Up to 3 m — the longest venomous snake in Australia. Light brown to dark olive. Before antivenom (developed 1955), nearly 100% of bites were fatal.

Massive venom yield with potent neurotoxin. Strikes multiple times in rapid succession. Now ~1 death/year in Australia thanks to antivenom; PNG mortality higher.

Coastal regions of northern Australia (Queensland, NT, northern WA) and southern Papua New Guinea. Sugarcane fields, forests, savanna.

Diurnal. Highly alert and quick. Hunts rodents — moves into farmland following pest outbreaks. Most bites occur during sugarcane harvest.

Largest living reptile — males up to 7 m and 1,000 kg. Olive-grey. Strongest bite force ever measured (3,700 psi). The world's most prolific man-eater.

Kills ~1,000 people per year worldwide — more than sharks, lions, and tigers combined. Active hunter of humans. About 1-2 deaths/year in Australia, dozens in Indonesia/PNG/Solomon Islands.

Tropical coasts and rivers from India through SE Asia, northern Australia, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji (rarely).

Ambush hunter — explodes from water to grab prey at water's edge. Death roll drowns large prey. Travels 1,000+ km along coasts via ocean currents.

Cube-shaped bell up to 30 cm with up to 60 tentacles trailing 3 m. Pale blue, almost invisible in water. Active swimmer (most jellyfish drift).

Most venomous marine animal — sting causes cardiac arrest within 2-5 minutes. ~80 deaths recorded in Australia, ~40 per year in Philippines. Vinegar must be applied immediately.

Coastal waters of northern Australia (October-May 'stinger season'), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.

Has 24 eyes — can see and navigate. Hunts shrimp in shallow water near beaches. Lives only ~3 months but can sting even when washed up dead.

Tiny — only 12-20 cm tip-to-tip. Yellow-brown with bright blue rings that pulse vividly when threatened. Looks adorable. Is lethal.

Tetrodotoxin (same as pufferfish) — 1,000x more potent than cyanide. One bite paralyzes adults; victim conscious but can't breathe. No antivenom. Treatment: artificial respiration for 24+ hours until toxin clears.

Tide pools and coral reefs of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon Islands.

Hides in shells, bottles, debris. Bite is painless — victim may not realize until paralysis begins minutes later. Picked up by tourists curious about color.

Up to 40 cm. Camouflaged perfectly as a rock or coral. 13 dorsal spines deliver venom when stepped on. Most venomous fish in the world.

Sting causes excruciating pain (described as the worst pain known to humans), tissue death, paralysis, heart failure. Antivenom exists; ~25 cases per year in Australia. Few deaths now.

Tropical reefs and rocky shores of northern Australia, PNG, Indonesia, Philippines, Fiji, all tropical Indo-Pacific.

Almost motionless — relies entirely on camouflage. Buries partially in sand. Most stings: tourists wading without reef shoes.

Beautiful patterned shell 10-15 cm long. The most venomous of all cone snails. Hunts fish with a venomous harpoon-like tooth fired from a proboscis.

Conotoxin causes total paralysis with no antidote — mortality ~30%. Victims describe being conscious but unable to move or breathe. Patients survived by being put on ventilators until toxin cleared.

Coral reefs and sandy areas of tropical Indo-Pacific — Australia, PNG, Indonesia, Philippines, all Pacific islands.

Slow-moving but hunts fish (!) by harpooning them with a tooth shot at high speed. Tourists picking up the pretty shell get stung.

Stocky, viper-like (though actually an elapid). Up to 90 cm with a triangular head and worm-like tail tip used as a lure. Banded grey to reddish-brown.

Highly neurotoxic venom — before antivenom mortality was 60%. Now rare deaths, ~1 per decade. Strikes from camouflage with no warning.

Eastern and southern Australia plus southern PNG. Hides under leaf litter, sand, vegetation — virtually invisible.

Ambush predator. Lies still wiggling tail-tip as bait for frogs/lizards. Doesn't flee from approaching humans — most bites occur when stepped on.

Black above, bright yellow below, paddle-shaped tail. Up to 1 m. The most widespread snake in the world — Indo-Pacific from Africa to Americas.

Highly potent neurotoxin — 10x more toxic than cobra. But docile and rarely bites swimmers. Most bites: fishermen entangled in nets.

Open ocean throughout Indo-Pacific — Australia, all Oceania islands, Indonesia, Philippines, India, even Pacific coast of Mexico/Central America.

Fully aquatic — cannot move well on land. Drinks fresh water from surface rain layer. Floats among debris hunting small fish.

Up to 5 m with vertical tiger-like stripes (fade with age). Eats almost anything — license plates, tires, and human remains have been found in their stomachs.

Second only to great white in unprovoked human attacks. Common in Caribbean and Hawaiian waters. Slow but powerful — strikes once and waits.

Tropical and subtropical waters — Florida, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii.

Solitary, mostly nocturnal. Migrates long distances. Females birth up to 80 live pups.

Stocky, aggressive shark up to 3.5 m. Uniquely tolerant of fresh water — found in Mississippi, Amazon, even Lake Nicaragua.

Top contender for most dangerous shark to humans. Hunts in shallow, murky water — exactly where people swim. Many attacks attributed to 'great whites' are actually bull sharks.

Shallow coastal waters, estuaries, rivers — Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean (Cuba, Bahamas, DR), Lake Nicaragua, Mississippi River, Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America.

Aggressive and territorial. Tolerates salinity from 0 to 53 ppt. Attacks unprovoked more than other sharks.

Flightless bird up to 1.8 m tall, 60 kg. Black feathers, bright blue neck, bony casque on head. The world's most dangerous bird — dagger-like claws on each foot.

Inner toe has a 12 cm dagger-shaped claw that can disembowel. Two confirmed human deaths (1926 boy, 2019 owner in Florida). Many injuries — kicks with both feet at once.

Tropical rainforests of northeastern Australia (Far North Queensland) and New Guinea. Sometimes wanders into towns when habitat is fragmented.

Solitary, territorial. Charges at perceived threats with high-speed kicks. Males raise chicks alone for 9 months.