If the fear of animals is the beginning of wisdom, then the fear of snakes would make you King solomon. Snakes. Snakes have rightfully gain must reputation as being one of the deadliest animal species known to man. But even among the deadliest, there are those of them who are the dare devils.
Top 10(+) Deadliest Venomous Snakes And Facts
Living snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and on most smaller land masses — exceptions include some large islands, such as Ireland and New Zealand, and many small islands of the Atlantic and central Pacific. More than 20 families are currently recognized, comprising about 500 genera and about 3,400 species. They range in size from the tiny, 10 cm-long thread snake to the Reticulated python of up to 8.7 meters (29 ft) in length. The fossil species Titanoboa cerrejonensis was 15 meters (49 ft) long. Most species of snakes are nonvenomous and those that have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey rather than for self-defense. Some possess venom potent enough to cause painful injury or death to humans. Nonvenomous snakes either swallow prey alive or kill by constriction.While reading through articles on snakes i found online, i stumbled on this list of ten most dangerous venomous snakes, This list was really worth see. Lets go through this list in order of increasing deadliness.
10. Rattlesnake
Facts
- The only snake from the Americas on the list, the Rattlesnake is easily identifiable by the tell tale rattle on the end of its tail. They are actually a part of the Pit Viper family, and are capable of striking at up to 2/3rd their body length.
- The Eastern Diamondback in considered the most venomous species in North America. Surprisingly, juveniles are considered more dangerous than adults, due to their inability to control the amount of venom injected.
- Most species of rattlesnakes have hemotoxic venom, destroying tissue, degenerating organs and causing coagulopathy (disrupted blood clotting). Some degree of permanent scarring is very likely in the event of a venomous bite, even with prompt, effective treatment, and can lead to the loss of a limb or death. Difficulty breathing, paralysis, drooling and massive hemorrhaging are also common symptoms. Thus, a rattlesnake bite is always a potentially fatal injury. Untreated rattlesnake bites, especially from larger species, are very often fatal
Antivenin, when applied in time, reduces the death rate to less than 4%
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9. Death Adder
Facts
- The appropriately named Death Adder is found in Australia and New Guinea. They actually hunt and kill other snakes, including some on this list, usually via ambush. Death Adders look quite similar to vipers, in that they have triangular shaped heads and short, squat bodies.
- They typically inject around 40-100mg of venom with an LD of 0.4mg-0.5mg/kg. An untreated Death Adder bite is one of the most dangerous in the world. The venom is a neurotoxin.
- A bite causes paralysis and can cause death within 6 hours, due to respiratory failure. Symptoms generally peak within 24-48 hours.
- With the quickest strike in the world, a Death Adder can go from strike position to striking and back again within 0.13 of a second.
Antivenin is very successful in treating a bite from a Death Adder, particularly due to the relatively slow progression of symptoms, but before its development, a Death Adder bite had a fatality rate of 50%.
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8. Vipers
Facts
- Vipers are found throughout most of the world, but arguably the most venomous is the Saw Scaled Viper and the Chain Viper, found primarily in the Middle East and Central Asia, particularly India, China and South East Asia.
- Vipers are quick tempered and generally nocturnal, often active after rains. They are also very fast.
- Most of these species have venom that cause symptoms that begin with pain at the site of the bite, immediately followed by swelling of the affected extremity.
- Bleeding is a common symptom, especially from the gums. There is a drop in blood pressure and the heart rate falls. Blistering occurs at the site of the bite, developing along the affected limb in severe cases. Necrosis is usually superficial and limited to the muscles near the bite, but may be severe in extreme cases. Vomiting and facial swelling occurs in about one-third of all cases. Severe pain may last for 2-4 weeks.
- Often, local swelling peaks within 48-72 hours, involving the affected limb. Discoloration may occur throughout the swollen area as red blood cells and plasma leak into muscle tissue.
- Death from septicaemia, respiratory or cardiac failure may occur 1 to 14 days post-bite, or even later.
We are still listing. Its never going to get less deadlier because the name snake and deadly are synonyms in my book. The list continues...
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7. Philippine Cobra
Facts
6. Tiger Snake
Facts
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5. Black Mamba
Facts
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4. Taipan
Facts
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7. Philippine Cobra
- Most species of Cobra would not make this list; however the Philippine Cobra is the exception. Drop for drop, its venom is the most deadly of all the Cobra species, and they are capable of spitting it up to 3 metres.
- It's venom is a neurotoxin which affects cardiac and respiratory function, and can cause neurotoxicity, respiratory paralysis and death in thirty minutes.
- It's bite causes only minimal tissue damage. The neurotoxins interrupt the transmission of nerve signals by binding to the neuro-muscular junctions near the muscles.
- It's symptoms might include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, collapse and convulsions
6. Tiger Snake
- Found in Australia, the Tiger snake has a very potent neurotoxic venom.
