The most venomous snake in the world is the taipan. But there are other snakes that are no less dangerous.
Top 7 most dangerous snakes in the world
There are more than 3 thousand species of snakes on our planet, of which about 750 species are poisonous, but only the second part of them can kill a person.
Many of them are afraid of a person and avoid meeting with him. The list of the most dangerous snakes in the world includes:
- Black Mamba;
- Taipan;
- Fierce snake;
- Tiger snake;
- Malay Krayt;
- Mulga;
- Egyptian cobra.
Many of the poisonous snakes are several times more dangerous than the cobra known to us.
Black Mamba
The snake got its name due to the black mouth, but it itself is most often dark olive in color. It lives in Africa, where it is one of the most poisonous. Mamba reaches a length of up to 2.7 meters, there are specimens up to 5 meters. The bite of such a snake kills a person in 20-30 minutes.
black mamba photo
Interestingly, this species bites not once, but several. She is able to bite up to 12 times in a row. The amount of poison she releases at one time is capable of killing 25 people. The Black Mamba is one of the fastest snakes in the world, it can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h on flat ground.
taipan
This snake is dangerous not only with its neurotoxic venom, but also aggressive behavior. After the invention of the antidote, only 40% of those bitten manage to survive. Its venom causes blood to clot and clog veins and arteries. With this action of the poison, death occurs within 12 hours, but not earlier than 4 hours after the bite.
taipan photo
At a time, Taipan sprays 44 mg of a poisonous substance. It grows up to 2.5 meters in length, color: red with iridescent overflow. It lives in northern Australia and New Guinea. Feeds on small mammals. It is considered a distant relative of the Black Mamba.
cruel snake
Such a snake is very rare, as it is very afraid of people. There were no deaths from the poison of this snake, but it is 50 times stronger than poison Cobras. At a time, the Cruel can bestow 100 mg of poison on the target, enough to kill 100 people. It begins to act after 45 minutes and leads to lethal outcome.
cruel snake photo
Distributed in Central Australia. Lives in places with dry plains and fields. the length of the snake is 1.5 - 1.9 m, the color is light yellow with a brown pattern. Belongs to the genus Taipan.
tiger snake
It is especially dangerous during the molting season or the mating season. In normal times, she will avoid meeting people. But if someone still finds it, she will for a long time warn yourself. It grows up to 2 meters in length. The injected amount of poison is enough to kill 400 people.
tiger snake photo
The color most often matches the color of its environment. It lives in the south and east of Australia, also in New Guinea and on the island of Tasmania. It lives in forests, also in open fields. It feeds on frogs and mice.
Malay Krayt
Krayt is the owner of one of the most toxic poisons. A single bite can kill up to 45 people. About 10 thousand people suffer from this snake every year. The snake waits for the victim to come as close as possible and attacks. Her bite leaves no marks and is virtually painless.
Malay Krait photo
Only 50% of those bitten survive. Death can occur within 20 minutes. In length up to 2.5 meters. Active mainly at night. Often found in Indonesia and southeast Asia.
Mulga Mulga or Brown King
One of the most venomous snakes. She does not show aggression, but any movement in her direction can be assessed as a threat. There have been cases when a snake pursued an offender or prey. She usually bites more than once, and does not always spit out poison.
Have you or anyone you know ever been attacked by a snake? We hope not, because some of the most dangerous bites known to humans come from snakes. And while not all snakes are venomous, some have the potential to kill a human within half an hour. These are the abilities of the most venomous snakes on the planet.
They can be found everywhere - from the arid deserts of Australia to the tropical backyards of Florida mansions. Those unfortunate enough to fall prey to the snake describe excruciating symptoms such as labored breathing, nausea and vomiting, numbness, and organ failure. It's a relatively painful way to die.
And although there is an antidote that has managed to survive many people, if the necessary actions are not taken immediately, the bites of many poisonous snakes can take a life in a very short time.
From the chain viper to the black mamba, here are 25 of the most venomous snakes living on our planet.
And to be clear, most (if not all) venomous snakes are not going to attack humans. Usually they just want to not be disturbed. This must be taken into account by a person who encounters a dangerous reptile. Of course, if he values his life.
25. Common Zhararak
The common jararaca is the most widespread and best known venomous snake in the densely populated areas of southeastern Brazil, where it accounts for 80-90% of snake bites. The lethal outcome is 10-12% without medical assistance.
24. Viper
Vipers are considered one of the most venomous snakes on the planet. They feed on small animals (such as rats) that they hunt by striking hard and injecting a deadly paralyzing poison into their prey.
23. Green mamba, or western mamba
The green mamba is a highly alert, irritable, and extremely fast snake that predominantly lives in coastal wetlands. tropical forests, thickets and wooded regions of West Africa.
Like all other mambas, the western mamba is one of the most venomous species in the asp family. Its bite can kill several people at once in a short time if antivenom is not administered immediately.
