Top 10 Most Dangerous or Venomous Snakes of The World

Most Dangerous or Venomous Snakes

most dangerous snakes of the world
Most Dangerous Snakes

ABOUT SNAKES

 Snake species may be Venomous and Non-Venomous. The snakes that produce venom for their defense are dangerous to humans, snakes use this venom to kill their prey. The toxicity of venom is expressed by murine LD50 Test (It is a measure of the lethal dose of a toxin, pathogen and radiation). Snake venom may have both hemotoxic and neurotoxic effects. 

Snake venom is poisoned by the presence of Zootoxin, which is injected ginto the prey through fang bite or spitting. The venom producing glands are located on both side of the Snake’s Head and are protected by a muscular sheath. Proteins are the largest element in the snake’s venom and cause the most damage in prey by inhibiting vital enzymes.

Australia has the most poisonous snakes in the world, where they mostly live in the Country’s coastal region. Keeping in mind the most important factors, we have created a more relevant list of the World’s Deadliest Snakes.

Venomous Vs. Non-Venomous Snakes

Venomous Snakes:

  • These Snakes have Pits present on their head.
  • They have Elliptical (vertical) Pupils.
  • They have undivided anal plates.
  • Their head are Triangular shaped and neck is much skinnier than head.

Non-Venomous Snakes:

  • These Snakes do not have pits on their head.
  • They have Round Pupil.
  • They have divided anal plate.
  • Their head is more continuous with body.

venomous vs non venomous snakes

Top 10 Most Dangerous / Venomous Snakes of The World

10 RattleSnake

There are total 36 species of rattlesnakes live near to America with an overall range found from Southern Canada to Central Argentina and most of them are found in the American Southwest. They can survive in any Atmosphere where their prey- birds, amphibians, rodents and other small animals is enough.

They are classified by a segmented rattle at the tip of the tail that produces a Buzzing sound when vibrated. Adult snakes may vary in length from 0.5 to 2 m (1.6 to 6.6 feet) but some can grow up to 2.5 m (8.2 feet).

A few species are found with transverse bands but most of the rattlesnakes are blotched with Dark hexagons, Rhombuses and Diamonds on a light background, like grey or light brown, some may have various shades of Green, Pink, Red or Orange.

Usually rattlesnakes are not aggressive and will not attack humans but if harmed they are venomous and become dangerous. The snake’s venom is a complicated cocktail of different Enzymes, Toxins, and other compounds.

Hemotoxins, which breakdown capillary walls and blocks blood circulation are the key ingredients in most of them. Another weapon is Neurotoxins, which attacks the victim’s nervous system and causes seizures or paralysis. Venom composition can vary among individual species.

As like anacondas, rattlesnakes are Ovoviviparous. They give birth to a fully formed child that developed from eggs and retained inside the mother. They can produce 1 to 20 infants depending on their species. Newborns have fangs and venom glands.

The most dangerous species of rattlesnakes are the Mexican west coast Rattlesnake, the Mojave Rattlesnake, and the South American Rattlesnake or Cascabel. Their venom attacks to the nervous system directly.

 

dangerous rattle snake

 

09 Death Adder (Dangerous Snakes)

Its genus name is Acanthophis, derived from the ancient Greek where Akanthos means Spine and Ophis means Snake which refers to the spine found in this snake’s tail.

These snakes are native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea and nearby islands and are in the list of most venomous snakes in the world. It is not clear that how many species of these snakes are known but the number count is from 4 to 15.

Earlier Australians used to call these snakes as “Deaf Adder” because of their ambush hunting style and the fact that if they come in contact they will remain motionless. However like other snakes these species are able to sense ground vibration.

Death adders are terrestrial animals that usually come out in night and remain undercover during the day. These species don’t reach more than 3.25 feet (100cm).

These snakes have a small, worm like lure on the end of the tail, used to attack its prey. This thing makes them different from other Australian snakes. They have large bands around their body and their colors depend on the locality where they live. Colors are usually Grey, Yellow, Black or Red but also include brown and greenish-grey.

Generally Females are larger than males in size. Death adders are Viper-like in appearance, have a short and robust body, triangular shaped heads and small sub ocular scales. They have vertical pupils and many small scales on the top of the head. Their fangs are long.

