Wherever the concept of survival goes, there’s always room for talks about dangerous animals. In this article, you will get to know with the top 10 most venomous snakes in the world.
At least you’ll be aware of Mother Nature’s “born to kill” species. The next time you go camping, you might want to be vigilant and watch out for any of these unfriendly creatures.
Inland Taipan
Inland Taipan, also known as fierce snake tops our list. As fierce as its name goes, the Inland Taipan has been proven to have the MOST TOXIC venom than any other known snake in the planet.
When tested on human heart cell culture and mice, the venom from Inland Taipan stood out among the rest of any known venom in the globe. This is what makes Inland Taipan the most venomous snake in the world.
With a murine LD (lethal dose) value of 0.025, Inland Taipan indeed has the most noxious venom ever recorded. If left untreated, mortality rate caused by Inland Taipan shows a staggering 80%, far above than any other species.
Additionally, Inland Taipan has an average venom yield of 44mg, belittling the yield of the other snakes presented in this article. Matter of fact, it’s is ten times more toxic than the Mojave Rattlesnake, and astoundingly FIFTY times more toxic than the cobra!
Just when you thought Inland Taipan has all the dark things one could ever imagine in a venomous snake, you were wrong. This species may be the most venomous, but its behavior actually deviates from its capabilities.
Inland Taipans are shy. Yes, you read it right. It is rare for this species to bite; probably Mother Nature’s compensation for making it ultra-deadly.
They show actions of laying back and being reclusive; slithering away from any disturbance it may notice. They rarely strike and are not aggressive – a quite surprising but a comforting behavior.
Don’t get too careless, though. Remember that Inland Taipans are still lethal so never engage or provoke it should you encounter one.
Eastern Brown Snake
Once you see one, just stand still. Eastern Brown Snakes have made into our top list, and it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate them.
However, it only takes a presence of mind to avoid being a victim of this “super” venomous snake. Eastern Brown Snakes only respond to movement so you must avoid noticeable actions when you encounter one in the wilderness.
Eastern Brown Snake is also found in Australia, just like most of the snakes in our list. It seems that the Land Down Under will never run out of things in the wild.
This type of species may be venomous, but luckily, studies show they are not really into “bite every threat” thing. Eastern Brown Snakes prefer not to bite at all unless extremely necessary. With that in mind, it’s best not to give it any reason to do so.
Despite their behavior that favors possible victims, Eastern Brown Snakes can still be quite aggressive, as nature would probably prefer.
Under certain situations, they could repeatedly strike to aggressors and wouldn’t mind chasing them just to strike. Not to mention they are also quick moving.
The venom contains both blood coagulants and neurotoxins which any human body wouldn’t want to accommodate. Fatality is inevitable when one gets bitten WITH the venom; luckily again, less than 50 percent of their bites actually contain venom. This means luck is at play with these animals.
It may mostly be unlikely to get bitten with a venom, but be aware that 1/14000 of an ounce of venom is enough to put an adult to death.
Coastal Taipan (oxyuranus scutellatus)
Welcome to Australia again. Found along the east coast of the said country, the coastal Taipan is yet another deadly snake that made into our list. Its name came from the place where it’s usually seen, hence Coastal Taipan.
Specifically, this snake is found from the northeastern side of the New South Wales to Queensland and across the Western Australia’s Northern Territory.
As a highly venomous elapid, the Coastal Taipan is known to be defensive once it senses it’s already cornered or threatened.
It wouldn’t take too much effort to provoke this snake as they are always ultra-alert and quite have a ‘nervous’ attitude; meaning they can be quickly alerted and will be ready for an attack when they think they are compromised.
Matter of fact, a movement near them can already trigger their attentive stance and will treat it as a threat. They will laterally compress and inflate their body after raising their forebody and head as a loose, striking posture.
A subspecies of the Coastal Taipan is Papuan Taipan, which is just as deadly as the former. It is found New Guinea’s southern parts.
Tiger Snake
It seems that Australia is home to vast species of wildlife, and this includes another snake species that made into our list. Tiger snakes might be the reason some people may cancel their trip to the Land Down Under.
However, for an adventure enthusiast, getting to know this snake is interesting. But it doesn’t mean having to encounter one right face-to-face in the wilderness. Remember, venomous snakes are never the friendly type. Suggestion: just see one in a zoo.
