Australia is home to many of the world's most venomous and dangerous creatures. The aggressive White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)can grow to nine metres in length and is found around the entire coast of Australia. There is an average of one fatality per year from shark attack in Australia. The Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) has the second most potent land-snake venom in the world. The Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), found in tropical waters of northern Australia, is one of the world's most lethal jellyfish. The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which can reach five metres in length, is found in coastal tropical and subtropical northern Australia. The Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Pelamis platurus) ambushes its prey, generally small fish, which it immobilises with potent venom. The three species of the small, attractive Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata, maculosa and fasciata) are the world's most poisonous octopuses. While antivenom has been developed for the Eastern Brown Snake and the Box Jellyfish, no antivenom exists for the Blue-ringed Octopus.
Stamp design: Natalie Leys, Spark Studio
Cover design: Jonathan Chong, Australia Post Design Studio
Stamp photographs: Kelvin Aitken/ANT photo.com (White Shark and Box Jellyfish);
Michael Cermak/ANT photo.com (Eastern Brown Snake); Sean Pethick (Saltwater Crocodile);
Peter Robertson/Wildlife Profiles (Yellow-bellied Sea Snake); Clay Bryce/Lochman Transparencies (Blue-ringed Octopus); Getty Images (backgrounds). Cover photographs: Ken Griffiths/ANT photo.com (Eastern Brown Snake); Getty Images (background)
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