Death adders are more likely related to Deadly taipans ie Cobras, Mambas and Coral Snakes. During hunting time these snakes hide themselves in the ground, the only part they exposed are their head and tail. As soon as any animal (prey) comes in contact with its tail, the death adder strikes.

In a single bite, a Death Adder can inject on average 40-100 mg of highly toxic venom. The venom of this snake is completely neurotoxic i.e. it directly attacks on your nervous system. A bite from this snake may cause paralysis at first and may cause death in about 6 hours but there is Anti-venom available to reverse its attack.

Death Adder Snake

08 Vipers (Dangerous Snakes)

The Viperidae (Vipers) are the family of venomous snakes found in all over the world except New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar and Huawei. Vipers belong to two groups: Pit Vipers and old World Vipers. All vipers are venomous and have long, hinged fangs.

One of the World’s smallest viper was found in China in 2011 whose name is Mao-Lan pit viper. They are less than 2 feet (61 cm) long while the longest viper is the South American Bushmaster which is more than 11 feet (335 cm) long.

These snakes are generally sturdy with short tails. Almost all vipers have triangular head which is due to their large venom glands in the mouth. They have vertically elliptical pupil. Vipers can be ovoviviparous and can lay eggs too.

Vipers are known for their dangerous fangs, which are rotatable, hinged and hollowed, these fangs are connected with their venom glands. Their mouth can open up to 1800 therefore they are able to rotate their fangs.

These snakes can extend their fangs and bite without injecting venom, this is called a Dry Bite which is common in human snakebites. By doing this vipers are able to conserve their venom for later use.

A variety of food can be taken by vipers depending on their size. This includes lizards, small mammals, birds and eggs, when this prey becomes dead these snakes swallow it whole.

In Viper’s venom there is an abundance of protein degrading enzymes, called Proteases. It causes intense pain, swelling and blood loss. Death is usually caused by collapse in blood pressure which is due to the neurotoxins present in the snake’s venom. If someone comes in contact with viper’s venom he should be treated seriously and medical attention should be paid. Anti-venon should be given in a particular time period.

Depending on the circumstances these snakes can decide how much venom is to inject. It also depends on the size of snakes, large snakes produces much more venom as compared to smaller ones.

Viper Snake

07 Tiger Snake

This is a large and very venomous species found in Australia. It is mostly found in Southeastern Australia including the Bass Strait Islands and Tasmania, and the Southwestern part of Australia. They belong to the family Elapidae.

These species have a banded pattern like a tiger on their skin which is the reason they are called Tiger Snake. They are highly variable in their size and color. They are jet-black, olive, yellow, and orange-brown in color and the underside of the snake is orange or yellow. While young the bandings is much more distinct but as the snake matures, it gradually fades away.

These are relatively short and stout bodied snakes with a wide head. Their height varies around 3.9 to 5.2 ft. (1.2 t0 1.6 m) in length, and most of the population is found near Chapel Island averages over 6 ft. (1.9 m) and may reach 9.5 ft. (2.9m).

Tiger snake can give birth to 20 to 30 live young, a record was made of 64 young from an eastern female. Snakes usually give birth during summers.

There are two most widely accepted species of Tiger Snake:

Black Tiger Snake– They are found in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Mainland Tiger Snake– They are found in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

The venom of this snake is very toxic. If this snake bites anyone he may feel numbness, severe pain, tingling and sweating rapidly followed by breathing difficulties and paralysis. Its effect can be reversed using anti-venom.

TigerSnake

06 Belcher’s Sea Snake

These dangerous snakes live in the ocean around Southeast Asia. They live almost all of their lives underwater. You can find them all around Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, and on the south coast of Vietnam.

This snake was named after Sir Edward Belcher, a British Naval Officer and explorer from the 1800s. The snake was discovered by a botanist called John Edward Gray, another British man.

It is a medium sized snake, only reaches 40 inches maximum. It’s covered from top to tail in low-contrast bands. It is a dull yellow color with green bands across its back from top to tail. Its head is the same color as the rest of its body. These snakes must come to the surface to breathe.

Belcher’s sea snake has a flat tail, which it uses like a Scuba Driver’s Flipper to paddle themselves along. This helps them to move more quickly underwater. As a result, their tale is not much narrower than the rest of their body.

Their diet consists of shellfish, small fish, fish eggs, Eels and similar. Because these species lives near the short, they primarily hunt in coral reefs and similar areas. They cannot move very fast, so they don’t chase their prey down.

