The deadliest snakes. Which snakes are considered non-venomous

Millions of people are afraid of snakes, and it is no coincidence that this type of reptile can not only injure, but also kill. Many species have poison that can cause harm to the human body. It belongs to the LD50 substances, which cause the death of every second person. Who are the most dangerous snakes in the world? Where do they live? How do they look? What do they eat?

We propose to consider the most dangerous reptiles, taking into account the semi-lethal dose of a toxic substance (LD50).

Top 10 most dangerous snakes in the world

10th place – Philippine Cobra

The LD50 of this individual is 0.2 mg/kg. The reptile has the most toxic venom of all cobra families. Despite the attractive, majestic appearance, a beautiful golden-copper skin tone, it is better to avoid her and not catch her eye. A representative of the Aspid family, in defense, secretes poisonous saliva and spits it, which is dangerous for humans, not to mention a snake bite. It shoots poison at a distance of up to 3 meters and can get into the eyes. Once in the human body, it causes dizziness and headaches, severe bouts of diarrhea, abdominal pain, after which it can affect the nervous and cardiac systems if medical help does not arrive in time.

The reptile feeds on small animals, as well as lizards. Its habitats are wooded areas, lowlands, dense jungles, thickets near the river, meadows and fields. Many representatives of this family live in the tropics. The Philippine Cobra can even be seen near human settlements and agricultural lands.

Adults reach 1 m, less often 1.5-2 m.

9th place – Harlequin coral adder

The LD50 of this individual is 0.196 mg/kg. Individuals live in North and Central America. They can be seen in Mexico and the American states of Kentucky and Indiana. Adult reptiles reach 1-1.5 meters.

The color of this reptile cannot be confused with other representatives of snakes - their skin is covered with rings of black, red and bright yellow (coral) colors.

Individuals crawl out to hunt at night. They catch mice, lizards, and small birds.

It is the Sand Snake that kills hundreds of people every year. In general, she is afraid of people, but if she feels threatened, she will immediately attack. Just 5 mg of poison – and the person is immobilized. It is possible to help him in rare cases. Toxic substance penetrates with lightning speed. That is why in the countries where this viper lives, it is nicknamed “wound”, “boiling snake”.

5th place – Black Tiger snake

Compared to the classic Tiger, this species of snake has an LD50 of 0.131 mg/kg, which makes it more dangerous than the aforementioned representative of the same family.

Adults reach 1 meter in length. Skin color is dark brown, chocolate or black interspersed with olive or light brown shades. Asps live in the southwestern and southern parts of Australia, on the islands of Bass Strait and Tasmania. For life and reproduction, they choose sandy terrain (dunes and beaches), rocky surfaces without vegetation. They feed on frogs, small mammals, fish and even. Cannibalism occurs in this family.

A person should avoid meeting the Black Tiger Snake as it is very dangerous. In a split second, she pounces on her victim and pierces with her sharpest fangs. Severe pain and burning appears at the site of the bite, after which the poison begins to affect the entire body, causing nervous paralysis, followed by respiratory arrest and death. There is an antidote - it is being developed based on snake venom, the main thing is to help the person in the next few minutes.

4th place – South China multi-banded krait

The LD50 of this predator is 0.108 mg/kg. This snake is one of the most insidious and poisonous species. Refers to land species reptiles. The aspid family can be found in Asian countries: Taiwan, Laos, South part China, Thailand, northern Vietnam, Myanmar. It chooses rocky and mountainous areas for habitat, rising up to 1500 meters above sea level.

The color of the snakes is black with light thin stripes. The length of adults varies from 1 to 1.5 meters, males can reach 1.8 meters.

Reptiles are dangerous and aggressive. They mainly hunt at night. Predators feed on small lizards, mice and birds.

Unlike other snakes, they are not afraid of humans, so it is better not to meet them. This type of adder can pursue its prey for a long time, after which it attacks it. Krayt has a nerve poison that can kill in just 2 hours.

3rd place – Coastal Taipan

The coastal Taipan reveals the top three most dangerous and aggressive snakes on the planet. Their LD50 is 0.106 mg/kg. They are also one of the longest reptiles - their length can exceed 3 meters.

Taipans are found in the northern and northeastern parts of Australia and the southeastern part of New Guinea. Unlike many other snakes, these predators prefer daytime hunting. They feed on rats and mice, small mammals, and frogs. Snakes often creep up to human settlements and attack local residents, their livestock and pets.

Taipan - externally beautiful view asps, but very insidious, so you should stay away from him, as he is not afraid of anyone. The reptile has a uniform skin tone of light brown or dark brown. There are reddish species. The head is usually lighter than the belly, which can be yellowish or white.

If Taipan sees a stranger, it raises its head, after which it can pursue its prey. He attacks with lightning speed and can pierce with his sharp teeth several times in a row. Every second person dies from neurotoxic poison. First, the person suffocates, then hemorrhages occur. Death occurs within 4 hours after the bite.