22. Narrow-headed mamba
Like other representatives of the mamba genus, the narrow-headed mamba is a highly poisonous animal. One bite can contain enough venom to kill several people.
The poison affects the nerves, heart and muscles, being quickly absorbed through the tissues. Once bitten, life-threatening symptoms characteristic of mamba bites quickly appear: swelling of the bite site, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing and swallowing, irregular heartbeat, convulsions and, ultimately, respiratory paralysis.
21. South China multi-band krait
Based on several studies on the LD50 (50% fatal dose), the South Chinese multistriped krait is one of the most venomous land snakes in the world. This species was first described by the English zoologist Edward Blyth in 1861, and has since been recognized as one of the most dangerous snakes for humans.
20. Pit viper
These reptiles are found in the lowlands, often near human dwellings. Their proximity to the human habitat is perhaps the reason why they are considered the most dangerous to him, even though their venom is not as deadly as that of other snakes. Pit vipers are a major cause of snakebite incidents in their habitats.
19. Russell's viper, or chain viper
The Russell's viper is one of the most dangerous snakes in all of Asia, causing thousands of deaths every year. After a bite, a person experiences a wide range of symptoms, including pain, swelling, vomiting, dizziness, and kidney failure.
18. Black and white cobra
Not as infamous as its Indian cousin, this fast and irritable snake is considered very dangerous. Feeling threatened, it assumes a typical cobra warning position, raising the front of its body above the ground, spreading its narrow hood and emitting a loud hiss.
These snakes bite humans less often than other African cobras due to a number of factors, although their bite is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
17. Taipan, or coastal taipan
Coastal is considered the most dangerous snake in Australia. This is an extremely irritable and vigilant snake that reacts with lightning speed to any movement nearby.
Like any snake, the taipan prefers to avoid conflict and will quietly slip away if given the chance. However, if it is caught off guard or cornered, it will defend itself fiercely, and its venom will most likely lead to death in just a few hours.
16. Dubois' sea serpent
This swimming snake is found from the northwest coast of Australia to the islands of New Guinea and New Caledonia. And while the Dubois sea snake's venom is one of the deadliest known, less than 1/10 of a milligram is injected during the bite, which is usually not enough to kill a human.
15. Schlegel's chain-tailed botrops
A typical ambush predator, Schlegel's prehensile-tailed botrops patiently waits for its unsuspecting prey to pass by. Sometimes he chooses a specific place for an ambush, and every year he returns there during the spring migration of birds.
14. Boomslang
Many venomous members of the algae family, such as the boomslang, are harmless to humans due to small venom glands and ineffective venomous teeth. However, the boomslang is a notable exception in terms of the toxicity of the venom, which is found in the venomous teeth located in the middle of the upper jaw.
When biting, boomslangs can open their jaws 170°, releasing a large number of poison, which usually leads to the death of the victim due to internal and even external bleeding.
13. Coral snake
The bite of this poisonous eastern snake at first glance seems weak: there is almost no pain or swelling, and other symptoms may occur only after 12 hours. However, if the antidote is not administered, the neurotoxin begins to destroy the connection between the brain and muscles, causing impaired speech, double vision, muscle paralysis and, ultimately, ending in lung or heart failure.
12. Western brown snake, or guardar
The western brown snake is very fast and very poisonous kind aspid family, living in Australia. Its coloring and pattern vary greatly depending on the location, but the poison and mortal danger that poses a threat to the life of the victim (including humans) is standard.
11. Efa, or sandy efa
Efs are small but very irritable and aggressive snakes, and their deadly venom makes them very dangerous. They usually strike very quickly, and the fatality rate from their bites is very high.
In their regions (Africa, Arabia, Southwest Asia), ephs are responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined.
10 Rattlesnake
Even though the bites rattlesnake rarely fatal to humans with prompt medical attention (including antivenom), they are nonetheless the most common of all snake bites.
The highest concentration of rattlesnakes is found in the southwest and north of Mexico, while the state of Arizona is home to as many as 13 species of rattlesnakes.
9. Spectacled snake, or Indian cobra
This snake is perhaps the most popular in the world. Possessing highly toxic poison, it feeds on rodents, lizards and frogs.
The Indian cobra, in addition to biting, can also attack or defend at a distance of "spitting" its poison, which, if it enters the enemy's eye, causes sharp and severe pain, causing heavy damage.
8. Black mamba
Black mambas are very fast, irritable, deadly poisonous and, when threatened, very aggressive. They are considered the culprits of numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. Therefore, it is widely accepted that they are the deadliest snakes on the planet.
7. Tiger snake
Native to Australia, tiger snakes have a truly fearsome reputation throughout the country, where they are considered among the most dangerous predators for a person.
These reptiles are very dangerous due to their aggressiveness and the toxicity of their venom. However, tiger snakes are highly survivable, adapting superbly to some of Australia's harshest living conditions.
