Coastal taipan attacks deadly but rare

What we know about the deadly coastal taipan - the snake which has a Queensland toddler fighting for his life.

* it is the third most venomous snake in Australia, behind inland taipan and eastern brown, and among the sixth most deadly in the world.

* People rarely encounter the shy and elusive reptile as it's more likely to flee than bite

* professional Queensland snake catcher Wayne Cameron died after being bitten by a coastal taipan in April

* about 3000 snake bites are recorded in Australia each year but there has been a rise in the number of attacks in Queensland this year

(Sources: Sunshine Coast Snake Catcher, Snakes in the City - Snake Catchers Sydney)