2nd place – Eastern, or Reticulated brown snake

Few people know about this species, but this particular asp is one of the most dangerous in terms of its poison content. Its LD50 is 0.037 mg/kg.

Eastern brown snakes come in a variety of colors: brown, tan, black, orange, silver, gray. The body length of adult individuals ranges from 1 to 2 meters.

Predators live on east coast Australia, New Guinea. They choose to live eucalyptus forests, sandy beaches, rocky terrain, mountainous heathland. They feed mainly on frogs, mice and small birds.

The main danger is that they can creep up to people's houses. If the snake feels threatened, it immediately attacks. Its venom has a neurotoxic effect and contains blood coagulants. After a bite, a person feels severe dizziness, loss of strength, severe diarrhea, and begins to have convulsions. If counteraction is not given in time, his kidneys will fail, after which his heart will stop.

1st place – McCoy's Taipan

McCoy is a snake with the maximum concentration of venom. Its LD50 is 0.025 mg/kg. Just one bite and a person is doomed to a painful death. It is this family that is 50 times more poisonous than cobras.

Predators live in Australia and New Guinea. They prefer plains, deserts, and hide in soil faults.

The color of the snakes is straw, brown or dark brown. The length of an adult reaches an average of 2 meters. They feed on small mammals.

Under no circumstances should you approach McCoy, otherwise she will attack. Its poison is extremely toxic, it almost instantly disrupts blood clotting, causes paralysis, after which breathing stops. Fortunately, there is an antidote for the poison of this predator; the main thing is to contact a medical service in time.

McCoy's taipan is also called the "hard snake".

These are the most dangerous and poisonous snakes existing on planet Earth.

Many people sympathize with snakes and even, quite often, keep them as pets. Meanwhile, snakes are one of the most terrible and dangerous living creatures on the planet, and this is not surprising. Many species of these reptiles obtain food by biting their prey and injecting poison, which is produced by special glands. This is the main danger of snakes. A bite from any reptile can lead to death. However, snakes very rarely attack a person first; more often, this happens if they are provoked or disturbed.

Rattlesnake

The only snake in our ranking whose homeland is North America. It can be easily recognized by the thickening in the tail, which resembles a rattle. This snake is capable of striking at a distance of 2/3 of its body length. The species from the eastern part of the continent is considered more dangerous. Individuals who have not reached sexual maturity are more dangerous than adults due to their inability to regulate the amount of toxin administered. Most species of rattlesnakes have hemotoxic venom that damages tissue, destroys organs and causes blood to clot (coagulopathy). In some cases, after a snake bite, scars remain on the body, even with timely treatment.

General symptoms: difficulty breathing, excessive salivation, extensive hemorrhages, paralysis. Untreated rattlesnake bites, especially large species, almost always cause serious injury and can result in death. Providing on time health care reduces the likelihood of death to 4%

Australian Spinetail

Habitat of the spiny tail, Australia and New Guinea. These reptiles hunt their relatives, other snakes, attacking them, as a rule, from ambush. The Australian spinytail has external resemblance With rattlesnake: the same triangular shape heads and a short, squat body. When bitten, the snake often injects from 40 to 100 mg of poison. Since, according to its properties, the spiny tail venom is a neurotoxin, it is considered the most dangerous because it causes paralysis respiratory organs, as a result of which death can occur within 6 hours.

The antidote used for a stingtail bite works quite effectively, reducing overall symptoms and alleviating the condition of the victim. Before the invention of the antidote, the mortality rate from its bite was 50%.

Interesting fact: the snake's throwing speed during an attack is 0.13 seconds.

Viper

Vipers are found in many parts of the planet, but perhaps the most poisonous species, a sand epha that lives primarily in the Middle East and Central Asia, in particular: India and China. These snakes hunt at night and become especially active after rain.

Symptoms of viper venom getting into the blood: swelling of the affected area, pain in the bite area, bleeding often occurs, decreased blood pressure and slowing of the heartbeat; in severe cases, blisters may appear and widespread tissue and muscle necrosis may develop. Nausea, vomiting and facial swelling occur in approximately 30% of cases. Aching pain, not only in the affected area, can last from 2 to 4 weeks. Within 1 to 14 days, death may occur from sepsis, cardiac or respiratory failure.

Philippine Cobra

The Philippine cobra is one of the deadliest species of cobra. It is noteworthy that this reptile is capable of “spitting” venom at a distance of up to 3 m. Just like the Australian spiny tail, the cobra has a neurotoxic venom that causes paralysis of the respiratory and cardiac systems, resulting in death within 30 minutes from the moment of the bite. Damage to the skin from a bite is minimal.

Common symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea.

