10 Most Dangerous Snakes In The World

Although all members of this reptile family are considered carnivorous creatures, not every one of them poses a serious threat to human beings. In fact, there are reptile lovers who even keep snakes as pets at home.

Nonetheless, there are specific species that possess venom or poison which, if passed on to a person through a split-second bite, can cause loss of life. Here are the ten most dangerous snakes in the world.

1. Rattlesnake

Rattlesnake

Highly distinguishable for its tail, the rattlesnake belongs to the pit viper snake family. Some of its species have hemotoxic venom which, if transferred to the victim, causes the degeneration of organs, destruction of body tissues, and disruption of blood clotting or coagulopathy.

Rattlesnakes are capable of striking at up to two-thirds of the length of their elongated bodies, so if you come across one, be sure not to come too close to it. In the unfortunate event that you get bitten by a rattlesnake with the most venomous capacity, such as the Eastern Diamondback, expect to experience breathing difficulties, hemorrhage, and paralysis. You need to receive prompt antivenin treatment if you want to improve your chances of surviving such an ordeal.

2. Black Mamba

The Black Mamba can be found in great numbers across the African continent. It is said to be the fastest of all the land snakes with a speed of up to 12 mi/hr. It is also known to attack with acute precision and forcefulness. To top it all off, this species can also launch twelve strikes in one blow. As if those aren’t terrifying enough, the Black Mamba’s venom also contains a post-synaptic neurotoxin component, and the snake has the ability to inject 1/250 oz of the toxic substance in asingle bite. That amount is far more than enough to cause death to 50% of its victims. Bite symptoms include fever, excessive drooling, and double vision. Without immediate medical attention, a victim may experience convulsions and respiratory shutdown, leading to one’s demise, which typically occurs within 15 minutes to 3 hours after the venom was injected.

3. Anaconda

This snake species is the star of many horror movies.  It even had a movie named after it.  And yes, it is that big.  And yes, it can swallow a whole human. Despite its lack of venom, an anacondais still nonetheless a deadly snake due to its sheer size. The largest anaconda found was measured at a length of almost 28 feet and a girth of 44 inches. The estimated weight of the biggest find is over 500 pounds, which is equivalent to 3 to 4 average-size persons.

So how does an anaconda kill its victims? It slaughters its victims by coiling around their bodies and squeezing powerfully until it suffocates or crushes them to death. The snake then swallows its prey in one piece. On the brighter side, anacondas are slow-moving, so you have time to spot one from a distance and make a quick getaway. Just be sure to do so before it launches a surprise attack!

What if you only get bitten by one? Then, there is no reason for you to worry too much. Its bite is not fatal.

4. Viper

The most deadly of vipers dwell in the Central and Southeast parts of Asia and in the countries of the Middle East. They possess venom that, following injection into the human body, will cause immense pain, swelling, and discoloration. In severe cases, the swelling can spread from the bite zone into other regions of the body. The usual symptoms that accompany a viper bite are bleeding of the gums, a declining heart rate, and hypotension (lowered blood pressure). The pain can last for 2 to 4 weeks, and if left untreated, may end in cardiac arrest or blood-poisoning septicemia death.

5. Death Adders

Native to Australia and New Guinea, this snake species possesses extremely lethal venom and is one of the swiftest strikers of all. It injects an average of 180 mg of deadly poison in a single strike, which can be so instantaneous that even the human eye won’t be able to detect it. The venom causes rapid paralysis and induces the victim’s respiratory system to eventually stop functioning. However, with the advent of effective antivenom, the mortality rate of this snake’s bite has become quite low. This is a far cry from the approximate 50% mortality rate of Death Adder victims prior to the commercial production of the antivenom. So what do death adders look like? You can distinguish them with their short body, triangular head, and low fangs. They are also the longest snakes in Australia.

6. Philippine Cobra

Local to the northern region of the Philippines, this cobra is the deadliest of its kind. The after-effects of its lethal bite include neurotoxicity and respiratory paralysis, which makes breathing difficult for a bitten human. Aside from those, nausea, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pains may also ensue. A victim can die within 30 minutes after the bite takes over. This rapid decline is what makes the Philippine Cobra a highly dangerous snake.

7. Tiger Snake

The Tiger Snake is a deadly reptile that is native to Australia. It is said to have one of the most potent of all known snake venoms. Its poison is made lethal by the presynaptic neurotoxins and procoagulants contained in it. The former component induces muscle weakness and paralysis, while the latter interferes with normal blood clotting which leads to unimpeded bleeding.

8. Eastern Brown Snake

This particular reptile inhabits the countries of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Don’t be fooled by its seemingly uncontroversial name, for this snake has one of the most dangerous bite aftermaths. It causes paralysis, renal failure, and cardiac arrest in its prey. Only a mere 1/14,000 of a single ounce of this fast-moving snake’s venom is necessary to take the life of an adult human. If you encounter one, the best thing to do is to stay perfectly still. This snake only acts in response to movements.

9. Inland Taipan

Australia is home to scores of dangerous snakes, and the Inland Taipan is one of them. It is considered by a site as the world’s most venomous snake because the venom from a single bite of this spine-tingling reptile can kill about a hundred humans. Its massively neurotoxic venom composition, which affects the nervous system quickly and severely, has earned the Inland Taipan the title of being the most toxic land snake. Symptoms from its bites include vomiting and paralysis. Luckily, you won’t encounter one easily for this snake is quite shy and keeps itself hidden in deep crevices and fissures in the wild.

10. Belcher’s Sea Snake

The Belcher’s Sea Snake has a chrome yellow-colored, thin body that has an average length of 1.5 to a little over 3 feet.  This sea snake may seem unremarkable and may be quite good-natured because it rarely injects its venom upon biting, but you will be surprised how inconceivably deadly it can be, especially when threatened. A few milligrams of its venom are potent enough to kill a thousand people; this makes the Belcher’s Sea Snake a hundred times more deadly than an Inland Taipan.

Some snake species are indeed deadly. Hence, to be on the safe side, avoid these listed creatures at all time. A single bite may send you to your grave, so beware!