail, which gain their poison from their diet of poisonous frogs or insects and store it in their own tissues for defense. The largest of these is probably the Spur-Winged Goose, weighing maybe 7 kg, which gains its poison from eating blister beetles. A Tetrapod Zoology article about the Spur-Winged Goose ( Death by toxic goose. Amazing waterfowl facts part II ) mentions a couple of other poisonous bird examples, and adds that there is actually a word for being poisoned by quail: "Coturnism". ...there are accounts of it in the Bible, and it was so common in the Roman Empire that the eating of quails was banned in the 1st century I urge you to use this word in conversation today. Next down in size, on land, are poisonous amphibians: Newts, toads, and frogs all contain poisonous species. These produce a wide range of poisons, including tetrodotoxin, the pufferfish poison: Some newts are so poisonous that they harbor enough TTX to kill a roomful of adult humans.

The largest in this group may be the Cane Toad, up to a couple of kg in size. In water, there are many more poisonous species, including some that are at least moderate in size, like pufferfish. So while there are lots of poisonous animals that are not tiny, few are huge -- most of the largest animals are not poisonous. Probably the reason why is that being poisonous is a tricky thing. Not only do you need to make the elaborate biochemical pathways to produce the poison and perhaps distribute it throughout your body, you need to have ways of not killing yourself with your own poison. Poison production is metabolically expensive, usually needing multiple steps; note that the birds I mentioned don't bother doing it themselves, but take the poison from other sources. Large animals have other defenses, including just being large, which gives protection against the vast number of smaller predators. They've poured their metabolic energy into getting big, not into the production of poison. Everything is a tradeoff. 11.1k Views · View Upvotes · Not for Reproduction Gwydion Madawc Williams , Degree in Zoology plus a lot of reading.

I don't think there are any land vertebrates that are poisonous (as distinct from venomous (poison-using), like snakes). Other land animals are mostly smaller than vertebrates, because of limits of their body plan. Taipan, funnel-web spider and... a SNAIL? Australia's most venomous beasts revealed, and they are not all what you might think | Daily Mail Online comments Australia has rightfully earned an international reputation for being home to an onslaught deadly critters. While many understandably fear the jaws of the Great White shark or the toothy grin of a crocodile, it may surprise you to know there are far less intimidating creatures that have the ability to take down a small army of men with a single drop of venom. Scroll down for video While many understandably fear the jaws of the Great White shark or the toothy grin of a crocodile, it may surprise you to know there are far less intimidating creatures that have the ability to take down a small army of men with a single drop of venom Used as a weapon against unsuspecting prey, venom can come with an assortment of consequences.

Some has the ability to shut down the brain - infiltrating your nervous system, other types wage war on your cells, halt blood-flow, stop your heart or slowly eat away at your muscle tissue. After checking out some of Australia’s snakes, spiders and even snails, Australian Geographic have revealed a definitive list of our most venomous creatures. 1. Inland taipan With venom more potent than any other snake in the world, the Inland taipan is capable of killing more than 100 people With venom more potent than any other snake in the world, the Inland taipan is capable of killing more than 100 people. The slithering reptile delivers its venom at lighting speed, killing their victims in around 45 minutes. Its venom damages nerves, disrupts blood clotting and can cause headaches, nausea and paralysis. While the Inland taipan’s venom is second to none, antivenom is readily available and it has caused no known human deaths. The Inland taipan can be found in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. 2.

Geographer Cone Snail Although the sting is often painless, the cone snail uses its harpoon like proboscis to inject deadly neurotoxins that can affect speech and vision While this small and seemingly innocuous sea snail doesn’t look as if it belongs on the list of most venomous creatures, it can kill 15 healthy adults with one sting. Although the sting is often painless, the cone snail uses its harpoon like proboscis to inject deadly neurotoxins that can affect speech and vision. Luckily, cone snails don’t target humans and stings usually occur after someone steps on one or mistakes it for a shell. With only one known fatality, in reality the cone snail has actually helped more people than it’s harmed. It’s deadly venom is used in a drug called Ziconotide which is used to treat chronic pain. They can be found near reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. 3. Box jellyfish With toxins that attack the brain and affect the blood and organs, 79 people have fallen prey to the majestic looking box jellyfish since 1883 Some creatures let their prey die a slow death, but not the box jelly fish.