Tiger Snake

Habitat Australia. Tiger snake venom is also a neurotoxin. After it enters the bloodstream, it causes localized pain at the site of the bite, tingling, numbness, sweating, and after some time suffocation and death occur. Most often, this snake, when meeting a person, tries to hide as quickly as possible, but can become dangerous and attack if it is caught by surprise or driven into a corner. The tiger snake attacks with lightning speed and without missing a beat.

Black Mamba

Black mamba found in many parts African continent. These reptiles are known to be very aggressive and strike with incredible accuracy. Interesting fact, the black mamba is the most... fast snake in the world. It can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The venom of these snakes is a fast-acting neurotoxin. The black mamba can bite up to 12 times in a row, and one bite is enough to kill 10 to 25 adults.

Symptoms of a black mamba bite: sharp pain at the site of the bite, less noticeable than from the bite of snakes with hemotoxic (rattlesnake) venom. The victim then experiences tingling in the mouth and extremities, double vision, confusion, trembling, possibly foaming at the mouth and nose, and severe convulsions. In the absence of medical attention, symptoms progress rapidly: pallor, severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, respiratory arrest, soon followed by coma and death. In the absence of an antidote, the mortality rate from black mamba venom, almost 100%, is one of the highest. Depending on the nature of the bite, death can occur in just 15-30 minutes.

Taipan

The taipan lives in Australia. This snake can be compared to the black mamba in morphology and behavior. When it enters the bloodstream, the poison promotes the formation of blood clots, thereby blocking arteries and veins. It is so strong that it can kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs. In addition, the poison also has the properties of a neurotoxin. Until the advent of antivenom, there were no known survivors of a taipan bite. Even with proper medical care and timely administration of the antidote, the victim is guaranteed to stay in the intensive care unit.

Malayan blue krait

The Malayan or blue krait is by far the deadliest of the snakes of this species. Found throughout the area South-East Asia and Indonesia. Half of the cases of Malayan krait bites are fatal, even with timely treatment. medical care and the administered antidote. This snake hunts and kills other snakes, including the krait family. They become more aggressive at night, because... lead night look life. However, in most cases, when meeting a person, they try to hide. The snake's venom is 16 times stronger than that of a cobra. When bitten, convulsions occur and paralysis develops quite quickly. Before the advent of antivenom, 85% of blue krait bites were fatal. Death can occur within 6 to 12 hours.

Brown King or Mulga

The habitat of this reptile, like many other poisonous snakes, is Australia. The eastern variety of the Brown King is considered the most dangerous. 1/1400 ounce of this snake's venom is enough to kill a person. The poison, even of immature individuals, can kill a person. This snake has a difficult character and can become aggressive very quickly. There are cases when the Brown snake pursued aggressors for quite a long time, repeatedly biting them. Despite mortal danger In half of the attacks, the Brown Snake does not inject venom into the body of the victim and generally tries not to bite if possible. Since these snakes react to movement, when meeting them it is better to freeze and stand still.

Taipan or Fierce Snake

The taipan is the most poisonous snake on our planet. Its venom is the most toxic of all snakes living on land. The venom produced by this snake is enough to kill 100 people or 250,000 mice. The toxicity of its venom is 10 times higher than that of a rattlesnake and 50 times more than that of a cobra. Fortunately, the taipan is not aggressive, and moreover, it is quite rare in the path of humans in the wild. No fatalities have yet been reported from this snake, but an adult could potentially die within 45 minutes from a taipan bite.

Belcher's sea snake

Found in the waters of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, the Belcher's sea snake is the most venomous sea snake in the world. It has such a strong poison that literally a few milligrams is enough to kill 1000 adults. This is a very dangerous snake, but despite this, less than a quarter of its bites contain poison, and it is also quite peaceful. Most often, fishermen suffer from its bite because they have to take their nets out of the water while fishing.

Every year, between 20,000 and 125,000 people die from snakebites. Today, this makes them the most dangerous group of vertebrates on our planet.

Almost all the TOPs of deadly animals on the planet are to some extent similar, only because of some criteria these animals are placed on different places“glory”, this refers to the most dangerous snakes on earth. Other TOPs on various sites adhere to a more precise name as: “the most poisonous snakes in the world” and this is partially visible in our article about the most poisonous animals.

While it is obvious that the strength of snake venom is an important factor in the danger of these animals, there are other equally important things that are also worth considering. Let's look at the most poisonous snake, the inland (desert) taipan (lat. Oxyuranus microlepidotus). In fact, we didn't even mention this snake in our list of the most dangerous animals in Australia. Why? Well, first of all, no one has ever been killed by this snake. She lives in remote areas, is quite timid and doesn't really look for trouble.

On the other hand, the spectacled snake (Indian cobra) has a venom that is more than 30 times less potent than that of the desert taipan and, in addition, it continues to kill thousands of people every year. In our opinion, this makes the cobra a much more dangerous snake than the taipan and that is why you will find it on our list.

