Top 10
Most Venomous Snakes
10.Rattlesnake
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. However, antivenin, when applied in time,
reduces the death rate to less than 4%
9.Death
Adder
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. 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%. 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.
8.Vipers
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.
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.
The venom is a neurotoxin which affects cardiac and respiratory function, and
can cause neurotoxicity, respiratory paralysis and death in thirty minutes. The
bite causes only minimal tissue damage. The neurotoxins interrupt the
transmission of nerve signals by binding to the neuro-muscular junctions near
the muscles. The 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. Prior to the development of antivenin, the fatality rate from
Tiger snakes was 60-70%. 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.
5.
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 also 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.
Without antivenin, the mortality rate is nearly 100%, among the highest of all
venomous snakes. Depending on the nature of the bite, death can result at any
time between 15 minutes and 3 hours.
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.
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. However,
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. Fortunately, bites from Kraits are rare
due to their nocturnal nature. Before the development of antivenin, the
fatality rate was a whopping 85%. Even if antivenin is administered in time,
you are far from assured survival. Death usually occurs within 6-12 hours of a
Krait bite. Even if patients make it to a hospital, permanent coma and even
brain death from hypoxia may occur, given potentially long transport times to
get medical care.
2.Eastern
Brown Snake
Don’t let the innocuous name of this snake fool you,
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.
While I did say that I would 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.
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