It can take down a healthy adult in only minutes. With toxins that attack the brain and affect the blood and organs, 79 people have fallen prey to the majestic looking jellyfish since 1883. This dangerous sea creature has up to 60 tentacles, all with millions of tiny harpoons that instantly inject their victim with acid like venom This dangerous sea creature has up to 60 tentacles, all with millions of tiny harpoons that instantly inject their victim with acid like venom. Found in tropical waters in Australia’s north, the Box jellyfish's sting can cause excruciating pain, quickly leading to shock and finally cardiac arrest. 4. Eastern brown snake Known as the second most venomous land dwelling snake on the planet, the common brown snake has taken the lives of 24 people since 1980 Known as the second most venomous land dwelling snake on the planet, the common brown snake has taken the lives of 24 people since 1980. Its powerful venom is made with toxins that can attack the brain, cause uncontrollable bleeding and irreparably damage the kidneys in only 15 minutes.

Found in highly populated areas, on average the brown snake kills at least one person every year earning it the title of deadliest snake in Australia. The snake is known to be more aggressive than others in the area and can be found slithering throughout eastern Australia and the Northern Territory. 5. Yellow-bellied sea snake Yellow-bellied sea snakes have venom that can inhibit brain and muscle function causing stiffness, dropping eyelids, paralysis and death If you thought land snakes were terrifying, wait until you come across a sea snake. It’s venom inhibits brain and muscle function causing stiffness, dropping eyelids, paralysis and death. Fully-adapted to life at sea the snake sheds its skin by tying itself into a knot before using its body to slowly wear away at the old layer. Although its venom can pack a mean punch, there are no recorded fatalities from a sea snake bite. The yellow-bellied sea snake can be found in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian ocean. 6.

Coastal Taipan With the longest fangs of any Australian snake the costal taipan, also known as the eastern taipan, also boasts the third most toxic venom of any land snake With the longest fangs of any Australian snake, the coastal taipan, also known as the eastern taipan, also boasts the third most toxic venom of any land snake. Its venom can damage your nerves, blood, organs and muscles and is capable of killing 12,000 guinea pigs in a single bite. However the coastal taipan, which can inject up to 50 times more venom than a common brown snake, is responsible for very few deaths. An antivenom was developed in 1956 and there have been no known deaths since its creation. The taipan can be found along the coast of northern Australia, from New South Wales to Western Australia. 7. Mainland Tiger snake Responsible for eight deaths in Australia, the mainland Tiger snake’s venom can trigger a severe reaction within 15 minutes of piercing your skin Responsible for eight deaths in Australia, the mainland Tiger snake’s venom can trigger a severe reaction within 15 minutes of piercing your skin.

It contains toxins that attack your brain and nervous system while also affecting muscle function. A single bite can cause paralysis, muscle damage or uncontrollable bleeding, however an antivenom is available. With a reputation for being shy, the tiger snake will hiss loudly and inflate its body before it strikes. It can be found in southern Australia and Tasmania. 8. Sydney funnel web spider Taking the title of deadliest spider in Australia, and possibly the world, the Sydney funnel web spider can claim the life of a healthy adult in a single hour Taking the title of deadliest spider in Australia, and possibly the world, the Sydney funnel web spider can claim the life of a healthy adult in a single hour. With deadly neurotoxins that attack the nervous system, a bite can cause severe pain, muscle spasms and convulsions. The eight-legged critter is known for its aggressive behaviour and large fangs, which are able to pierce through a fingernail. With deadly neurotoxins that attack the nervous system, a bite can cause severe pain, muscle spasms and convulsions While it is responsible for 13 deaths in Australia, not a single person has died since an antivenom was developed in 1981.