And if you think that only living snakes are dangerous, then you are mistaken, some snakes retain reflexes and are able to bite even after their death. This may actually be more dangerous as they lose the ability to regulate the venom being injected, which can lead to more poisonous bite. Even the severed head of a snake is capable of this; remember that the snake’s venom is in the head and therefore in this state it can inject almost all the poison.

Video. Severed snake head

10. Viper-shaped death snake (lat. Acanthophis antarcticus)

Photo. Viper-shaped death snake

The very name “deadly snake” allows this snake to be in our TOP. However, the name actually means "deaf snakes", in the old days it was believed that they could not hear. The reason for this misconception was that unlike other snakes, which tend to slither away when a person approaches, the death viper snake does not. This is because they are ambush hunters, preferring to lie in wait and hunt their prey and therefore tend to move less.

Regardless of the origin of the snake's name, it is indeed a very dangerous snake. Its poison is one of the most powerful on earth and contains neurotoxins that can cause respiratory paralysis and subsequent death. Even when armed with such deadly venom, the deadly snake is considered one of the fastest snakes.

The deadly snake is found across much of Australia, where it is considered less dangerous than brown snakes. It is also found in Papua New Guinea and Western Indonesia, where they unfortunately live up to their name and kill a significant number of people every year.

9. Coastal taipan (lat. Oxyuranus scutellatus)

Photo. Coastal taipan

It may seem strange that the most venomous snake on the planet (the inland taipan) is not on this list, while its less venomous cousin, the coastal taipan is here. Although the venom of coastal taipans is the third most powerful among land snakes in terms of bite force, it is phenomenally dangerous to humans. Yes, admittedly one bite from this snake can kill over 200,000 mice, the Inland Taipan could theoretically kill over a million mice. But there are two important factors, according to which coastal taipans are more dangerous: firstly, they live in less remote regions than the rarely seen inland taipans and secondly, coastal taipans have a more aggressive reputation.

When the coastal taipan feels the need to defend itself, it goes into full-scale attack mode. In more than 80% of bite cases, the person is injected with a large dose of venom, often as a result of repeated bites. During each of these quick bites, large amounts of venom can be injected. With the longest fangs of any venomous snake in Australia, taipans can inject a powerful neurotoxin very deeply into the victim's tissues. Another feature of the taipan is the potential pursuit of a person during an attack and during this it is able to maintain a high rate of movement.

Although other snakes may be listed in this TOP as less dangerous, none of them could come close to the taipan's bite speed and incurability. It is only since the discovery of antivenom in 1956 that coastal taipan bites have been effectively treated.

This poison acts very quickly, in some cases victims died within half an hour. It affects nervous system, leads to complete paralysis, including the lungs (this can lead to death). The venom also prevents blood clotting, which causes internal bleeding, in addition, it also contains a component that breaks down muscle tissue.

If these were the main trump cards of coastal taipans, they would probably top this TOP of the deadliest snakes. However, statistics say otherwise. There are snakes that kill tens of thousands of people every year, however, the taipan kills rarely in Australia and slightly more in Papua New Guinea. The coastal taipan venom serum was produced by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in the 1950s. Apparently, without her, this list would look completely different.

Photo. American spearhead snake

Spearheads are a genus of snakes (Bothrops) found throughout the Central and South America. Together they are responsible for the vast majority fatal bites poisonous snakes in this region. These snakes often live in densely populated areas, they are fast and are described as excitable and unpredictable when they encounter a person.

Among this group of snakes, special mention must be made of the quaysack (Bothrops atrox), pit vipers (Bothrops asper) and the common jararaca (Bothrops jararaca). All these large snakes reach a length of 2 m (6.5 ft) and have a strong hemotoxic poison.

Unlike the previous two snakes, which have neurotoxic venom, the venom of spearhead snakes is hemotoxic. Obviously, no one in their right mind would want to be bitten by any snake on this list, but if such a choice had to be made, it would be better to go for a snake bite with neurotoxic venom. Hemotoxic poison destroys blood cells, tissues and human organs. As you can imagine this is extremely painful and can cause permanent damage. Bites from such a snake often lead to the necessary amputation of a limb, even after surgical treatment.

The bite of spearhead snakes results in local swelling and pain, often accompanied by blisters and swelling. Common symptoms are usually: internal hemorrhage, bleeding from the gums, eyes, etc. Although this can result in fatal shock, death can also occur as a result of kidney failure.

Photo. The dying leg of a 13-year-old girl after being bitten by a spearhead snake

And as some evidence of the hemotoxic effect of the venom of spear-headed snakes, we present a case that occurred in Venezuela in 2014. A 13-year-old girl in a rural area was bitten on the leg by a suspected Bothrops pirajai, initially she was treated locally for a month (given antibiotics), but when the situation got out of control, she was transported to Caracas. Doctors had no other option but to amputate the leg. The necrosis has led to a condition called rhabdomyolysis, where muscle tissue begins to die throughout the body. Rhabdomyolysis can lead to kidney damage, which, when combined with low blood pressure can lead to kidney failure and even death if left untreated, said the Venezuelan doctor who operated on the girl.

