Animals

Along with the friendly famous kangaroos found in Australia, Australia is also a home for many other dangerous and deadly animals. Some of the most deadly creatures are as follows:
=== The Box Jellyfish - One of the most extremely lethal animals in the world, and implicitlyAustralian, often found on the continent. Found on the coast alongside the Great Barrier Reef, the box jellyfish possesses an extremely powerful venom. The stings are terribly painful and often fatal. Be sure to include a bottle of vinegar in your first aid kit if you’ll be traveling in areas abound with these jellyfish.===

[[image:box_jellyfish.jpg width="177" height="125" caption="Box Jellyfish"]]
=== The Taipan - The taipan is a large, fast and highly venomous snake often found throughout Australia. The taipan has the most toxic venom out of all the species worldwide, has a dark brown color and is often found in sugar fields where it hunts for rats. The snake is usually found in the far north of Australia, in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, whre the winter is mild. Taipan’s usually stay away from people but once cornered or threatened, they strike several times.===



=== Blue Ring Octopus - Another serious threat for those that wish to explore the waters of Australia is the blue-ringed octopus – one of the most toxic sea creatures in the world found off the coast of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Even though the octopus is only the size of a golf ball, there is no known antidote for its powerful venom.===



=== Red Back Spider - This species found all over the continent is Australia’s most famous deadly spider. The red striped spider has a neurotic venom that induces severe pain, however, deaths are rare. Thousands of people are bitten but only approximately 20% of the victims require treatment. Generally, the children and the elderly are the most exposed to the spider’s threat. This is one of the few spider species that displays sexual cannibalism while mating.===



=== The kangaroos - **Australian kangaroos are the most famous Australian animals, and they belong to the most recognisable icons in the world**. (They are second only to the Statue of Liberty!) There are many different species of kangaroos (well over 60 all up), adapted to all kinds of Australian habitats. The most famous species in the macropod family is the huge **Red Kangaroo**. Others that are well known are **the Western and the Eastern Grey Kangaroo**. Those many species of Australian kangaroos vary greatly in their size, appearance, speed, life and habitat, but there are also many things they all have in common.===