It can be found across New South Wales, in both urban areas and bush land, and is known to take a dip in suburban swimming pools. 9. Beaked sea snake Earning a reputation for its aggressive behaviour, the beaked sea snake unlike any of the 31 other species of Australian sea snake Earning a reputation for its aggressive behaviour, the beaked sea snake unlike any of the 31 other species of Australian sea snake. Waging an attack on the nervous system, the snake’s venom cause paralysis and muscle damage. A single bite contains enough venom to kill five adults. Two species of the beaked sea snake, also known as the ook-nosed sea snake, have been discovered- one from Asia and the other native to Australia. Luckily, the antivenom developed for the Asian species is also effective on Australian bites. 10. Blue-ringed octopus Responsible for the death of two people in Australia, their deadly venom can cause muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, paralysis With its signature cobalt rings, the aptly named blue-ring octopus is deceptively dangerous. Responsible for the death of two people in Australia, their deadly venom can cause muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, paralysis.

If CPR isn’t started immediately it will only take about half an hour before the brain is completely starved of oxygen, resulting in death. The blue-ring octopus can kill 25 adults with a single bite Without an available antidote, the octopus could kill 25 adults with a single bite. Luckily there here have been no recorded deaths since the 1960’s. The lethal octopus can be found in tide pools and coral reefs in both the Indian and Pacific oceans. How do you measure venom? LD50 is the standard measurement of toxicity which represents the individual dose required to kill half of a test animal group. The most venomous creatures in the world will rate lower than one, with a smaller number indicating a more concentrated type of venom. Inland Taipan - 0.025 Mystery over boy bitten by world's most venomous snake Mystery over boy bitten by world's most venomous snake Australia's most dangerous creatures A single drop of venom from the inland taipan can kill 100 men and quickly cause paralysis and haemorrhaging, but a Hunter Valley teenager has survived a rare bite from the world's most poisonous snake.

Police are investigating how the 17-year-old came across the snake in Kurri Kurri, more than 1000 kilometres from its natural habitat in arid ground in the far west of NSW. The boy took himself to the emergency unit at Kurri Kurri Hospital yesterday with a bite on his left hand, police said. Related Content Other dangerous Australian creatures The snake was also brought to the hospital and wildlife workers identified it as the inland taipan. The boy was later taken to the Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle, where he was in a serious condition this morning. Advertisement Although he spoke briefly to police last night, his health remains a concern for specialists as the poison continues to wrack his body, The Newcastle Herald reported. The inland taipan is known colloquially as a "fierce snake", reaches up to 2.5 metres in length and is native to western NSW, south-eastern South Australia and southern parts of the Northern Territory. SHARE The inland taipan that bit a Kurri Kurri teenager. Photo: Cath Bowen A drop of venom can kill 100 adult men and 250,000 mice, Taronga Zoo spokesman Mark Williams said.

Australian Reptile Park's head keeper of reptiles and spiders Julie Mendezona said the snake's venom is a neurotoxin that acts quickly. "Effectively what it will do is it will start shutting down the function of messages going to your brain, to your vital organs, your lungs and your heart and even your muscles. "So paralysis is usually what happens with the patient. "Because it can act so fast, being a neurotoxin, that's what makes it such a deadly animal. "It can kill someone within maybe 45 minutes. There have been reports of people experiencing effects of venom within half an hour as well. "It also contains an anticoagulant, which means it will interfere with the blood clotting, so therefore you can experience bleeding out as well." Ms Mendezona said bites were quite rare because the snake's native areas were not highly populated. The teenager's bite is probably one of about 100 in Australia's history, she said. "It's not known yet as to how the young man actually got hold of the snake. We can only speculate. "You can actually keep venomous snakes under the correct licence.

"But a 17-year-old boy would not have the correct licence at all so he shouldn't have been touching it. "You could probably speculate it was an illegal pet, but we can't know for sure at this stage." Mr Williams said there were no recorded deaths from a inland taipan bite. "Like any animal if confronted ... it will defend itself," he said. Antivenom for inland taipan bites is kept at zoos that keep them, as well as hospitals near where the snake is found in the wild. Other deadly snakes in Australia include the eastern brown snake, coastal taipan and eastern tiger snake. Police do not believe the incident is related to a break-in at Hunter Valley Zoo on Sunday night where thieves stole four pythons and two alligators. No taipans were reportedly stolen from the zoo. Advertisement 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World - Conservation Institute 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World Sep 7 • Nature • 19375 Views • Comments Off on 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World When you think of poisonous animals, what springs to mind? Spiders? Scorpions? Snakes? Jellyfish?