7. Noisy viper (lat. Bitis arietans)

Photo. Noisy Viper

The noisy viper makes up for its lack of length with its large size. These are strong, robust snakes armed with especially long fangs, which make them formidable hunters. Although they are slow and sluggish, the noise viper is actually famous for having one of the fastest attacks. The noise viper is known to kill rodents thanks to its striking force and large fangs. However, it is also worth noting that it contains enough poison to kill several people.

The name noise viper comes from the warning behavior of these snakes, they puff up, try to look larger and make a frightening hiss. You should heed this warning because, statistically, the hissing viper is the most dangerous snake in Africa and is responsible for more deaths than any other reptile on the continent.

Much of the hissing viper's dismal record is due to its habit of basking on paths in the early morning and midday sun. This increases the chances of contact with humans and is compounded by the fact that these snakes are reluctant to slink away when footsteps approach. Instead, the hissing viper relies on its effective camouflage to remain undetected. Unfortunately, this tactic can put the snake in a situation where it feels like it needs to defend itself.

If you have been bitten by a hissing viper, you will know this: its cytotoxic venom is one of the most powerful of all vipers and if the bite is not properly treated, in most cases it can lead to death. The bite itself causes severe pain, but this is only some initial and very unpleasant symptoms. Swelling and internal bleeding also occur; as is known, the venom of the hissing viper causes tissue necrosis, leading to severe cases of harm to the body, even to the bone marrow. With absence effective treatment Complications such as gangrene can occur and often bite victims have to have their limbs amputated.

6. Indian cobra (Naja naja)

Photo. King Cobra

The infamous cobra is our first representative of the Indian "Big Four", a group of snakes that lead to... a large number loss of life in India (and therefore throughout the world). Although often described as mildly venomous, somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 bites are caused by them each year. Although actual statistics on deaths due to Indian cobra are not available, an estimate can be made from the mortality rate of snake bites, which ranges from 6.5% to 30%. Regardless of the accuracy of this data, the fact remains that thousands of people die every year because of this snake.

While Indian cobra venom may not quite measure up to some of the heavyweights on this list, it is still underrated. A cobra bite is a cocktail of neurotoxins, cardiotoxins and hemotoxins and can be extremely painful and quickly lead to death. Hemotoxins destroy tissue at the site of the bite, helping the poison spread throughout the body, while neurotoxins cause paralysis. This in turn can lead to respiratory failure, all of which can take only half an hour. Thus, timely treatment with antivenom is very important.

However, cobra venom is also sometimes used as a recreational drug. Yes, in fact, in India there are people who are ready to inject themselves to get a quick buzz. Obviously, these people experience some effects such as: refined sensations, increased energy and a “feeling of happiness.” On the other side side effect maybe death.

Photo. Burn wound after a king cobra bite

Sometimes handlers suffer from the fangs of this snake, so on December 7, 2018 in Phuket in Thailand, during an animal exhibition, a king cobra sank its fangs into left hand Yuttaponga Chaibuddi. The 35-year-old artist managed to unhook the snake from his hand and threw it to the ground. But soon after the poison began to spread throughout his body, he lost consciousness. He stopped breathing and was taken to hospital, where doctors administered an antidote. He was discharged from the hospital after three days, but even after ten days he still had a visible deep burn.

Below is documentary about two snake charmers who were bitten by cobras. This is an investigative film. One of them managed to survive, but the other did not.

5. Indian krait (lat. Bungarus caeruleus)

Photo.Indian krait

This small snake is our second representative of the Indian Big Four. Also known as the common krait or blue bungarus, it is responsible for approximately 10,000 deaths per year in India alone.

The krait's weapon is its powerful neurotoxic venom. It is one of the five most venomous land snakes, only slightly smaller than coastal taipans. While its small size means it could potentially inject some poison, it still contains enough toxins to kill several people. To ensure that a sufficient dose is injected, the krayt continues to hold on to its victim for some time.

The venom itself contains postsynaptic and presynaptic neurotoxins. They target connections between the brain and nerves, causing muscle paralysis. Although there is an antivenom for krait bites, it may not be effective if not administered immediately after the bite, as presynaptic neurotoxins may block its action. In such cases, the only way to keep the victim alive is to use artificial ventilation until the poisons break down in the body.

If untreated, the mortality rate can be higher than 80%, with death occurring 4-6 hours after the bite.

Krait bites are believed to be virtually painless. Unfortunately, this means that people sometimes don't realize they've been bitten or don't take it seriously. There is also often a significant delay (an hour or two after the bite) in the onset of any symptoms, such as facial paralysis and stomach cramps.

