# Forget dingoes, crocs, sharks and snakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 26, 2000, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568 "2000-09-26T06:26:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/1 "2000-09-26T06:26:03Z")
A marvelously dangerous killing machine is also found in Australia. One of the fastest-killing toxins known to man can be found in a tiny - almost cute - cephalapod mollusc called the blue-ringed octopus. Yep, a small octopus about the size of a quarter (if I remember US quarters correctly). Can kill you anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 minutes depending on the sting. And you don’t normally see them in their rock pools. Australia: land of natural beauty where nearly everything can kill you. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/2 "2000-09-26T20:27:24Z")
Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site. To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL). Cecil’s column can be found on-line at this link: [In Australia, do dingoes really eat babies? (22-Sep-2000)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000922.html) * * * moderator, «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)» ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/3 "2000-09-27T01:07:47Z")
My humblest apologies. I was just tired and lazy yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![fenrir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/43a26b/32.png) [@fenrir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fenrir)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/4 "2000-09-29T00:46:02Z")
Ans it’s size is about 20 cm . much bigger than a quarter.Much bigger than a silver dollar too . ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2000, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/5 "2000-10-02T07:44:41Z")
Actually the one I saw was way smaller. Perhaps it was but a baby. If I get time I’ll check. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/6 "2000-10-02T18:22:30Z")
So which plant or animal in Australia is the source of iocane? After all, we all know that iocane comes from Australia, a land of criminals and thieves, so I clearly cannot trust you. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/7 "2000-10-03T04:09:43Z")
Truly, you have a dizzying intellect, **Chronos**. ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-dingoes-crocs-sharks-and-snakes/34568/8 "2000-10-10T02:20:55Z")
Wait till he gets started!!