Most of the world’s most poisonous animals are either reptiles, arachnids, or undersea inhabitants. Here is a rundown of the top 10 most poisonous animals in the world, counting down to the winner. 10. Puffer Fish Puffer Fish (LisaSabin-Wilson/Flickr) Puffer fish may be cute, but they are also quite dangerous. Most puffer fish swim in the waters surrounding Japan, China, and the Philippines, as well as Mexico. Puffer fish, despite being venomous, are also edible when prepared properly following food safety measures. Being as preparing the dish incorrectly can lead to food poisoning and consequent death, properly prepared dishes are considered a delicacy, and can sell for quite a bit of money. Expect to pay as much as $200 to try a dish! The puffer fish’s skin, muscle tissue, liver, and gonads all contain a toxin known as tetrodoxin. If you are so unfortunate as to consume this toxin, you will experience a tingling sensation, burning in your mouth, nausea, headache, and speech and coordination problems. If you ingest too much, you will experience convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death.

9. Poison Dart Frog Poison Dart Frog (Dalem77/Flickr) Another deceptively cute animal, the poison dart frog is small and brightly patterned. Typically it lives in South and Central America or Hawaii. The poison the dart frog’s glands contain is called batrachotoxin. This toxin blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death. 8. Inland Taipan Inland Taipan (Markus Oulehla/Flickr) Many snakes are poisonous, but the inland taipan is among the most deadly on the planet. The inland taipan lives in Australia and has a neurotoxin in its venom which is capable of killing a person within 45 minutes. Thankfully, the inland taipan’s bite can readily be treated. Amazingly enough, there are no reported deaths caused by this snake. 7.

Brazilian Wandering Spider Brazilian Wandering Spider (Andreas Kay/Flickr) This spider is also known as a “banana spider." It is regularly confused with the golden silk orb-weaver, because that species of spider has bright yellow coloration and is also often colloquially (and incorrectly) referred to as a “banana spider." Golden orb spiders are relatively harmless, despite their frightening appearance. Brazilian wandering spiders on the other hand are decidedly not. They were rated as the most venomous animal on the planet by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007. The high dosage of serotonin in the Brazilian wandering spider’s venom is extremely painful. The neurotoxins present can cause paralysis and death. 6. Stonefish Stone Fish (Warner Bates/Flickr) Divers should be wary of this venomous fish, which disguises itself with its camouflaged appearance and can easily blend in with rocks on the seabed. Usually the stonefish is found lurking above the Tropic of Capricorn. The spines on the fish’s back carry a toxin that can cause swelling, necrosis of tissue, paralysis, shock, and ultimately death. While the toxin is treatable, treatment must take place immediately.

Being as that is generally challenging or impossible when one takes in a toxin while swimming along the ocean floor, the stonefish is quite deadly. If possible, the victim should immerse the wound site in hot water while traveling to the nearest hospital. 5. Death Stalker Scorpion Death Stalker Scorpion (Anthony/Flickr) This scorpion is pale yellow in color and translucent in appearance and usually found in the Middle East and North Africa. While it may look delicate and ephemeral, the threat posed by this scorpion is quite substantial. Venom from a death stalker scorpion can cause a good deal of pain as well as respiratory failure. Those with heart problems or allergies are particularly likely to die from a sting. 4. Blue-Ringed Octopus Blue-Ringed Octopus (Saspotato/Flickr) This tiny octopus is about the size of a golf ball, and could easily sit in the palm of your hand. Nonetheless, you definitely wouldn’t want it to, since it is quite nearly the most venomous animal in the sea. Blue-ringed octopi make their homes around Australia, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua, New Guinea.

The venom from this animal can cause blindness, nausea, paralysis and respiratory failure, as well as death. 3. Marbled Cone Snail Marbled Cone Snail (Picdd/Flickr) This cone-shaped snail shell contains a creature which can deliver one seriously dangerous venom. Mild symptoms may include pain, inflammation, numbness, and tingling. If you get a high dose of venom, you will experience vision loss, respiratory failure, and muscle paralysis—and eventually death. There is no anti-venom available, so there is no way to treat the victim. Because of this, the marbled cone snail as rated as one of the most dangerous animals in the world. 2. King Cobra King Cobra (Michael Allen Smith/Flickr) Cobras have a reputation for deadliness, and for good reason. They are typically found in the jungles of India and China. They are recognizable by their wide hoods, and are able to spit their toxins. The toxin is immensely painful, and once it enters the blood stream, it can cause death within a very short time. Seven ml of venom from this animal is enough to kill an elephant—or twenty human beings. 1.

