Originally posted by Nventual
I'm glad you didn't mention the killer species of Koala (scientific name is drop bears). They are a good trap for unwanted tourists casually walking through bushland. Shh.

Just so long as they have some vegemite (or now for even more protection the new "iSnack 2.0") and the biggest stick they can find, they will be right.

Originally posted by OzWeatherman
13. Dugite 0.660 Australia

Aww baby dugites are soo cute tho, I found one in the front yard when I was about 9 years old... I had no bloody idea what it was, the cat was playing with it.

heh, suffice to say, I got really close and personal with it and a twig........ oO

I seem to be a flukey bugger when it comes to things like that... I've cut thru electrical chords as a kid, using pliers... still here to remember it.. What pretty blue lights and sapping noises..

but that snake, once I learned what it was, ohhhh boy...



My old man took it into his work in a jar, and they told him what it was and promptly terminated it. We did live on 35 acres of yard however, full of timber and in an industrial area, suprising we only ever encountered one snake.

yep in cairns they manage to kill off a few european tourists every year

i got bitten by a white tailed spider : rotting flesh spider ; and my toe started to go black and drop off; but luckily the antibiotics worked, altho they tasted foul.

had a spider the size of a plate on my wall a few days ago. nice huntsman. they follow me. i think they want to be friends. i dont tho unfortunately.

I'm in Tasmania and encountered wild Tassie Devils in their natural habitat (dense bushland). Although their reputation doesn't include actually attacking healthy humans I wouldn't trust those things for a second.



The tame well-fed and cared for ones you meet in the sanctuaries are cute but remember those jaws are designed to crush bones with ease.

The tiger snakes here are almost big enough to take you home before biting you but fortunately they're pretty sleepy and tend to stay out of your way.

The smallest critters are a big concern too like the European wasps - disturb a nest and they'll all come out to attack you with very possibly fatal results. We also have an interesting variety of bullant known as the 'jackjumper' which has caused quite a few fatalities especially in people with an allergic reaction to their incredibly painful sting. Their name comes from their behaviour of jumping when disturbed - they move very fast for a large ant and seem to be aware of your presence almost to the point of stalking you if you come too close. Just 1 sting from one of these and you'll be retreating real fast - I have colonies of them in my backyard I've been trying to control for 20 years without much success.

[edit on 5/10/2009 by Pilgrum]

Originally posted by The_Seeker
Like lions and tigers, and so on. The worst I think we have is the Dingo

It's a shame that we don't have the thylacine anymore... To know that animal was a marsupial but to look at it, I would give anything to see them today..

Looked like a dog, but different.. and were not canines at all - lending to the theory that environment shapes evolution.

Like the tigers and wolves of the Northern Hemisphere, from which it obtained two of its common names, the Thylacine was an apex predator. As a marsupial, it was not related to these placental mammals, but because of convergent evolution it displayed the same general form and adaptations. Its closest living relative is thought to be either the Tasmanian Devil or Numbat.

Wikipedia quote added just for info.. amazing these magnificent creatures were killed to extinction by the early settlers... ugh.. time machine please thanks.

[edit on 5/10/2009 by Ha`la`tha]

Originally posted by rapunzel222
yep in cairns they manage to kill off a few european tourists every year

i got bitten by a white tailed spider : rotting flesh spider ; and my toe started to go black and drop off; but luckily the antibiotics worked, altho they tasted foul.

had a spider the size of a plate on my wall a few days ago. nice huntsman. they follow me. i think they want to be friends. i dont tho unfortunately.

You see my only irrational fear is spiders. I had said huntsmen the size of a plate crawl across my face when it got into my hair as a kid. I canstill see its black leg acroass my eye...eeeeek. I nearly died on the spot from fear. I know Hunstman are harmless but no 9 year old should have to deal with that. Sigh~ Spiders arent my friends...Sorry Steve Irwin, but I just cant make ammends with them.

Was actually watching a doco on Tassie Tigers a few months ago. There are still sightings of it. If its still around, and its not impossible if you take a look at Tassie and its surroundings I hope they leave it alone.
And yes for years they were thought to be a part of the canine population. They were truely and original aimal, amongst the many we have here.
Rather funnily I just finished watch a fox doco on Aussies most deadliest critters, and they just confired that the Red is a part of the widow family.

Also that there are 36 species of Funnel In Oz (sorry if already said).
This just on now, and summer is the worst time for them, as they leave their burrows to search for a mate. Funnell web anti venom since the 80'S when introduced has been given over a 100 times with no fatalities.

Originally posted by The_Seeker
I have foun though in comparison to other counties, at least we dont have anything that can stalk us.....Like lions and tigers, and so on. The worst I think we have is the Dingo

Actually Dingos are notoriously shy of humans. The best native stalker we have is actually the salt water crocodile. They can smell blood in water from kilometers away

Crap sorry about the double up on info. Great link We must hav been typing round the same time