6. Indian krait, or blue bungarus
The blue bungarus, which is often found in Thailand, is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the world, as more than 50% of all its bites are fatal, even taking into account the introduction of antibodies against snake venom antigens (antidote).
5. Eastern brown snake, or reticulated brown snake
This snake is considered the second most venomous land snake on the planet, according to the LD50 (a measure of a lethal dose of a toxin) in mice. It lives in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, where it inspires mortal horror in people.
4. Deadly snake
The deadly snake is a genus of venomous snakes from the aspidae family found naturally in Australia. This is one of the most poisonous land animals in Australia and throughout the world.
Unlike other snakes, a deadly snake can spend many days waiting for its prey until the victim appears. She hides in the foliage, and when the victim approaches, she quickly attacks, injecting her poison, after which she waits for the prey to die to start eating.
3. Philippine cobra
Of all the cobra species, according to toxicology experts, Philippine cobras may have the most toxic venom. As a result of the bite of this snake, the death of a person can occur in half an hour.
Its venom has the deadly ability to interrupt the transmission of nerve signals and damage the respiratory system, making it one of the deadliest and most venomous snakes in the world.
2. Violent snake
This snake from the genus Taipan is also known as the inland or desert taipan. The impressive feature of this snake is not even the high toxicity of the poison, but the speed with which it bites its prey.
It usually kills its prey with a series of quick and precise strikes, during which it injects its extremely toxic venom deep into the rodent. Its venom is unparalleled in toxicity among all snakes living on our planet.
1 Belcher's Sea Snake
According to many experts, the venom of the Belcher sea snake is almost 100 times more toxic than the venom of any other snake on the planet.
To give you an idea of the toxicity of her venom, let's say that one drop of venom king cobra can kill over 150 people, while just a few milligrams of Belcher's sea snake venom can kill over 1,000 people.
The good news is that this snake is considered to be very timid, not aggressive - it takes a lot of effort to provoke it to bite.
Deadly beauty... What is it like?
A vivid example is such dangerous, but attractive creatures - snakes.
Despite their "poisonous" fame, many people sympathize with them, and even acquire them as pets. Maybe you are just that exotic lover?
Or are you an avid traveler who cannot live a day without conquering the peaks or cutting through the plains?
In any case, even extreme fans should be careful. And, to warn you and dispel the most popular myths about snakes, we have compiled the top 10 most dangerous and poisonous snakes on the planet.
Carefully read the information below, and then no snake can become a threat to you!
The viper belongs to the family of poisonous snakes, consisting of ten genera and sixty species. Their habitat is quite wide - Northern and Central Europe, middle Asia and Africa.
The body length of the viper ranges from 50-80 centimeters, but there are species that reach up to 1 meter. Its color is very variable - it can be of any brightness and tonality, but usually it is black, gray, brown or light yellow tones.
The unifying feature is the presence of a strip along the back, which, as a rule, has the shape of a zigzag. The tail and abdomen are lighter than the body. The head has a pronounced triangular shape with a rounded nose. The pupils are vertical, but in low light they can be rounded.
All vipers are nocturnal, but during the day they prefer to bask in the sun. They feed mainly on mice, moles, birds, lizards and even snakes.
These reptiles are completely non-aggressive, do not like to be disturbed and try to avoid meeting people. Only in the event of a deliberate provocation, or the unexpected appearance of a person, will they try to bite him. Starting the attack, the viper slowly bends back, turning the lower part of the body into a ring, begins to hiss, expressing its displeasure. The bite itself occurs instantly - within 70 milliseconds. When throwing, the viper focuses on lightning speed, so it often misses, but immediately tries to bite again. During the throw, they can open their mouths up to 180 degrees.
And yet, the bite of this snake rarely leads to death - only in case of failure to provide medical assistance. For a third of the victims, a meeting with a viper generally occurs painlessly and without consequences. For the rest, nausea, vomiting, a sharp headache, chills and an allergic reaction to the poison, which can provoke pulmonary edema, are possible.
9 Spectacled Snake (Indian Cobra)
Beautiful and very "smart" snake. In addition to the main bright and variegated color, glasses are “painted” on the upper part of the body, and this pattern not only helps the cobra to stand out in the animal world, but also has a protective function. Points, as it were, warn that the enemy is always under control. Often a spectacle snake can be found near a person’s dwelling, because there you can always easily profit from small pets, rats and mice. Naturally, such a neighborhood does not please people at all. But this snake very rarely attacks first, and never attacks stealthily. That is why in India it is called noble. Seeing a person, the cobra tries to hide, but if it fails, it takes a defensive stance, straightens its “hood” and starts hissing aggressively. She can throw, but not bite, sometimes bites, but does not inject poison. But all this is not out of good intentions, but out of greed - he does not want to waste precious poison. But if, nevertheless, a cobra has bitten a person, then there is very little time for salvation. In less than an hour, dangerous symptoms appear, and within a few hours, heart failure and death occur. The cubs that are born are poisonous from birth. And small animals from the bite of this reptile die immediately. Often these reptiles perform "dances", where the caster with the help of a pipe makes them sway to the surprise of an enthusiastic audience.
