THE COASTAL TAIPAN

DESCRIPTION : reddish-brown, dark grey or black / up to 3 metres long

ABILITIES : strike very fast / see very well

HABITAT : tropical coastal regions of

DIET : rats, mice and various species of birds

DANGEROSITY : (third) +++ venomous snake in the world

BODY COUNT : 3 since 2010

FUN FACT : not a snake to back away from a surprise encounter

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE BULL ANT THE TIGER SNAKE

DESCRIPTION : red and orange abdomen / DESCRIPTION : yellow and orange-brown / large eyes / long mandibles / 40 mm long large / 1.6 metre long

ABILITIES : sting / see very well / jump ABILITIES : bite / paralyse / climb very well

HABITAT : urban areas / forests HABITAT : inhospitable watery environments

DIET : nectar / plant juices / prey DIET : fish, frogs, lizards, birds and bats

DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ dangerous ants DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ venomous in the world / +++ aggressive on the planet snakes on Earth

BODY COUNT : 3 since 1936 BODY COUNT : 15 since 2016

FUN FACT : +++ old ant in the world FUN FACT : stay under water for 9 minutes.

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUSS THE BULL SHARK

DESCRIPTION : eight arms / blue rings / DESCRIPTION : grey above and pale below / paralysing saliva / 15 cm long small eyes / 3.4 metre long

ABILITIES : bite / poison its prey ABILITIES : bite / stay in freshwater

HABITAT : south of the Great Barrier Reef HABITAT : eastern coasts of Australia

DIET : and fishes DIET : fishes, dolphins, turtles and birds

DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ venomous DANGEROSITY : +++ dangerous shark in the in the sea world

BODY COUNT : 0 since 1960 BODY COUNT : 15 since 2000

FUN FACT : 3 hearts, 9 brains and blue blood FUN FACT : eat terrestrial mammals (cats, dogs, rats …)

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE FUNNEL WEB SPIDER THE SMOOTH TOADFISH

DESCRIPTION : shiny dark brown abdomen / DESCRIPTION : brown spots and brown sharp fangs / 1.5 to 3.5 cm long bands / white belly / 16 cm long

ABILITIES : bite / attack the nervous system ABILITIES : poison humans if eaten

HABITAT : urban areas / New South Wales HABITAT : south-eastern Australia

DIET : insects, small lizards and snails DIET : crustaceans and molluscs

DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ aggressive DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ poisonous fish spiders on Earth in the sea

BODY COUNT : 0 since 1981 (antivenom) BODY COUNT : 0 since 1831

FUN FACT : survive 24 hours in water FUN FACT : 'friendly' appearance but toxic

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE REEF STONEFISH THE TIGER SHARK

DESCRIPTION : look like a rock / DESCRIPTION : dark stripes on its body / spines / 35 cm long 6 metres long

ABILITIES : inject a highly toxic venom / ABILITIES : see and smell very well strike with incredible speed HABITAT : coastal, tropical marine waters HABITAT : the Great Barrier Reef DIET : dolphins, birds, turtles and fishes DIET : fishes and crustacea DANGEROSITY : (second) +++ dangerous DANGEROSITY : +++ venomous fish on Earth sharks in the sea

BODY COUNT : 0 since 1790 (antivenom) BODY COUNT : 4 since January 2019

FUN FACT : be superbly camouflaged FUN FACT : eat indigestible objects like number plates, cans or tires.

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE YELLOW-BELLIED SNAKE THE INLAND TAIPAN

DESCRIPTION : yellow underbelly and brown DESCRIPTION : rectangular-shaped head / back / around 1 metre long large eyes with a very dark iris / 2 m long

ABILITIES : bite / swim backwards ABILITIES : strike multiple times in the same attack

HABITAT : Pacific and Indian Oceans HABITAT : semi-arid regions of east Australia

DIET : only fish DIET : rats and mice

DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ venomous DANGEROSITY : +++ toxic snake in the world/ snakes on Earth +++ dangerous snake in the world

BODY COUNT : 0 in Australia (antivenom) BODY COUNT : 0 in Australia (antivenom)

FUN FACT : move up to 1 metre per second FUN FACT : change colour seasonally

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE IRUKANDJI JELLYFISH THE CONE SHELL

DESCRIPTION : four tentacles / 1 cm - 2 cm DESCRIPTION : 10 to 15 cm long / bell (diameter) / up to 1 m tentacles cone-shaped shell with a muscular foot

ABILITIES : fire stingers (dards) to inject venom ABILITIES : sting / immobilise its victim

HABITAT : along the Great Barrier Reef HABITAT : tropical and subtropical seas

DIET : little fish and small organisms DIET : snails, worms and small fish

DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ toxic animals in DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ venomous sea the sea snails in the world

BODY COUNT : 2 deaths since 1883 BODY COUNT : 0 in Australia

FUN FACT : difficult to see in the water FUN FACT : deliver a venomous harpoon from its mouth

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) THE COMMON DEATH ADDER THE BLUEBOTTLE

DESCRIPTION : triangular-shaped head / 1 m long DESCRIPTION : blue / 2 cm to 15 cm long

ABILITIES : hide by covering itself with leaves ABILITIES : inject powerful venom into its prey HABITAT : eastern and coastal southern Australia HABITAT : eastern coast of Australia

DIET : frogs, lizards and birds DIET : molluscs and small crustaceans

DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ venomous DANGEROSITY : (one of) +++ toxic jellyfish in snakes in the world the world

BODY COUNT : 2 deaths since 1930 BODY COUNT : 0 in Australia

FUN FACT : a master of camouflage FUN FACT : specialised tentacles (for stinging, capturing, eating, reproducing)

by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) by Cyril Dussuchaud (académie de Limoges) SOURCES https://australianmuseum.net.au/ https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_snake_bites_in_Australia