Belcher’s sea snake is quiet Timid, It would rather try and get away from you than seek you to attack. But if they bite, their Venom is extremely toxic. Its fangs are actually quite small and short too. Its venom contains postsynaptic neurotoxins.

Sea snake venom can cause its effects happen within half an hour. It takes around 30 minutes from the time that you are bitten, until you die. Person can be saved by anti-venom.

Sea snakes mating takes place underwater and they must surface for air during the process. Most sea snake give birth after gestation periods that range from 4 to 11 months, depending upon the species. Young are born underwater to an average of 2 to 9 young, but as many as 34 may be born and must be independent immediately to swim to the surface to breathe.

In captivity they can live up to 7 years.

Belcher’s Sea Snake

05 Black Mamba (Dangerous Snakes)

Black Mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous and highly aggressive. Black Mambas live in the Savannas and Rocky Hills of southern and eastern Africa. Interestingly, the number of these snakes is the highest compared to other species. These dangerous snakes species like to live in dense trees, shrubs and wooden logs.

The color of its skin varies from yellow-green to metallic grey. It is called Black Mamba due to its black coloring of the inside of its mouth.

The length of an adult Black Mamba is considered to be about 2 meters. However sometimes it seems up to be 4 and a half meter long. Their other interesting characteristics is they are very clever in crawling, it is believed that snakes of Mamba species cover a speed of 12.5 meters (more than 20 kilometers) in an hour.

It is said about Mambas that they live mostly in forests, but sometimes they come between humans to hunt their prey. Its venom is highly toxic, two drops of venom can kill a person and a mamba can have up to 20 drops in its fangs. The venom have both cardio and neurotoxins.

If the person cannot be treated within fifteen minutes of the bite then the person is supposed to die. Even if a person is escapes from it, then he cannot avoid being a victim of paralysis. The interesting thing is that this snake can eat a creature four times larger than itself.

During its reproduction, it produces about 6 to 25 eggs. It is said that once the egg is laid, the mother Mamba does not see her eggs again, she leaves them. After about 3 months, newborn come out from these eggs which are up to 16 to 24 inches in length.

Black Mambas lives around an average age of 11 years. It is said that by coming to this age, it is not even able to hunt.

After the first summer rains, November to April is snake season. Black Mambas are deadly and one of the world most venomous snake.

black mamba

04 Blue Krait (Dangerous Snakes)

The Blue Krait is also known as the Malayan Krait and it is a highly venomous snake species native to Southeast Asia. These dangerous snakes are found in Singapore, Sumatra, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Central Vietnam, Thailand, and Bali.

These species of snake lives in a wide variety of habitats from lowlands up to 1200 mm high, very often close to a water source.

Blue Kraits are also found close to Rice fields and rice dams, it can be found in villages and cities. This is a very nocturnal and secretive species, usually hiding during day.

Length of these snakes is about 43 inches (108 cm) but the maximum length may reach up to 63 inches (160 cm). These snakes almost have a Banded pattern on their body, the bluish-black or black dark-brown cross bands alternate with yellowish-white.

These snakes are very silent during the daytime that many snake handlers very often will handle these deadly snakes with their bare hands.

The venom of this snake is very toxic that directly attacks the human Nervous system, forcing it to shut down. If left untreated death may occur within 12 to 24 hours. When they bite very little or even no pain is usually felt at the bite location.

In case if Blue Krait anti venom is not available, the Australian Tiger Snake anti venom can be used as a substitute.

These snakes are Oviparous, which means they lay eggs. Usually they will invade and take over rat holes in the ground to make their nests. In Thailand, female snakes lay their eggs in during March and April. The average clutch comprises 4 to 10 eggs.

blue krait snake

03 King Cobra (Dangerous Snakes)

The King Cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world. If humans are concerned this is perhaps the most dangerous snake. Every year several people die from the bite of the King Cobra. This species can even kill an Elephant. They lives in much of mainland South East Asia and throughout the dense highland forests.

This dangerous snakes can grow up to 18.5 feet (5.7 m) in length and with a width of up to 1 foot (0.3 m) at the neck. In weight King Cobras usually do not exceed 44 pounds (20 Kg). This is very unusual that Male King Cobras are longer than the female King Cobras, since in most snake species the male is smaller than the female.