- Death from a bite can occur within 30 minutes, but usually takes 6-24 hours.
- Symptoms can include localized pain in the foot and neck region, tingling, numbness and sweating, followed by a fairly rapid onset of breathing difficulties and paralysis.
- The Tiger snake will generally flee if encountered, but can become aggressive when cornered. It strikes with unerring accuracy.
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5. Black Mamba
- The feared Black Mamba is found throughout many parts of the African continent. They are known to be highly aggressive, and strike with deadly precision.
- They are the fastest land snake in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20km/h.
- These fearsome snakes can strike up to 12 times in a row.
- A single bite is capable of killing anywhere from 10-25 adults.
- The venom is a fast acting neurotoxin. Its bite delivers about 100–120 mg of venom, on average; however, it can deliver up to 400 mg.
- If the venom reaches a vein, 0.25 mg/kg is sufficient to kill a human in 50% of cases.
- The initial symptom of the bite is local pain in the bite area, although not as severe as snakes with hemotoxins. The victim then experiences a tingling sensation in the mouth and extremities, double vision, tunnel vision, severe confusion, fever, excessive salivation (including foaming of the mouth and nose) and pronounced ataxia (lack of muscle control).
- If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms rapidly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, pallor, shock, nephrotoxicity, cardio toxicity and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma and then death.
- Depending on the nature of the bite, death can result at any time between 15 minutes and 3 hours.
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4. Taipan
- Another entry from Australia, the venom in a Taipan is strong enough to kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs.
- The venom clots the victim’s blood, blocking arteries or veins.
- It is also highly neurotoxic.
- Before the advent of an antivenin, there are no known survivors of a Taipan bite, and death typically occurs within an hour
- Even with successful administration of antivenin, most victims will have an extensive stay in intensive care.
- It has been likened to the African Black Mamba in morphology, ecology and behavior.
Now our listing reaches it's final three. The three most dangerous venomous snakes ever known by man. The listing continues...
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3. Blue Krait
Facts
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2. Eastern Brown Snake
Facts
1. Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan
Facts
While I did not include multiple sub-species in this list, the incredible Inland Taipan deserves a spot of its own.
The +list
So you see why snakes are synonymous to deadly in my book? Its gets even deadlier with the next unrated lists. I decided not to rate them because they are far too deadly to be rated. I will keep updating this list be for now let me add just one to the +list.
+1 Belcher’s Sea Snake
Facts
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3. Blue Krait
- The Malayan or Blue Krait is, by far, the most deadly of this species. Found throughout South East Asia and Indonesia
- 50% of bites from the deadly Blue Krait are fatal, even with the administration of antivenin. Kraits hunt and kill other snakes, even cannibalizing other Kraits.
- They are a nocturnal breed, and are more aggressive under the cover of darkness.
- Overall they are quite timid and will often attempt to hide rather than fight.
- The venom is a neurotoxin, 16 times more potent than that of a Cobra. It quickly induces muscle paralysis by preventing the ability of nerve endings to properly release the chemical that sends the message to the next nerve.
- This is followed by a period of massive over excitation (cramps, tremors, spasms), which finally tails off to paralysis.
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2. Eastern Brown Snake
- 1/14,000 of an ounce of its venom is enough to kill an adult human.
- Coming in a variety of species, the Eastern Brown snake is the most venomous.
- Unfortunately, its preferred habitat is also along the major population centers of Australia.
- The Brown snake is fast moving, can be aggressive under certain circumstances and has been known to chase aggressors and repeatedly strike at them. Even juveniles can kill a human.
- The venom contains both neurotoxins and blood coagulants.
- Fortunately for humans, less than half of bites contain venom and they prefer not to bite if at all possible.
- They react only to movement, so stand very still if you ever encounter one in the wild.
1. Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan
While I did not include multiple sub-species in this list, the incredible Inland Taipan deserves a spot of its own.
- It has the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world.
- The maximum yield recorded for one bite is 110mg, enough to kill about 100 humans, or 250,000 mice!
- With an LD/50 of 0.03mg/kg, it is 10 times as venomous as the Mojave Rattlesnake, and 50 times more than the common Cobra.
- Fortunately, the Inland Taipan is not particularly aggressive and is rarely encountered by humans in the wild.
- No fatalities have ever been recorded, though it could potentially kill an adult human within 45 minutes.
The +list
So you see why snakes are synonymous to deadly in my book? Its gets even deadlier with the next unrated lists. I decided not to rate them because they are far too deadly to be rated. I will keep updating this list be for now let me add just one to the +list.
- The most venomous snake known in the world.
- few milligrams is strong enough to kill 1000 people!
- Less than 1/4 of bites will contain venom, and they are relatively docile.
- Fisherman are usually the victims of these bites, as they encounter the species when they pull nets from the ocean.
- Found throughout waters off South East Asia and Northern Australia.