A very dangerous tropical poisonous snake, with a beautiful skin color. She was nicknamed rattlesnake for the characteristic sound coming from the tip of her tail. She hails from America. These reptiles are excellent swimmers, and in the water they are completely harmless. But on land it is better to stay away from her, although if she is not irritated and irritated, this “rattle” will not attack a person. She can strike at a distance equal to more than half of her body. The bite of this reptile is very powerful, it can bite through tight clothes and strong shoes. This is the danger that this snake carries in itself. Rattlesnake venom is very dangerous. He destroys internal organs and fabrics. The bite can be fatal if antivenom is not administered in time, fortunately modern medicine has long used such drugs.
The risk of meeting with the spiny tail is only in Australia and New Guinea. These snakes prey on almost everyone, without any fear. Both relatives and other reptiles can be attacked. A sting of a thorntail usually contains forty to one hundred milligrams of venom.
And since the Australian spiketail is classified as neurotoxic by the type of poison, it rightfully takes its place in our top of the most dangerous and poisonous snakes.
The consequence of the bite is paralysis of the respiratory system, due to which the victim usually dies after six to seven hours.
However, thanks to the invention of the antidote, medicine can now reduce the symptoms in general, and alleviate the condition of the bitten.
Of all its species, the Malay, or, as it is also called the “blue” krait, is recognized as the most dangerous. You can meet such a snake while in Indonesia and in any piece of Southeast Asia.
More than half of the bites of this krait are fatal, despite even timely emergency medical care and the introduction of an antidote.
The "blue" krait easily hunts and kills other snakes, even those belonging to its genus. After dark, they become more aggressive, as they hunt at this particular time of day. But, nevertheless, when meeting with a person, they first try to hide.
The venom of the Malayan krait is sixteen times stronger and more dangerous than that of the cobra. After a bite, convulsions begin almost instantly. After a short period of time, paralysis sets in.
Before the invention of the antidote, 89% of the victims died, however, even with the advent of the neutralizer, the mortality rate did not decrease much.
This is one of the most dangerous reptiles in the world. The length of this snake can reach three meters. Its color is variable, the top can be green, olive, brown, black, there are spots or stripes on the body. The abdomen is yellow or yellow-green. This asp lives in Africa, in the south and southwest. He likes to hide in the ground, in trees and bushes, he moves perfectly through the trees, the main thing is not to confuse him with a branch and not to grab a boomslang. That's when he becomes aggressive and attacks, and if you do not touch him, then when he meets a person, he tries to hide. The poison is very dangerous, small animals die from a bite within a couple of minutes. Due to the structure of the teeth, it is “uncomfortable” for the boomslang to bite large animals, so it bites several times and, as it were, “chews” the victim in its mouth. Likes to eat birds and their eggs. Very graceful, with a lightning-fast reaction, a dangerous snake.
4. Mulga or Brown King
This type of dangerous snake is common in Australia. Mulga large snake size from 1.5 to 3 meters. The color of the skin is different, it depends on the habitat - it can be light brown in the inhabitants of the desert, or it can be almost black if the snake lives in cold areas. Its poison is very toxic and about 150 mg is released at a time. And the worst thing is that after biting, the mulga does not let go of its victim, but holds it with its long teeth, “pouring” more and more poison into it. She does not disdain lizards, frogs, mammals, as well as other reptiles, and even poisonous ones. And she digests them with ease, because her stomach is adapted even for this. The peculiarity of this snake lies in the wide neck, into which the head imperceptibly passes, although in other species of snakes, due to glands with poison, the head stands out against the background of a narrow neck. Females lay up to twenty eggs and immediately after that they throw them, and after two or three months new brown kings are born on their own.
Terrible, fast, merciless, relentless and very poisonous - all this is about her, about the bloodthirsty African reptile - the Black Mamba. Moreover, it is not called black because of the color of the skin, it can be different: from dark brown to dark gray and from olive to green. But the color of the mouth is eerily black, and the shape of the jaw is similar in shape to a coffin. Mamba venom acts very quickly. After her bite, death can occur in 15 minutes or a maximum of three hours, that's how much time a person has to administer an antidote. Mamba can bite up to twelve times one victim. At one time, she can release from 100 to 400 mg of poison, although 15-20 mg is enough to kill an adult with this poison. And despite the advances in medicine, thousands of people in Africa die every year from the bites of this snake. She likes to settle near human habitation, having taken a fancy to garbage dumps, so everyday activities such as taking out the garbage make it quite an extreme activity. The black mamba reaches a length of up to three meters, it is one of the fastest snakes on the planet, moving at a speed of about 20 km / h. Its diet includes birds, squirrels, small rodents. Attacks a person, most often only when disturbed.