Since kraits are nocturnal hunters, there have been many cases of people being bitten in their sleep. Often these people did not understand what had happened and some died without waking up.

4. Eastern brown snake (lat. Pseudonaja textilis)

Photo. Eastern brown snake

Australia is a country that is well known for its many extremely poisonous creatures. While many of them are quite scary on paper, in fact very few pose a serious threat to humans these days. There are a few exceptions though, including the eastern brown snake (reticulated brown snake).

Many people will tell you that Australia's inland taipans are the most dangerous snakes in the world. It's true, they have the most strong poison, but it is not as toxic as the venom of the eastern brown snake, and taipans are also not as aggressive. Also, the eastern brown snake is much larger and more widespread than the inland taipan, and its Bad mood makes this snake much more dangerous than taipans.

Unlike the inland taipan, the brown snake is usually found in populated areas. These snakes primarily feed on small mammals and are found anywhere there are a lot of mice or rats. The main purpose of their poison is to quickly and completely immobilize the victim and kill small mammals, but it is also very effective for humans. Fast and aggressive, eastern brown snakes are responsible for the majority of fatal venomous snake bites in Australia, averaging about two per year. Moreover, in Australia, about 300 people are bitten by snakes every year, but from 2000 to 2016, only 35 people died.

Although these numbers may seem underestimated, this has been the case since the advent of the antidote. Previously, about 80% of those bitten said goodbye to their lives, and this could happen very quickly, within an hour. The only reason the eastern brown snake is not higher on this list is because of its geographic habitat.

Last famous case with a reticulated brown snake. At around 10pm on 10 January 2018, a man was bitten by a reticulated brown snake in his backyard in Tamworth, north-west Sydney. The 24-year-old man died in hospital an hour later, despite desperate efforts by medical staff to save him. It was reported that the man heard his pet dog barking and went towards it. He was bitten on the finger while trying to remove the snake from the dog's mouth.

3. Sand epha (lat. Echis carinatus)

Photo. Sandy efa

Another member of the Indian Big Four is the sand epha, which is responsible for countless deaths throughout South Asia. Although it is small in size (usually less than 80 cm in length), this snake packs a punch in numbers. It is one of the most common snakes throughout India and Sri Lanka and poses a serious threat to farm workers.

Not only is this snake widespread, it is very dangerous. The strong poison has an incredibly fast effect on the human body, and in India alone, 5,000 people die from its bites every year. If we extrapolate this indicator to the habitat of this viper, which stretches across the Hindustan Peninsula to the countries of the Middle East and Africa, then this snake is one of the main killers on our planet.

This viper has a close relative, the carpet viper (Echis ocellatus). Also known as the African ephas, this snake is often called the deadliest snake in Africa, possibly killing up to 20,000 people every year.

The bite of the sand epha should definitely be avoided even if you are lucky enough. Rarely given "dry bites" poisonous snake usually contain enough poison to kill a person. The venom of this snake contains strong hemotoxins; the bite is considered extremely painful and causes some unpleasant symptoms. Swelling will appear at the site of the bite, which may spread further up the affected limb and blisters will appear. The more serious effects of the poison will appear after a few hours, as general bleeding, with blood coming out of every orifice. This can lead directly to death from blood loss or indirectly through kidney failure.

2. Black Mamba

Photo. Black Mamba

Not only is the black mamba one of the most venomous snakes on the planet, but it is also a large (up to 4 meters / 13 feet), fast (11 km/h / 6.8 mph) and very aggressive snake. When a mamba attacks, it can strike at speed and from a considerable distance. It is also known to deliver multiple bites. Considering all these characteristics, perhaps the black mamba is also the most dangerous snake in the world.

The only reason the black mamba is not higher on our list is because it is not abundant in densely populated areas. developing countries peace. In every single country, this snake has the highest mortality rate among indigenous peoples relative to other snakes. For example, in South Africa, the black mamba is responsible for less than 1% of all snakebites, but still kills the majority of people.

Video. Black Mamba

These statistics are a testament to the potential of the black mamba's venom. With an LD50 (the average dose of poison that causes the death of half of the test group) of about 0.28 mg/kg of poison, you can theoretically kill 10 people. The venom itself is a fast-acting neurotoxin. It can kill a mouse in less than 5 minutes and completely immobilize a person in 45 minutes; death usually occurs 7-15 hours after the bite.

A black mamba bite can be relatively painless. This happened to a 28-year-old British student in South Africa who was bitten on the finger while courting a snake. While he didn't even realize he had been bitten by a snake, just an hour later he was already dead. There are cases of people surviving a black mamba bite without antivenom, but this appears to be a minority. Without a specific form medical treatment Once bitten, a person has very little chance of survival.

