1. The Box Jellyfish - locals call them Sea Wasps

Eastern Coast of Australia - Great Barrier Reef

One of the most extremely lethal animals in the world, and implicitly Australian, often found in warmer weather.

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 travelling in areas abound with these jellyfish. You can also apply warm to hot water (NOT boiling) as the venom is a cold water venom and dissolves faster in warm to hot water.

Vinegar applied for 30 seconds to the sting, then removing the tentacles with a towel, will reduce the damage. But you will need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Western Australia

On the west coast of Australia there are other nasty jellyfish called Irukandji jellyfish (mistakenly called Iragangi or Iracongi).

These can also be deadly and if stung, apply vinegar or hot water (NOT boiling) and seek medical attention at the nearest hospital or clinic.

Emergency Number in Australia

In Australia, the emergency number is 000

2. The Taipan Snake

The taipan is a large, fast, highly venomous and highly aggressive snake found throughout Australia.

The taipan has the most toxic venom out of all the snake species worldwide, has a dark brown color and is often found in the bush.

The snake is usually found in the far north of Australia, in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, where the winter is mild.

Taipan's generally stay away from people but once cornered or if they feel threatened, they usually attack and they have been known to chase people for up to 50 metres (yards) at a very fast speed.

If you must get bitten by a snake, try and make sure that it is below the knee or below the elbow.

Then you can apply a "Constrictive Bandage" (NOT a tourniquet) above the knee or elbow.

3. Saltwater Crocodile

The largest living member of the crocodilians and reptiles, the saltwater crocodile can grow up to 18 feet (5.45 meters) in length and is often found in Thailand, Vietnam and Northern Australia.

They have been known to take on animals such an adult water buffalo and have often attacked people.

It is usually well camouflaged both underwater or on dry land and strikes at an amazing speed. Its most powerful attack - the death roll - consists of grabbing its prey and rolling powerfully until it dies.

To try and open a crocodiles jaws is almost impossible. However, people who have escaped from crocs have told how they punch and bash violently around the crocs eyes and they were released.

As hard as this next bit is to do, just remember this, a crocodiles and alligators are stimulated by vibrations in the water caused usually by spashing or movement in the water. Remain perfectly still and they will not "attack" you unless you have provoked them previously or you are bleeding.

The über nut job in the video is actually a scientist who studies Alligators in the Florida everglades and was doing research on the gators at mating time.

Any one of these could have ruined his day.

It does however, prove my point about NOT SPLASHING when near these creatures.

4. 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.

The video mistakenly states that they live in the Southern Coastal areas of Australia. These octopus (octopii) live up along the eastern coast of Australia as well.

Even though the octopus is only about the size of a golf ball, there is no known antidote for its powerful venom.

It causes motor paralysis (can't move), eventually leading to cardiac arrest.

usually people are bitten on the feet or hands. APPLY a Constrictive Bandage and get to a hospital ASAP. Call 000

First aid treatment consists of pressure on the wound and mouth-to-mouth breathing that can last for several hours.

5. Stone Fish

Known as the most venomous fish in the world, the stone fish lives along the northern coastline of Australia and on the bottom of the reefs, camouflaged as a rock and while it generally prefers a rocky habitat, it can also often be found hiding in the sand as it waits in ambush for small fish.

It lives above the Tropic of Capricorn (above Mackay Queensland) but can be found on the Queensland Great Barrier Reef as well.

It's venom comes from the dorsal area, that is lined with 13 poisonous spines, causing shock, paralysis and tissue death depending on the severity of the sting.

First aid consists of immobilizing the venom by bandaging the affected area then applying a hot compress. Again apply a Constrictive Bandage and get to a hospital urgently.

The is said to be the MOST excruciating pain that anyone has ever experienced.

6. Red Back Spider

This species found all over the continent is Australia's most famous deadly spider. In rural areas, it is wise to check under toilet seats before sitting down and to check boots and shoes if left outside over night before putting them on. With boots and shoes, my parents always insisted that we wear thick socks as well, just in case.

The red striped spider has a neurotic venom that induces severe pain, however, deaths while rare, do occur.

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 venom although even healthy adults will wish that they were on another planet after they are bitten.

This is one of the few spider species that displays cannibalism while mating.

7. Brown Snake

There are several types of brown snakes but the Pseudonaja is the genus commonly found in Australia.

Known as one of Australia's most deadly creatures, the brown snake has a venom which quickly kills if it goes untreated.

Even young snakes are capable of delivering a fatal bite to humans.

The video on right shows just how aggressive this snake can be. Image what would happen if the camera guy fell over ?

8. Tiger Snake

The tiger snake is another of the many venomous snakes found Australia, particularly in the southern regions.

The striped snakes are not generally aggressive and retreat whenever they have the chance.

The tiger snake is known as one of the deadliest snakes in the world.

Although anti-venom is readily available, mortality rates are around 45% if the bite is left untreated. In most states, the species is protected and any harming or injuring lead to a fine of up to $4,000.

9. Great White Shark

This exceptionally large shark known as the white death is known as world's largest known predatory fish.

They can be found in great numbers on the southern coasts of Australia and, they can often be fatal to humans.

Many of the attacks are not fatal, the shark only performing test-biting, out of curiosity.

This video is so that you realise how dangerous sharks are. There is NO warm and fuzzy feeling when you have 200 teeth munching your body.

A tip from someone who has swum with giant sharks on the Great barrier Reef (over 15 feet) is NEVER swim AWAY from the shark when they are close.

Always LOOK AT THEM. This is not easy to do but I am here today to tell you that swimming away is the dumbest thing you can do when they are close.

They are used to "their victims" running away.

10. Funnel Web Spider

The darkly colored spiders resembling tarantulas have fangs and chelicerae with ample venom glands, that can even penetrate fingernails or shoes.

They can be found in the eastern coast of Australia, New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland.

First aid consists of applying a bandage and wrapping the bitten limb. As with other spiders, the main treatment is the anti-venom.