And this asp lives in pastures, in forests, deserts, meadows in the southeast of Australia, in Tasmania, New Guinea. This is a relatively small snake - its length is usually up to two meters. But with such a small size, its poison is considered one of the most poisonous. After the bite of this snake, small animals die instantly, and the poison contained in its glands is enough to kill 400 people. Favorite food - birds, mice, frogs. The main danger lies in the fact that almost the whole day this "beauty" lies motionless and it is very easy to mistake her for a stick. And most importantly, when meeting with her, do not disturb her and stay as far away from her as possible. In fact, this is a fairly “peaceful” snake, unless you touch it, it itself does not throw itself at people, does not crawl into a dwelling, and generally tries to stay away from people. And only if necessary, protection can attack itself.
Taipan belongs to the genus of poisonous snakes, the family of asps. You can meet him on the coasts of Australia and in the southeast of New Guinea. These extremely Poisonous snakes grow up to about three meters. They are very aggressive. Before the development of an antidote from their bite, they died in almost 100% of cases. The Taipan is easily recognizable by its long fangs, light cream head, orange eyes, and brownish coat. They drive for the most part daytime lifestyle. They feed on rats, birds, lizards and small animals. This type of snake has excellent hearing and vision. They swiftly sneak up on their prey, then, approaching, raise their head, shaking it, and attack with lightning speed. After that, they wait for the poison to work in order to eat. Taipan venom blocks muscle contractions, causing paralysis, disrupts blood clotting, causes vomiting, severe headaches, and later convulsions begin, leading to a coma. I consider Taipans to be the most intelligent of all poisonous snakes. They avoid meeting people, but if they feel danger, they will defend themselves by inflicting several bites in a row. One bite is enough poison to kill about a hundred people.
The antidote must be done within three minutes, otherwise death is inevitable.
Reading time: 14 min.
The snake is one of the most dangerous creatures the globe. According to statistics, their conscience is responsible for 100-125 thousand human lives carried away by venomous bites annually. And this despite the fact that only 8% of these asps are deadly. Yes, and there is no particular reason to attack them on a person: he is large as a prey.
There is still a fierce debate among scientists to determine the status of "the most venomous snake in the world." The problem lies in the different points of view on this issue. After all, snakes have so many differences: the level of toxicity of the poison, the amount of poison injected into the victim at a time, the degree of aggression of the reptile.
Hook-nosed sea snake (lat. Enhydrina schistosa)
Habitat: Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Seychelles and Madagascar, seas around South Asian countries (Pakistan, India and Bangladesh), Thailand and Vietnam, South-East Asia(Myanmar), Australia and New Guinea.
Length: up to 1.2 m.
Color: dark gray on top, sides and whitish on the bottom.
LD index50 : 0.1125 mg/kg.
The hook-nosed snake is very poisonous, but as soon as it sees people, it tends to swim away. The reason for this is the gastronomic preferences of the people of Hong Kong and Singapore, who are very fond of this delicious delicacy. Excessive interest in snake meat involuntarily forces snakes to self-defense, therefore, 50% of all bites of sea asps account for 50% of hook-nosed counterparts.
The poison of the hook-nosed snake is almost eight times more dangerous than cobra toxins and is quite capable of being fatal. The neurotoxins and myotoxins contained in one snake bite are 90% fatal. Which, in principle, is not surprising, because the lethal dose of snake venom for humans is 1.5 mg, while the bite of a hook-nosed snake introduces from 7.9 to 9 mg.
Black mamba (lat. Dendroaspis polylepis)
Habitat: Africa.
Length: up to 3 m.
Color: gray, brown, olive or a mixture of them; a distinctive feature is a black mouth.
LD index50 : 0.111 mg/kg.
A large, venomous and swift snake from the mamba genus, attacking with particular aggression and cruelty. One bite is usually not enough for her, so the mamba tends to inject several portions of poison in a row in order to surely finish off her prey. For one bite, the snake injects from 100 to 400 mg of poison. Organs attacked by toxins fail within 20-25 minutes. If the snake manages to get into a vein or artery, then both the animal and the person will experience instant death.
Every year on the African continent, about 20,000 people die from the bites of black mambas. The situation is also complicated by the desire of these snakes to settle closer to people, so cases of finding a mamba in their own bed are quite real. That's just the irascibility of the snake does not differ, and it strives to hide at the first sight of it.
The black mamba is not only a thunderstorm in Africa, but also the most dangerous killer snake on the planet. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records, the record speed of the snake is more than 18 km / h, which is much higher than the running ability of most people. In addition, with the ability to lift half of its body off the ground, mamba can jump trees with ease.
Brindle snake (lat. Notechis scutatus)
Habitat: in the forests and open fields of Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea.
Length: up to 2 m.
Color: from dark brown to olive, has transverse stripes, the belly is yellow; on the island of Tasmania, snakes have a black color.
