World's deadliest fungus found in Australia

Poison Fire Coral is the only known mushroom with toxins that can be absorbed through the skin, and causes a 'horrifying' array of symptoms if eaten. [AFP]

One of the world's deadliest fungi has been discovered in Australia's far north for the first time -- thousands of miles from its native habitat in the mountains of Japan and Korea.

The Poison Fire Coral fungus was discovered in a suburb of Cairns by a local photographer and subsequently identified by scientists, James Cook University announced Thursday.