Other continents have several ancestors that may or may not have been venomous, but Australia's 140 terrestrial and 30 marine snake species all evolved from one venomous ancestor.
Due to the country's large landmass, many climates are experienced including equatorial, tropical, subtropical, desert, monsoonal, temperate, and alpine. These differing climates influence Australia's snake distribution and abundance, and provide many different and unique habitats for them.
The bite of an eastern brown snake can kill an adult in under an hour. And that's just one of more than 150 venomous snakes inhabiting the island continent across land and sea. Australian snakes are well and truly overrepresented out of the world's top 25 most venomous snakes.
#1.
Close-up of Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) sucking blood on human skin. The mosquito is the single deadliest, most dangerous animal in the world and also one of the smallest. Mosquitoes are estimated to cause between 750,000 and one million human deaths per year.
Man's best friend is actually one of the world's deadliest mammals. Worldwide, dogs are responsible for about 25,000 human deaths from rabies each year resulting from maulings and bites.
Norfolk Island is a very safe place to visit. There are no snakes on the island, and most of our spiders are harmless (even the big ones).
The Coastal Taipan is often regarded as the most dangerous snake in Australia. They are extremely nervous and alert snakes, and any movement near them is likely to trigger an attack.
We have noted at Walkabout Park that most kangaroos bitten by snakes are hand-raised kangaroos. We have seen a disproportionately larger number of hand-raised kangaroos bitten, relative to wild raised kangaroos.
Brazil has more snake species than any other country in the world. There are over 375 species living in this country, some harmless and some dangerous. Brazil is home to 60% of the South American rainforest, which is a fertile breeding ground for these reptiles.
“The spiders are probably larger in the urban areas as a result of more food, warmer temperatures (that is, the urban heat island effect) and a relaxation of predation,” Elizabeth says.
Olive sea snake
This relatively large species has an olive-grey body in eastern Australia, but is bright orange to salmon pink in the west. It is one of the sea snakes most commonly seen by tourists. It is seemingly curious and social, often swimming towards and interacting with snorkellers.
Quokkas, famous for posing in selfies, are native to Rottnest Island where about 10,000 live a sheltered life free from predators or traffic. They are classified as a vulnerable species and have been almost completely wiped out on the mainland.
The combination of warm climates and moisture provides the perfect prerequisites for an abundance of food year-round. This constant access to nourishment has given many species of insects the ability to grow and flourish over years of development.
Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)
The 'death' in this snake's name is not a bluff – the common death adder can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia. It is capable of causing human death within six hours after a bite.
Introducing the most venomous snake in the world and epic predator of the Australian outback! The inland taipan is otherwise known as the fierce snake or small scaled snake. They can be marvelled at in our Robert's Reptile House, right here at Australia Zoo.
The scrub python is found throughout the tropical rainforests of far north Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. They are the largest snake species to call Australia home. They can reach up to 8 metres (26 feet) long and weigh in excess of 25 kilograms (55 pounds)!
Snakes live all over South Australia and are common in the suburbs and at the beach, so don't think you'll never see one. Brown snakes - of a few different species -are found across much of South Australia, but each region also has its local specialty – and most are venomous.
The Jurassic Park-style island, Mount Chappell, is said to be home to Australia's largest and most venomous tiger snakes.
Some snakes such as eastern brown snakes are active during the day, others prefer to hunt in the evening, while some species are more active at night during the hotter months. Many snakes have excellent eyesight, but it's not usually the main sense they rely on when hunting.
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Causing an estimated 500 deaths annually (as compared to only 22 for lions), hippos are deadly land mammals. This is because they are very aggressive and territorial, and have a habit of charging at boats and capsizing them.
A hippo would win a fight against a polar bear.
Instead, the hippo needs one or two bites to incapacitate the polar bear. Its massive teeth would penetrate the bear's fur and skin, breaking bones and ripping into organs. In this rare case, speed on land would only matter at the beginning of the fight.