LD index50 : 0.131 to 0.194 mg/kg.
The snake's venom is extremely toxic and is considered the most powerful in existence, since it is quite enough to kill 400 people with one dose, from one bite. But since the tiger snake is quite peaceful, there are very few unpleasant incidents with a fatal outcome and its participation. And the tiger snake does not have much poison, so she tries to save it by trying to escape. Exceptions are cases of self-defense. Then the snake arches its neck, raises its head and strikes like a cobra.
People bitten by a tiger snake experience paralysis of the nervous system, they stop breathing, their heart stops, which ultimately leads to death.
Large flattail or sea krait (lat. Laticauda semifasciata)
Habitat: East coast of the Malay Archipelago, Brunei, Halmahera Island in Indonesia.
Length: up to 1.2 m.
Color: grayish or greenish, with 30-42 brown transverse bands, yellowish underside.
LD index50 : 0.111 mg/kg.
The big flattail is one of the most dangerous ocean snakes, the poison of which is enough to kill at least a football team. The neurotoxins contained in the poison block the work of nerve endings, and myotoxins disrupt the integrity of muscle tissues. As a result of such a powerful double blow, paralysis of the nervous system occurs, leading to death.
To great joy local residents, the flattail gets out of the water extremely rarely, and therefore the chances of meeting it are scanty. And the snake itself prefers not to mess with people. Moreover, there are gourmets who highly appreciate the meat of these snakes. But the fact that 1 drop of flattail poison can kill 20 people should not be forgotten either.
South Chinese multi-banded krait (lat. Bungarus multicinctus)
Habitat: swamps, plantations, mangrove forests and bushes of Burma, Laos, Taiwan, Vietnam, and mainland China.
Length: 1.5 - 1.8 m.
Color: black with white transverse stripes.
LD index50 : 0.108 mg/kg.
A snake with a bright color and a deadly bite, from which every second victim dies, regardless of the provision of assistance and the introduction of an antidote. According to statistics, from 50 to 85% of attacks are fatal. Just one bite of her would be enough for ten. The toxin causes convulsions, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, diplopia, loss of voice, chest discomfort and general pain, leading to paralysis. After 6-12 hours death occurs.
The behavior of kraits depends on the time of day. During the day they are lazy and slow, but at night they attack without warning. These asps have a habit of settling near residential buildings, fields and gardens, which also increases the frequency of unpleasant encounters with people. Krait attacks like a viper, throwing out its head and sinking its teeth, which, by the way, are quite capable of biting through good shoes.
Taipan ordinary or coastal (lat. Oxyuranus scutellatus)
Habitat: Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia.
Length: 1.8 - 3 m.
Color: plain, light, dark brown or reddish.
LD index 50: 0.099 mg/kg.
The coastal taipan is dangerous for two reasons: it is swift, like the Black Mamba, and a person bitten by it has practically no chance of salvation. The snake's venom is extremely toxic and kills an adult human within one hour. Before the advent of an antidote in 1995, 90% of those bitten died from taipan bites.
Unlike its fellow McCoy, the coastal taipan is very aggressive, and at the slightest threat it curls up in a frightening ring and vibrates with the tip of its tail. Although the snake is most aggressive during skinning or mating seasons, don't expect it to be peaceful or accommodating at other times. Only one factor saves the locals: the coastal taipan is a rare snake that lives in sparsely populated areas.
The snake is characterized by a single bite in self-defense, but there have been 8 bites in a row. One drop of poison is enough to kill 10,000 experimental mice or 1,200 pigs. The poison stops blood flow, clogs arteries, and immobilizes muscles.
Two-color bonito (lat. Hydrophis platura)
Habitat: Indian and Pacific Ocean, from the Cape of Good Hope and New Zealand in the south to Japan in the north.
Length: up to 1 m.
Color: contrasting, can vary greatly from dark brown to light yellow, spots are present.
LD index50 : 0.067 mg/kg.
Ironically, one of the most venomous snakes is also one of the most beautiful in the world. Bonito is an inhabitant of the deep sea and attacks people solely for reasons of self-defense. And annoying this snake is quite difficult.
That's just the poison of the bonito is very dangerous. Possessing a certain resemblance to cobra venom, it is more toxic and can lead to the death of at least 3 adults. It has a very painful effect, so in addition to the standard suffocation, the victim of a two-colored bonito bite will suffer from hellish muscle pain. By the way, despite asphyxia, a person will be able to move, but with such torment, he is unlikely to want to. Without a vaccine, a person is doomed to death from a painful shock or paralysis of the respiratory system, and after taking the antidote, he will suffer from pain for a long time.
Reticulated or Eastern brown snake (lat. Pseudonaja textilis)
Habitat: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia.
Length: 1.1 - 1.8 m.
Color: brownish grey.
LD index 50: 0.053 mg/kg.