Box Jellyfish Box Jellyfish (David Lambert/Flickr) This jellyfish is widely regarded as the most poisonous animal in the world. It floats in the waters surrounding Asia and Australia, and is so transparent that it is nearly invisible if you are not looking for it. The tentacles of the box jellyfish produce nematocysts. Once the toxin reaches the blood, blood pressure increases. This can lead to a heart attack, and ultimately death. If stung by one of these jellyfish, do not apply ice or heat. If you have some vinegar, try soaking the wound site for half an hour while you drive to the nearest hospital for aid. Some of these animals are easy to avoid while others may pose more of a challenge. But now that you are aware of what they look like and the kinds of dangers they pose to human life, you should be better equipped to steer around them in the wild. Thankfully there are antivenins available for many of these toxins, and prompt medical treatment can often save the life of a victim. Top 10 most venomous animals in Australia - Australian Geographic view gallery Venom is milked from a taipan, one of Australia's most venomous snakes.

Image Credit: AAP Image/QUT/Erika Fish Top 10 most venomous animals in Australia BY Victoria Graham | May 14, 2015 Australia has plenty of dangerous animals. Here are Australia's 10 most venomous animals that have some of the most lethal venom in the world Tweet THE TERMS 'VENOMOUS' and 'Australia' go hand-in-hand. Our snakes, spiders and stingers commonly rank among the most dangerous animals in the world, and Australia has a reputation for its deadly creatures. Although this label is not unjust, few people in Australia actually die from venomous animal encounters each year. Our deadliest animals often make the top lists owing to a combination of their venom and defensiveness, as well as their proximity to populated areas. But how do Australian species stack up when we look just at the potency of their venom alone? We've taken a closer look at what Australian animals are the most venomous - and they are not only the usual suspects like spiders and snakes . Many animals on this list are highly toxic but have not caused any known human deaths.

For example, sea snakes have some of the most lethal venom on the planet - nearly 10 times more potent compared to a cobra - but are very rarely encountered by humans. What is venom? Venom comes in many forms . Some types of venom can attack the brain and nervous system (neurotoxic), while others attack you cell's molecular structure (proteolytic), the cardiovascular system (coagulopathic), or muscle tissue (myotoxic); they can also break down tissue (cytotoxic). Venom can have any number, or even all, of these compounds. Highly neurotoxic venom is thought to be the most deadly to humans. Other side effects of venom include disruption to blood coagulation by hastening or slowing its flow, causing either haemorrhaging or clotting. Venom is commonly measured by something called the LD50: the concentration of toxin (lethal dose, mg/kg) required to kill half of a test animal group. A smaller number indicates more concentrated venom, with the most venomous species gaining a rating of less than one.

How lethal the venom is to humans also depends on how the venom is delivered, which is, in turn, influenced by fang size and how much venom is injected (venom yield). Some venom is more dangerous for other animals than for humans, and vice versa. These are Australia's most venomous animals, ranked by their LD50 rating. 1. Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) Also known as: fierce snake or small-scaled snake Considered the most venomous snake in the world, the inland taipan is highly venomous but scarcely deadly. Its venom, containing neurotoxins (nerve damaging), myotoxins (muscle damaging) and procoagulants (disrupts blood clotting causing excessive bleeding), is more potent than that of any other snake in the world, and a bite is capable of killing more than 100 people. It has an LD50 rating of 0.025 and an average venom yield of 44mg. The rapid delivery of venom - high in neurotoxins - can kill an adult in 45 minutes with symptoms including headache, nausea and paralysis.

