Australian Paralysis Tick Ixodes holocyclus

This Australian tick does something truly sinister: it injects neurotoxins that can paralyze its host, making it by far the most medically important tick species in Australia. You'll find it in a narrow 20-kilometer band hugging Australia's eastern coastline, which unfortunately includes the country's most densely populated regions—meaning encounters with humans and pets are tragically common. One of about 75 Australian tick species, but this one stands out for its genuine danger. Its neurotoxins can be lethal to pets and livestock, earning it a fearsome reputation among animal owners in its range.