The reticulated snake is terrible not only for its deadly dangerous poison but also very aggressive. Of the more than 50 species of poisonous snakes living in Australia, it is this representative of reptiles that makes 80% of all mowing in the country. Thanks to this fact, the brown snake has received the dubious title of "the most dangerous among the deadly" asps.
Even the habits of this snake are provocative: it goes hunting during the day, and not at night, as its brethren do, and loves to penetrate into human habitation. Such activity in itself leads to inevitable skirmishes. And if you also scare her, then the snake will curl up into a figure eight to achieve maximum impact force, open its mouth wide and attack swiftly. And this without any warning.
The poison of Pseudonaja textilis is deadly and is an explosive mixture of anticoagulants and neurotoxins. Under the influence of such a double blow, the victim opens extensive internal bleeding, lungs and kidneys fail. The situation is aggravated by the snake's habit of strangling the victim and inflicting numerous bites.
Dubois sea snake (lat. Aipysurus duboisii)
Habitat: corals of the coastal zones of the South China Sea, the coast of Australia and the Malay Archipelago.
Length: 0.8 - 1.10 m.
Color: Pale brown in color with dark brown spots on the sides and back.
LD index 50: 0.043 mg/kg.
Although Dubois lives in shallow water, the snake periodically emerges to the surface to breathe oxygen. At such moments, bathing people can become victims of the sea serpent. Although Dubois is not aggressive, but, due to the color, vacationers can inadvertently step on a snake that is almost invisible in the water, thereby provoking a conflict. The toxins injected into the victim suppress the impulses of the nervous system responsible for breathing, cause paralysis of the lungs, and the victim simply dies of suffocation. Aipysurus duboisii is rightfully considered the most poisonous of sea snakes, because according to statistics, about 150 people die from its bites per year.
The positive point is that, despite the high toxicity of the poison, it is administered in small doses, and therefore a fatal outcome is possible only in the case of a strong manifestation of aggression by the snake and multiple bites. In addition, Dubois use venom in only 10% of their bites.
The terrestrial fauna has 2500 species of snakes and only 10% of them are considered poisonous. In addition to the deadly poison, some individuals instill fear in those around them with their own size.
The length of some instances of the king cobra reaches 5.7 m - this is the largest poisonous snake in the world. The top ten also includes one of the most dangerous representatives of this class of reptiles - the black mamba, the bite of which often leads to fatal paralysis of the victim.
10. Chain viper - maximum recorded length of 1.8 m
The most poisonous snake of southern Asia has a beautiful pattern in the form of oval-rhombic spots, which, merging with each other, form an inextricable chain. Since the chain viper likes to settle in bushes, on dry soil and cultivated land, chance encounters with humans are not uncommon. It is from her bites that most of the inhabitants of India and Indochina suffer. Before the attack, the snake makes a frightening hissing sound, which for the locals is a signal of an approaching danger.
The poison of the chain viper is highly toxic, therefore, without treatment, death occurs in 15% of cases. At the same time, the poisonous substance of the snake has found application in pharmaceuticals - it is used to make effective drug to stop bleeding.
9. Noisy viper - 1.9 m
One of the most common snakes on the African continent got its name due to the characteristic noise that it makes when it sees danger. As a rule, the noisy viper is active at night, during the day it shows little mobility, reacting poorly to potential prey. The special coloration allows good camouflage in the withered grass, which sometimes leads to an accidental collision between a snake and a person, with tragic consequences for the latter.
The toxicity index of the noisy viper's venom is sufficient to include it in the list of the most poisonous representatives of the viper family. For one bite, a snake injects 200-700 mg of a poisonous substance, while the lethal dose for an adult male is 100 mg. According to statistics, every 5 bite of a noisy viper is fatal.
8. Gaboon viper - 2.1 m
A characteristic detail of the Gaboon viper is two spike-like scales in the form of horns sticking out between the nostrils. The snake lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of West and Central Africa, preferring a humid environment. This specimen differs not only in length, but also in thickness - the girth of the body often exceeds 40 cm. Accordingly, the weight of the viper is also quite impressive - the record belongs to an individual caught in 1973, which weighed 11.3 kg with an empty stomach.
Given the habitat in sparsely populated areas, activity at night and a low level of aggressiveness, attacks on humans are extremely rare. However, the venom of the Gaboon viper is highly toxic and can cause kidney failure, tachycardia, and cardiac arrest if left untreated. In this case, the most severe consequences sometimes appear after a day, therefore, even in the absence of serious symptoms after a bite, the victim should immediately contact the nearest medical facility.
7. Rhombic rattlesnake - 2.4 m
The snake owes its name to the characteristic color, the main elements of which are dark brown rhombuses located along the back. The mass of an adult individual reaches an average of 4-5 kg, although especially large specimens weigh more than 10 kg (the record is 15.4 kg). The rhombic rattlesnake lives in the southeastern United States, but its range is constantly decreasing due to catching snakes for medicinal purposes.