This much-feared snake has caused no known human deaths and an antivenom is available. Inland taipans are found in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. 2. Geographer Cone snail (Conus geographus) Also known as: cone shell One sting from a cone snail has the potential to kill 15 healthy adults within hours. The venom of the predatory cone snail , with an LD50 rating of 0.03, has neurotoxins that affect vision and speech. Only one recorded death has ever occurred in Australia - in 1935. The most likely way to encounter this snail is by stepping on one, or picking up what looks like a pretty 'shell'. Stings are often painless, and people may not realise at the time they have been stung. The cone snail has some unusual hunting apparatus: a harpoon-shaped proboscis used to entice and inject venom into its prey. Cone snail venom is used in a drug called Ziconotide which treats chronic pain. They are found near reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. 3.

Box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) Often labelled the most lethal animal on the planet, the box jellyfish is capable of killing a healthy adult within minutes. There have been 79 confirmed deaths from this stinger since 1883 - and two from the Irukandji. This predatory jellyfish has an LD50 rating of 0.04 and its venom contains hemotoxins (which affects the blood and attacks organs) and neurotoxins (which attack the brain), as well as dermatonecrotic substances (which cause scarring on the skin). According to Dr Ken Winkel from the Australian Venomous Research Unit at the University of Melbourne, "in terms of creatures with the ability to kill quickly - a couple of minutes - it is almost peerless." The box jellyfish has up to 60 tentacles, all with millions of tiny harpoons from which the venom is injected. "Their sting is excruciating and can cause rapid death from shock (leading to cardiac arrest) within two to five minutes, or if the venom plays out, death can occur in 20-30 minutes", says Assoc. Professor Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland.

"The pain is like the most concentrated acid - but times a thousand," he adds. They are found on tropical north Australian shoreline waters. 4. Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) Also known as: common brown snake Regarded as the second most venomous land snake in the world, with an LD50 rating of 0.053, the eastern brown snake is responsible for 24 known deaths since 1980. Its venom packs a powerful punch, made from a mix of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, procoagulants (which promote bleeding) and nephrotoxins (damages kidney tissue) and is delivered in an average quantity of 2-6mg. Its bite can cause cardiac arrest but more often leads to rapid and uncontrollable bleeding and kidney failure, with symptoms seen within 15 minutes of envenomation. On average, one person is killed by brown snakes every year - making it the deadliest snake in Australia. "The brown snake is much more nervous and more likely to strike than the inland taipan," says Dr Ken Winkel from the Australian Venomous Research Unit at Monash.

It's found in highly populated areas, throughout eastern Australia and an isolated population occurs in the Northern Territory, making it one of the more commonly encountered snakes. 5. Yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus) The yellow-bellied sea snake is a true sea snake and like all highly venomous Australian snakes, it is from the elapid family. With an LD50 rating of 0.07, a bite from this snake yields a small amount of venom (1.0 - 4.0mg) but one that packs a punch, including neurotoxins and myotoxins (which attack muscle). The symptoms range from muscle stiffness and drooping eyelids to paralysis and death. However, no known fatalities have been recorded from this sea snake in Australia, probably because it's unlikely for humans to encounter this purely marine snake as it spends it entire life in the ocean. Even the ritual of skin-shedding is specifically adapted to life at sea. The snake ties itself into a knot, using friction from its body to gradually remove the old layer of skin. It's found throughout tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 6.

Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) Also known as: eastern taipan Found along the coast from northern NSW to northern WA, coastal taipans are equipped with the longest fangs (up to 12mm) of any Australian snake and have the third most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. With an LD50 rating of 0.099 and enough venom (120-400mg) to kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs in a single bite, the coastal taipan has been responsible for surprisingly few deaths. Its venom contains neurotoxins (nerve damaging), hemotoxins (blood and organ damaging) and myotoxins (muscle damaging) which can cause rapid death in an adult in 30 minutes. Since the antivenom was developed in 1956 there have been no known deaths. "The eastern brown snake is about twice as toxic as the coastal taipan, but the coastal taipan can inject up to 50 times the venom," says venom expert Assoc. Professor Bryan Fry. 7.