1. Russell's viper (lat. Daboia russelii)

Photo. Chained viper or daboya

At the top of our list of the most dangerous snakes in the world is the Russell's viper (chain viper or daboya). The last of India's Big Four, this snake kills more people than any other animal (except humans and mosquitoes) with a staggering 25,000 deaths per year in India alone. The global figure is even higher when you consider that the Russell's viper is found throughout the Indian subcontinent, and there are several subspecies of this snake.

Like all snakes on this list, the Russell's viper's venom is very potent, although it takes less than most venoms to kill a human. However, an adult snake has enough venom to kill about 20 people. Not only is the bite of this viper often fatal, it is also described as excruciating for the person bitten. Unlike the superfast neurotoxin venom of snakes like the black mamba, Russell's viper venom is hemotoxic, which destroys body tissue.

The bite of these snakes begins with severe pain and swelling at the site of the bite. Within half an hour, the bite victim may bleed from the gums, through urine or when coughing. Soon after the tissue around the bite may blister, necrosis of the surrounding muscles will appear. Within a few hours, swelling and discoloration of the skin will spread to the limbs, and in severe cases to the spine.

Over the next 1-14 days, complications from the destructive effects of the poison on the body's organs often lead to death. Common causes of death are: kidney failure, cerebral hemorrhage, blood poisoning or cardiovascular failure. Although there are effective antivenoms for this venom, they must be administered as soon as possible after the bite to minimize complications and stop the destructive effects of the venom. Even when will take the course Treatment for a venomous snakebite, victims often suffer severe pain for a month, this may then subside, but long-term problems such as hypopituitarism may develop, which affects hormone production.

Although the venom of the Russell's viper is particularly unpleasant, this does not make it any more dangerous than the venom of many other snakes. What, in our opinion, makes this snake the most deadly snake in the world is its habitat and temperament. Its diet of rodents such as rats and mice forces Russell's vipers into cities and into close contact with people. It is also a notoriously vicious and aggressive snake and is typically described as slow and lethargic, but when confronted by a human it changes its behavior. The hiss of these snakes is louder than any other snake, the vipers coil themselves into a ball and take a characteristic S-shaped pose for attack. And when she attacks with lightning speed, the force exerted even allows her to lift herself completely off the ground.

Given the horrific reports of Russell's vipers attacking humans, it is not at all surprising that it is often listed with other commonly referred to "villains" of the animal kingdom as the great White shark And saltwater crocodile. The only clarification that you should not be so afraid of it is that most of its victims were bitten in the swamps of rural areas of South Asia.

Is it possible to eat the meat of an animal that has been bitten by a poisonous snake?
This question is quite interesting and therefore we will give just one example.

In early February 2018, more than 50 people in South Africa were taken to several hospitals after they ate meat from a cow that had reportedly died from a snakebite. This snake incident took place in Mpoza village outside Tsolo ( Tsolo) in the Eastern Cape.

Provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said patients confirmed they had eaten meat from the carcass of an animal that died after being bitten by a snake. He said patients experienced diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and headaches.

The patients included 16 children, eight of whom were transferred to the pediatric ward of the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, while the rest were treated at Umtata City Hospital. Kupelo said four elderly patients were also transferred to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital for further treatment. Kupelo said the department is urging the public to stop eating meat from dead animals as it is dangerous for them.

We thought this case would be interesting and revealing.

Today, about two and a half thousand snakes can be found on Earth, but only 250 species pose a mortal danger. Every year, about five million people around the world suffer from their bites, 3 percent of those bitten die, and about 5% become disabled. Today we will tell our readers about the most dangerous and poisonous snakes that exist on earth.

What is the most poisonous snake in the world?

10.

In most cases, the poison will not cause danger, because very weak, but there have been cases when people died after a while. Therefore, if a bite occurs, you need to seek help, even if the location of the bite does not bother you.

9.

The poison is several times stronger than the venom of a viper and when it enters the bloodstream, it almost immediately destroys the cells of the body. Scientists conducted an experiment on ducks. After being bitten by this snake, they experienced paralysis within 1-2 minutes, and after 15 minutes they died. Most often they can be found in Africa, on branches and in bushes.

8. Oriental or harlequin asp

Dangerous to human life. If medical assistance is not provided within 24 hours after the bite, the likelihood of death is very high. Length from 90 to 100 cm, they can most often be found in the southern United States, feeding on insects and lizards.

7.

The next snake belongs to the viper family and is called Sandy Epha. It feeds on small rodents, sometimes birds, and most often lizards and scorpions. Average length from 55 to 60 cm, in some cases up to 75 cm.

6.

The snakes listed above are found on land, but this one can be found in the water. It is considered not aggressive, but even so its venom is 5-6 times stronger than the venom of a cobra. Capable of diving to a depth of one hundred meters and staying there without air for about five hours. You can meet her off the coast of India, the Arabian Sea and also on the islands of Madagascar.

5.

The venom is less toxic than that of previous snakes, but is injected when bitten large quantity poison. It is less aggressive, in 80 percent of cases it stalks its prey in ambush.