The venom-producing gland in the rattlesnake functions from an early age. Without it, the snake will not be able to get its own food. Since the chewing reflex is not developed in this reptile, the paralyzed victim is swallowed whole.
For one bite, 200-800 mg of a toxic substance is released, which, without timely administration of an antidote, causes severe pain, large swelling, thready pulse and spontaneous bleeding from the wound. At the same time, the rhombic rattlesnake does not apply to aggressive creatures.
In self-defense, he attacks only in extreme cases, warning the opponent for a long time with a characteristic sound from the "rattle" located at the end of the tail.
6. Black and white cobra - 2.7 m
The main habitat of the black and white cobra is the forests and savannas of Central and South Africa. She spends a lot of time in the trees, hunting for birds, as well as in the water, floating on the surface and even diving in search of fish. In addition to birds and fish, the snake's diet includes rodents, lizards and small monitor lizards. Before attacking the victim, the reptile raises its body and inflates the hood characteristic of all cobras.
The venom of the black and white cobra is the second most toxic in Africa. However, people rarely suffer from it due to the solitary lifestyle of the snake and its fearfulness. At the sight of a person or a large animal, she prefers to retreat than to attempt an attack.
5. Mulga - 3 m
Due to the characteristic coloration, this snake is often called the brown king. Mulga lives in almost the entire territory of Australia, except for Victoria and Tasmania, and is also found on the island of New Guinea. At the same time, the internal range is quite wide - the mulga loves forests, pastures, deserts and deep gorges, feeding mainly on rodents, birds and other snakes.
Since the brown king hunts both day and night, a human encounter is highly likely. Mulgi venom has a very high toxicity, second only to taipan and tiger snake in this indicator. In a single bite, a snake is capable of releasing up to 150 mg of a neurotoxic substance, which is sufficient to create a threat to life without prompt medical attention.
4. Taipan - 3.3 m
Taipan is one of the most poisonous and, perhaps, the most dangerous snake for humans in the world. Due to its diurnal lifestyle and feeding on small rodents, this specimen is a frequent visitor to human settlements. Its habitat is the state of Queensland (Australia) and the southeastern part of New Guinea. It is the population of Queensland that suffers most from the taipan. Despite the availability of the serum, one in two people in this state die after being bitten by a snake.
Taipan is extremely aggressive and fast. In case of danger, he raises his head to a vertical position, begins to shake it monotonously, after which he strikes the enemy with lightning speed several blows in a row. The poisonous gland is capable of producing up to 400 mg of poison at a time, which has a nerve-paralytic effect and disrupts blood clotting. A taipan bite can be fatal in as little as 4 hours, which is why the mortality rate is so high.
3. Bushmaster - 4 m
Bushmaster - the largest representative of poisonous reptiles South America. This snake loves a humid environment, so it chose dense thickets as its habitat. rainforest. She has a shy disposition and tries to avoid areas inhabited by people. Therefore, cases of human bites are rare.
Bushmaster uses poison only in the process of hunting, choosing rodents, lizards and birds as victims. The snake is able to wait for potential prey for a long time, setting up an ambush among foliage or grass. In this position, it can be for several days or even weeks.
During the attack, the bushmaster plunges teeth up to 4 cm long into the body of the victim and injects up to 400 mg of poison, which has a paralytic effect on the central nervous system. For humans, a poisonous substance poses a serious danger, although death after a bite occurs only in 10% of cases.
2. Black mamba - 4.3 m
Despite its name, this type of mamba is not black in color. Usually the dominant color is dark olive or grayish brown. Actually, the name of the snake was obtained due to the black mouth, which it opens to intimidate the enemy before attacking. The range of the black mamba is shrouds and woodlands of the eastern, central and southern parts of the African continent.
The snake has a reputation for being an extremely dangerous reptile. Before the advent of the antidote, her bite was almost 100% fatal. The main component of the poison are dendrotoxins - blockers of potassium channels in the nerve fibers of the body.
After a bite, a person feels severe burning pain, nausea and vomiting. However, the most serious pathology is rapidly progressive peripheral paralysis, leading to respiratory failure. Without the introduction of an antidote, death can occur within an hour after the bite.
1. King cobra - 5.7 m
The largest poisonous snake lives in tropical forests in the south and southeast of Asia. Other snakes are considered the main diet of the king cobra, which often become victims themselves in the process of hunting for rodents and birds. That is why its scientific name is "Ophiophagus hannah", which translates as "Snake Eater". As a rule, the king cobra chooses a certain territory for living and hunting, although it is able to move tens of kilometers in search of food.
Cobra venom has a neurotoxic effect and can cause paralysis of the muscular system and respiratory arrest. In the case of a full-fledged bite, death can occur within 15 minutes due to the large amount of poisonous substance. At the same time, the snake often dispenses the amount of poison, and as a self-defense, it can even carry out “idle” bites to scare away the troublemaker. Therefore, in general, only 10% of king cobra attacks become fatal to humans.
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