Mainland tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) Also known as: common tiger snake One of the most venomous land snakes in the world, the tiger snake is responsible for eight known deaths in Australia. With an LD50 rating of 0.118 and an average venom yield of 30-70mg, the tiger snake's venom - containing neurotoxins, myotoxins and procoagulants - can trigger a severe reaction within 15 minutes, although antivenom is available. The most common symptoms are paralysis, muscle damage and uncontrollable bleeding. There is thought to be only one wide-ranging species of tiger snake that has great variation in size and colour. Before striking, the snake will hiss loudly and inflate its body in a warning signal, although it is more commonly shy. The tiger snake occurs in southern Australia, including Tasmania. 8. Sydney funnel web spider (Atrax robustus) Without doubt the deadliest spider in Australia, and possibly the world, Sydney's funnel web spider can kill an adult in an hour from just a single bite, using its venom which is high in neurotoxins (nerve damaging).

Sydney's funnel web spider has an LD50 rating estimated at 0.16 (unverified) and is responsible for 13 known deaths in Australia - although no deaths have been recorded since the antivenom was developed in 1981. Their bite, which yields an average dose of 0.14mg of venom, is extremely painful and can cause rapid and severe nerve stimulation resulting in muscle spasms and convulsions. Renowned for being aggressive and with fangs so large they can pierce through fingernails, this fearsome spider is found throughout bush and urban areas of New South Wales, and commonly found around suburban swimming pools. 9. Beaked sea snake (Hydrophis zweifeli) Also known as: hook-nosed sea snake All 31 species of Australian sea snakes are venomous, and most of them are docile - but not the beaked sea snake . "They are the nastiest species of sea snake I've ever worked with," says snake venom expert Assoc. Professor Bryan Fry. With an LD50 rating of 0.164, the beaked sea snake's venom contains a highly toxic dose of neurotoxins and myotoxins.

A single bite can result in paralysis and muscle damage within six hours and delivers enough venom (7.9-9.0mg) to kill five adults. Previously thought to be one single species, it is now considered to be two species: one from Asia and one from Australia. Fortunately, the antivenom developed for the Asian snake also works on the Australian species. 10. Blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena spp) The last animal on the list may catch you off-guard, which is precisely why it is so dangerous. Unbeknownst to many, the blue-ringed octopus is highly venomous, with an LD50 rating of 0.300 and venom containing powerful neurotoxins (called maculotoxins). Responsible for two known deaths in Australia, their fast-acting venom can induce symptoms (muscular weakness, difficulty breathing and paralysis) within 10 minutes and death within 30 minutes, due to a complete lack of oxygen to the brain, unless CPR is begun quickly.

For such a small creature (25g), the blue-ringed octopus is powerful enough to kill 26 humans with one bite; but bites are uncommon, with no known deaths since the 1960s. There is no antidote and bites may go unnoticed. The blue-ringed octopus has multiple species all within the one genus. It's found in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Teen bitten by ‘world’s most venomous snake’ Teen bitten by ‘world’s most venomous snake’ Dylan Stableford Pin it Share A 17-year-old Australian boy is in serious condition after being bitten by what most reptile experts believe is the world's most venomous snake. According to the Sydney Morning Herald , the boy was admitted to a hospital in the town of Kurri Kurri with a snakebite on his left hand. He was later transferred to Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle. The snake, which was brought still alive to the hospital by the boy's friend, was identified as an inland taipan. The snake is native to western New South Wales—about 600 miles from where the boy was bitten.

A spokesman for the Taronga Zoo in Sydney told the paper that a drop of the snake's venom "can kill 100 adult men and 250,000 mice." [Related: Kids keep 2-headed snake as pet ] Julie Mendezona, head zookeeper at Australian Reptile Park, told the paper that reports of inland taipan bites are extremely rare, and that there have been about 100 in Australia's history. A bite will effectively "start shutting down the function of messages going to your brain, to your vital organs, your lungs and your heart and even your muscles," she said. "So, paralysis is usually what happens with the patient. Because it can act so fast, being a neurotoxin, that's what makes it such a deadly animal. It can kill someone within maybe 45 minutes. There have been reports of people experiencing effects of venom within half an hour as well.

"It also contains an anticoagulant," she added, "which means it will interfere with the blood clotting, so therefore you can experience bleeding out as well." Barry Martin, a veteran snake catcher who was called in to identify the inland taipan, told the Daily Telegraph it's known as a "fierce snake." "They [used to be] called the 'two-step snake' as in it bites you, you take two steps and you're dead," he said. Reblog

Question: What type of creature is a taipan?
Answer: Snake