10 of the Deadliest Snakes in the World
There are more than 3,000 species of snakes on the planet. These cold-blooded reptiles live nearly everywhere except — not surprisingly — in the colder climates of Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland and Greenland. And somewhat surprisingly, New Zealand.
1. Saw Scaled Viper
The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) is the smallest member of the "big four" in India, which includes the Russell's viper, the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and the Indian cobra (Naja naja). The saw-scaled viper is thought to be responsible for the most snake bite deaths in India. A single bite can cause internal bleeding and ultimately acute kidney failure. This snake's warning is described as a "sizzle" rather than a "hiss," which it creates by "sawing" (rubbing) its serrated scales together.
2. Inland Taipan
The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) is the smallest member of the "big four" in India, which includes the Russell's viper, the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and the Indian cobra (Naja naja). The saw-scaled viper is thought to be responsible for the most snake bite deaths in India. A single bite can cause internal bleeding and ultimately acute kidney failure. This snake's warning is described as a "sizzle" rather than a "hiss," which it creates by "sawing" (rubbing) its serrated scales together.
2. Inland Taipan
Cousin to the inland taipan, the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) snake is considered even more dangerous because its habitat is more accessible to unsuspecting human visitors. Coastal taipan snakes live in abandoned animal burrows, hollow logs and in piles of vegetation along the east coast from northeastern New South Wales through Queensland and across the north to north-west Australia. The other subspecies, Oxyuranus scutellatus canni, lives in southern New Guinea.
4. Black Mamba
Africa's black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) gets its name from the black interior of its mouth. Watch out for this dangerous snake on your next safari to the savannahs, hill country, and forests in southern and eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. Black mambas are known for being dangerously quick. Don't expect to outrun one, as the snake is one of the fastest on land, and can slither at speeds up to 12 miles per hour (19 kilometers per hour). But it's the black mamba's venom you need to be most concerned about. Before striking you'll get a warning hiss. If ignored, it will then strike repeatedly in rapid succession. Just two drops of the black mamba's venom can cause paralysis and cardiac arrest.
5. Banded Krait
Another of India's "big four" dangerous snakes is the banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus). It is one of the largest kraits and can grow up to 6.9 feet (2.1 meters) long. The banded krait is generally shy, and mainly nocturnal, and most likely to hunt at night. If bothered, it usually won't bite, though at night it is much more dangerous. As a relative of the cobra, the krait is extremely venomous and a single bite can paralyze muscles, preventing the diaphragm of its prey from moving, resulting in suffocation.
6. King Cobra
The aptly named king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world's longest venomous snake, measuring up to 18 feet (5.4 meters). King cobras have eagle eyes that can spot prey from nearly 330 feet (100 meters) away. They're considered aggressive, partly because of their long fangs and striking appearance. You're probably familiar with the "hood" around the head these snakes create when they face predators. It's a mechanism they use to make themselves appear larger, though they don't really need it. That's because the king cobra's venom contains high amounts of cytotoxins and neurotoxins. One bite can kill a human in 15 minutes and an adult elephant in just a few hours.
7. Boomslang Snake
This deadly snake with a funny name is no joke. The boomslang snake (Dispholidus typus) is another African resident that lives primarily in Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Boomslang snakes are rarely aggressive, but will inflate their necks to appear bigger and more intimidating to predators. Their stealth ability to camouflage allows them to easily lie in wait for passing prey. Then they strike and the highly toxic venom causes their victims to bleed out.
8. Russell's Viper
Russell's viper (Daboia russelii), another of India's "big four," is considered one of the deadliest snakes of the true vipers. They're also found in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where they're cause for high mortality among paddy farmers where they hide in the paddy fields. The snake's venom can lead to acute kidney failure, severe bleeding and multi-organ damage.
9. Eastern Brown Snake
The extremely venomous eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis ) is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea where it's usually found in open spaces like woodlands, grasslands, farmland and even in the outskirts of urban areas. Its venom contains powerful presynaptic neurotoxins, procoagulants, cardiotoxins and nephrotoxins. While a single bite from an eastern brown snake is deceptively painless, the snake's venom can cause progressive paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding, including bleeding into the brain. Even though it's not the most venomous snake, it has the distinction of causing more deaths than any other snake species in Australia.
10. Eastern Tiger Snake
Native to the mountains and grasslands of southeast Australia, the eastern tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) is named for the yellow and black bands on its body, though not all populations sport that pattern. Its potent venom can cause kill a human if a snake bite is left untreated.
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