Tiger Snakes are also highly poisonous. Paralysis and difficulty in breathing are just few of the symptoms one may suffer from envenomation from this type of snake.
Their venoms consist of powerful coagulants, neurotoxins, myotoxins, and hemolysins. All this substance combined make up a fast-acting venom that rapidly delivers adverse symptoms towards the victim.
Though venomous, it’s surprising that only 40-60% rate has been recorded for untreated mortality rate in Australia. Probably due to quick medical actions, there are only occasional deaths in the said country caused by Tiger Snakes though the same species is the primary cause of snakebites. Well, it’s not that threatening to visit the country after all.
Beaked Sea Snake
Just when you thought the most venomous snakes are slithering around grasslands and deserts, you were wrong again.
The sea also has its own “monster” which nobody would want to encounter. The Beaked Sea Snake made it into our list and is the only snake species that came from the seas.
It is also known by other names: common sea snake, hook-nosed sea snake, and Valakadyn sea snake. They may be smaller than most snakes in our list, but they compete nose to nose concerning how poisonous their venoms could get.
Alarming to avid swimmers, the Beaked Sea Snake is responsible for half of all recorded sea snakes bite, proving their aggression as harmful sea animals.
Additionally, the largest number of fatalities and envenoming in sea bites came from this same species; the Beaked Sea Snake instigates 90 percent of deaths caused by sea snakes.
Extremely potent myotoxins and neurotoxins are what comprise of the Beaked Sea Snake venom. According to toxicology studies, the lethal dose value of this species is 0.1125 mg/kg.
Found in the coastal islands of India, the Beaked Sea Snake stands out among the other twenty kinds of sea snakes found in the said region.
Sea enthusiasts would frown when told this snake is active both night and day; meaning you could encounter one any time of the day.
However, their main food is fish but still, never engage when you see one. They are still observed to be savage and cantankerous.
Common Death Adder
Common Death Adders are known for their untreated mortality rate record of 50-60%. Though not as fast as the Black Mamba (tackled below), this species is also one of the fastest snakes alive in the planet to date. However, their speed is not in terms of crawling but rather their attacking speed.
In less than 0.15 seconds, a death adder can strike and transfer venom to their prey and be back to their striking position again! Talk about “The Flash” of the snakes. Not to mention the venom yield per attack can climb to 236 mg.
The appearance of Death Adders is quite similar to that of the vipers – short bodies and triangular heads, like most venomous do.
Death adders are dangerous for wandering hikers because their behavior is different from other snake species. You might want to watch your step all of the time.
Common snakes will flee away if they hear incoming footsteps. On the other hand, Death Adders like to stay in place and would even risk being stepped on by an incautious bushwalker.
So you must always be careful when hiking especially in grassy areas. If you spot a Death Adder, there’s no need to worry right immediately; snake experts say Death Adders won’t initiate a bite unless they are actually touched.
Death Adders can be found in New Guinea and the Land Down Under – Australia. They also have this trait of ambushing other snake species as a form of hunting.
If bitten, you have less than 6 hours before death is certain. Their bite can also cause paralysis. Furthermore, an antivenin could significantly help before symptoms can get worse.
Western Brown Snake
If there’s Eastern Brown Snake, there is also the Western Brown Snake. They could either appear plain or feature orange-brown shades with brands and flecks. Pink blotches and orange color could be seen on its belly.
Just like the Eastern Brown Snake, the Western Brown Snake can also be found slithering in the vast lands of Australia, only that it is located on the other side of the country, hence Western.
This species is proven to be speedy with behaviors that include aggression and bad temper. Compared to other snake groups in Australia, the Western Brown Snake stands out by being the cause of more deaths annually compared to other species.
With a venom LD value (lethal dose) of 0.053, it is the second most venomous snake in the world. The optimum venom yield for this species is 155 mg while the average venom yield is somewhere between 5-10 mg.
Despite their bad temper and aggression, Western Brown Snakes tend to be shy and would prefer to escape from possible threats. However, it will surely attack once it realizes it’s cornered.