When the King Cobra is threatened or on the attack, it will hiss, flatten up its neck ribs into the hood. There are false eyespots on the hood, which can scare some predators.

Adult Cobras are Yellow, Green, Brown or Black. Their throat is light yellow or cream colored. Younger ones are black with yellow or white bars crossing the body.

As it is an excellent Swimmer, they has a preference for living in areas where there are lakes and streams. The King Cobra is said to be the only snake which makes Nests for its eggs. It is widely worshipped in India as “Nag raja” (King of Snakes).

King Cobras are able to hunt at all times of day, although it is rarely seen at night. The King Cobra snake is able to detect moving prey almost 300 feet (100 m) away. Its venom is a neurotoxin, capable of killing humans, venom is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant.

A king Cobra is capable of injecting more venom than any other snake except the Gaboon Viper.

Breeding usually takes place in late spring or early summer. After mating, the male will return to its own home. The female will then lay around 10 to 25 eggs. The King Cobra snakes average Lifespan is about 20 years.

King Cobra

02 Eastern Brown Snake

The name Brown Snake refers to two different generation of snakes, found on two different countries. If you are in North America, brown snake is the common name for Storeria, a small, shy, non-venomous snake. If you are in Australia, Papua New Guinea or West Papua, brown Snake is the common for Pseudonaja, a highly venomous snake that includes the Eastern Brown snake, considered the second most venomous land snake in the world according to Australia’s Billabong Sanctuary.

The eastern brown snake is usually orange-brown in color but varieties from light to dark brown color to an almost black are also found. Their belly is a light cream color. They have a small blunt head.

The eastern brown snake is the species responsible for most deaths caused by snakebites in Australia. On hot days they can move at surprising speed. During the winter with colder temperatures they remain in their burrows for a period of 4 or 5 months.

These dangerous snakes have an average length between 3.6 to 5.9 feet (1.1 to 1.8 m). Any snake measuring more than 6.6 feet (2 m) is considered exceptionally large but the maximum recorded length for the species is 7.9 feet (2.4 m).

On comparing with other snakes such as Cobras and Vipers, Eastern Brown snake has very short fangs only about 3 mm in length. They inject only a very small amount of venom, about 4mg but this is more enough to kill a human. With efficient first-aid treatment and anti-venom one can survive.

Breeding season begins in the mid to late spring. The males will engage in a form of ritual combat to gain the right to mate with receptive females. The species is oviparous and females lay up to 25 eggs in late spring or early summer but the average clutch is about 15 eggs.

The Eastern brown lifespan in wild is unknown but in captivity they can live for as long as 7 to 10 years.

eastern brown snake

01 Inland Taipan (Dangerous Snakes)

Inland Taipan is a highly venomous snake found from Australia to the southern edge of New Guinea. These snakes range in color from gray to beige and dark brown to pale brown. Some taipan change their colors according to seasons. Light colored body prevents overheating of inland taipan during the summer, while dark colored skin ensures accumulation of the heat during winter.

These dangerous snakes can reach up to 6 to 8 feet in length. Inland taipans are usually active early in the morning (diurnal). It becomes active during nights when there are hot days in the year.

These snakes have excellent eyesight and sense of smell that is use for detection of the prey.

Inland taipan is an agile snake that is able to bite 8 times in a single attack. It retreats and waits inside the crack in soil until victim dies before it returns to swallow it. Its venom is about 50 times more toxic than that of King Cobra venom.

Inland Taipans are classified as the most venomous snake on the planet, but they mostly live in remote places that’s why they hardly comes in contact with humans. Each bite delivers amount of venom that can kill 100 adult men at a time. These are also called Fierce snake because of its potent venom (They are not aggressive by nature).

If a taipan bites a man, then he can die within 30-40 minutes after the attack in case that anti venom is not available.

Natural enemies of inland taipans are King Brown Snake and Large Monitor Lizards.

These dangerous snakes reproduce during the season of July to December. Females produce two broods per year when food is plentiful. Female snake lays 12 to 24 eggs in the cervices of rocks or inside the abandoned borrows of various animals. Eggs hatch after incubation of 2 months.

In captivity Inland Taipan can survive for 10 to 20 years. Their fangs are between 3.5 to 6.2 mm long, being shorter than those of the Coastal Taipan.

inland taipan snake

 

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