4.

A very aggressive and poisonous snake; when bitten, 50 percent of people die, even if a special vaccine is used. They can be found in small burrows, bushes, and also in private houses, where they often crawl. Habitat: South Asia and Australia.

3. Taipana - Oxyuranus scutellatus

One of the three most poisonous snakes on the planet. Its length ranges from three to 3.5 meters, and its large teeth, 1 cm long, inject such an amount of poison that the victim dies within a few minutes. Most often found in Australia.

2.

It ranks second in the ranking of the most poisonous snakes. The main food is small mammals. Also found in Australia, it is most often found in fields and dry plains. One bite can kill about a hundred people or a quarter of a million mice.

1. Tiger snake - the most poisonous snake in the world

She received this name because of her tiger coloring.

With one bite it can kill 400 people.

After the poison enters the blood, literally within a few seconds it paralyzes all nerve endings and the victim dies due to cardiac arrest.

It lives in Australia and mainly feeds on birds, frogs and mice.

One female can give birth to at least 50 baby snakes.

Up to two meters long.

The chance of a person surviving a bite is very small, but in any case it is necessary to seek help as soon as possible, or try to suck out the poison from the bite site yourself.

How does the word “snake” make you feel? Most people are immediately overcome by fear and a desire to hide somewhere, and even animals become restless at the sight of this reptile.

Like many of you, I have not liked snakes since childhood, but after reading the book “Dangerous Paths of a Naturalist,” dedicated to the snake catcher’s profession, my fears decreased.

The book describes in detail the habits of snakes and their classification. It turns out that there are not so many poisonous specimens in the world, namely, of the 2.5 thousand species of all snakes, less than half have a poison strong enough to kill, most accidents are caused by careless contact with a reptile, and most importantly, when the temperature drops ambient air below 20 degrees, the activity of snakes and the possibility of their attacks are reduced significantly.
So, let's look at the Top 10 Most Poisonous Snakes.

1 Fierce Snake (Taipan)

A snake that changes its color depending on the time of year: in summer it is bright, and in winter it is darker. This is the most poisonous snake in the world. Habitat: Central Australia. The venom of one such reptile can kill up to 100 adults. If the snake senses danger, it curls and vibrates the end of its tail.

2

She received this name because of her color. Its habitat is Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. From the moment of the bite to the death of the victim, only a few minutes pass, and if it is a small animal, then even seconds.

3

This is one of the varieties of taipans that live in Australia. This is because they are as aggressive as their relatives and move very quickly. It differs more from the cruel taipan large size and light color that does not change throughout the year.

4

It lives in North America, feeds mainly on birds and rodents, which it attacks with its poisonous teeth. Fortunately, there is already an antidote for her bites, and if administered in time, it will not be fatal. This snake never attacks first unless provoked.

5

The fastest and most dangerous snake in Africa. She has high strike accuracy and attacks about 12 times when attacking. The black snake is also the fastest snake, as its speed is 20 km/h. After a bite, death occurs within 15 minutes to 3 hours. There is an antidote, and it must be administered at lightning speed.

6

A snake that stalks its prey. Its venom is less toxic than other snakes, but it injects it in large quantities at once, so the venom of the brown king can be fatal even to humans. The habitat of His Poisonous Majesty is Australia.

7

Lives in South Asia, Australia. It inhabits dry places with bushes, and often attacks people from its burrows. The poison is dangerous because even after vaccination, deaths occur. Adult snake can reach 2 m in length. Their color is transverse, that is, unlike other snakes, they have transverse stripes of white and yellow color. Kraits become active at night. Their venom first affects the muscles, and after 6 hours the brain.

8

Lives in New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia. She can kill her victim in two ways - poison and suffocation. It also differs in attack speed. For humans, the poison can become fatal if the antidote is not administered in time.

9

Judging by the name, you can immediately determine the habitat of this reptile! It is attracted to more humid areas and shallow bodies of water. Cobras have always been considered dangerous snakes, but the Philippine one is distinguished by its aggressiveness even among its relatives. Its venom is a neurotoxin, and death can occur within 30 minutes. The cobra throws it 3 meters around!

10

Distribution: Turkmenistan, Southern Uzbekistan, Southwestern Tajikistan
Sandy efa lives in hilly sands overgrown with saxaul, in loess and clay deserts, thickets of bushes, on river cliffs and in the ruins of buildings. It feeds on small rodents, less often lizards, birds, lake frogs, green toads, and sometimes small snakes.
In Africa, more people have died from its venom than from all African snakes combined. The venom is 16 times stronger than that of the Ruzel's chain viper (Daboia russelii russelii).

Most snakes only attack when they are in danger. But there are also very aggressive ones that attack first, so there is no universal way to avoid meeting a dangerous reptile. What can I say? Don’t go for a walk, children, to Africa...