It is also known by its aboriginal name as “gwardar” that means “go the long way around.” It is derived from a popular local advice for all people who encounter any wild snake: the best course is just to “go the long way around” rather than taking the life-and-death risk of coming across a deadly snake.
Puff Adder
Common puff adder, African puff adder, or simply puff adder: the Bitis arietans made into our list because it simply deserves to be. The term Bitis is believed to be related to the term “bitin” which means snake in some dialects.
Additionally, the term “arietans” actually means “to strike violently”, the behavior of Puff Adder.
Though extremely venomous, Puff adders protect themselves through camouflage and they are normally lethargic species. However, it can move with a speed you could never expect when you agitate one.
They are usually found basking in low bushes but surprisingly, they can climb quickly and can also swim though they are not sea creatures.
During a strike, a Puff Adder could impact its prey so strongly that the prey could die just by physical trauma, and not by the venom. They can also strike suddenly and repeatedly to their victim so it would be so unwise to disturb one in their habitat.
You can know they are already distressed when they will hiss continuously and loudly, forming a posture of defense by coiling their body in an “S” shape.
Their preys include inferior species in the animal kingdom like common birds, mammals, lizards, and some amphibians.
If you’re worried you might come across one, mind that Puff Adders are mostly nocturnal so you are safer during daytime.
Black Mamba
Well, I’m not talking about the great Kobe of the basketball world. And this snake is not named after him too. For starters, the Black Mamba is probably the most feared snake of the land of its origin – Sub-Saharan Africa.
You wouldn’t want to encounter one of these distinct species because it just might beat you in running. With speeds of up to 5.4 meters per second, you will have a hard time running away from this snake. However, they’re not as fast in the water as they are on land.
Aside from its speed, another distinct trait of a Black Mamba is it’s the second longest venomous snake in the globe. Black Mamba’s are known to be territorial snakes and are unquestionably fierce.
When threatened, this species can mimic the gestures of a cobra; raising its body off the ground (up to one-third of its body), spreading a neck-flap, and exposing its mouth to strike fear to any prey.
The worst thing about Black Mambas is they are quite precise and quick in their strikes. And they could strike multiple times, showing extreme aggression towards their foes especially when they are defending a territory or undergoing a breeding season. No wonder this species is highly feared across the African continent.
Unfortunately, a Black mamba can strike with a zero probability of dry bites; meaning each bite is expected to have a venom involved. When bitten, the victim will first experience pain in the bitten area.
Don’t worry; the pain is not as painful as those venoms with Hemotoxins. Lethal danger starts once the victim experiences double vision, tingling sensation in the mouth, fever, confusion, and foaming at the nose and mouth.
Seek medical attention as quickly as possible and do not let the victim suffer for 15 minutes to 3 hours as the bite can lead to death.
Common Krait / Indian Krait / Malayan Krait
Found in some South Asian countries, the Malayan Krait is yet another treacherously toxic snake.
Also known as the Blue Krait or Common Krait, this species showcases a jaw-dropping 70% mortality rate if left untreated; though something more alerting will be introduced in the top one list.
Even when mechanical ventilation and antivenom is applied, the death rate is still high at 50%, making it one of the most menacing in this already-dangerous list.
Scientifically known as the Bungarus Candidus, it has a median lethal dose of 0.1 mg/kg when tested on mice.
There are other Krait species around the planet, but this one is the most fatal among them. Specifically, the Blue Krait can be spotted slithering along India and neighboring South East Asian countries like Indonesia, etc.
Another thing that justifies it as “deadly” is its behavior of hunting its fellow Kraits; it also hunts and kills inferior snakes.
If you want to hike in any of the South East Asian countries, specifically the one mentioned just above, you would want to take your adventure in broad daylight. Blue Kraits are observed to be more active during darkness as they are classified as nocturnal creatures.
They might be lethal, but their traits show otherwise; Blue Kraits are observed to hide rather than fight to superior animals, contradicting their behavior to inferior ones. Even though they are timid, it’s still best not to engage with this species.
Neurotoxin composes its venom and is proven to be up to sixteen times stronger than the typical Cobra. Coma, paralysis, and even death await those poor victims bitten by this snake.
Conclusion
That ends our list of the top 10 most venomous snakes in the world. You might also want to try on our other articles as you surf around the site.
