In total, scientists have counted more than 2,500 species of snakes in the world, but only 410 of them are poisonous. They differ from each other not only in structure and way of life, but also chemical composition poison, its effect on a living organism. Official statistics state that every year from snake bites up to 50,000 people die. What is the most dangerous snake in the world?
Evaluation criterion
It is definitely difficult to answer which poisonous snake of all their diversity is the most dangerous to humans. Why? Because not only the toxicity of the poison matters, but also the aggressiveness of the snake, the method of attack, the amount of poison injected during the bite, and the location of the teeth. Putting all the factors together, scientists have identified the most dangerous snake on the planet - the sand epha for the following reasons:
- died because of her more people than from all other poisonous snakes combined;
- every 5th person bitten dies even today, in the age of high medical technologies;
- If a person still survives, then he will have health problems for the rest of his life. Most often the consequences of a bite sand f-hole have a detrimental effect on the kidneys and liver.
Appearance: a small snake belongs to the family of vipers, its average length is 55-60 cm, the maximum is 75 cm, and males are always larger than females. Their skin is very beautiful. The general tone is golden-sandy or gray; on the sides of the body is decorated with a large zigzag pattern, along which white spots stretch. The head is decorated with a dark cross.
Efa is distinguished by its peculiar scales: the dorsal scales have sharply protruding ribs, and the small and narrow lateral scales are directed obliquely downwards and are equipped with jagged ribs. Efa cannot hiss, but with the help of its side scales it creates a special noise, warning of an attack. This loud crackling sound is reminiscent of oil boiling in a frying pan, which is why the sand epha is called a “boiling” snake.
Distribution area: Northern and partially Central Africa, Asia (Arabian Peninsula), Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. A record number of eph live on the Hindustan Peninsula and the island of Sri Lanka. And on the Murghab River, which flows through the territory of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, snake catchers caught more than 2 thousand sand ephemerals in 5 years. They are also found in the United States.
They prefer sandy deserts with lonely saxauls and semi-deserts with sparse thickets of bushes and grasses. They develop clay soils and rocky areas.
Lifestyle: the sand epha spends its entire life on the move, in a hurry to get somewhere, and is almost impossible to see basking in the sun. Efa does not even go into hibernation. Although if the weather turns bad, she may hide in a shelter for a while.
If males and females mate in January, then the offspring appear in March; if mating occurs in March-April, then the offspring are born in July-August. The viviparous epha gives birth to 5-15 cubs at a time.
Ephs feed on small animals - insects, mice, chicks, lizards, lake frogs, scorpions, centipedes.
This dangerous snake moves very quickly and in a peculiar way - sideways. She throws her head to the side, then pulls up her entire body, leaving a characteristic trail in the form of a loop behind her.
Behavior: serpentologists believe that the sand epha is the most dangerous snake on the planet. Its poison is extremely toxic, it is not afraid of people, crawls into the territory of the settlement, and attacks often, energetically and swiftly. Considering the speed of movement and the fact that the snake can make half-meter jumps, it is dangerous to be closer than 5 meters from it.
It is from its bites that the most deaths are recorded. She behaves especially aggressively during the mating and molting period.
The effect of the poison on humans: the poison of the sand epha has complex composition. Once in the body, it disrupts blood clotting, causes a decrease in blood pressure, and kidney necrosis. A characteristic clinical picture is observed: sharp pain, swelling and inflammation of the tissues in the bite area. Numerous internal bleeding is accompanied by heavy bleeding from the nose, gums, and eyes. Bloody vomiting, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, severe headache, fever, and delirium are common. The poison may cause convulsions and shock. Has an extended effect. Even after rendering medical care the patient needs observation, since deterioration of the condition with a fatal outcome can occur within 40 days after the bite. This is a record among snakes.
After a bite, the victim should be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible, because without the introduction of a special serum death inevitable.
One of the most tragic cases occurred in Cairo in 1987. Three children wandered into an abandoned house, where they came across a sand ephas nest. The snake bit everyone. The children died within 2 hours.
The most poisonous snake on Earth is the sea striped belcher. She lives in Indian and Pacific Oceans. There are especially many of these snakes near the northwestern coast of Australia, off the coasts of Indonesia, New Guinea, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands. This is very interesting reptile up to 1 meter long, which can dive to a depth of 200 meters and absorbs oxygen from the water with its skin, remaining under water for up to 8 hours. This is a viviparous snake. She gives birth to 1-2 cubs at a time. The Belcher feeds on small fish and shellfish.
The venom of the striped snake acts as a neurotoxin, being the most toxic of all snake venoms known to science. Its bite kills a person within 1 minute, and just one drop of it can kill a thousand people.
Fortunately, the Belchera is a very peaceful reptile. Divers can safely swim past it, and it will not attack; fishermen carefully remove entangled snakes from their nets, and they do not touch them. Striped snake bites a person only if she is hurt or teased.
Tiger
Latest Scientific research confirmed that the most poisonous land snake is the tiger. A drop of its poison kills up to four hundred people.
It lives in Australia, is found on the island of Tasmania and New Guinea. The skin can be olive, dark brown and black with transverse golden stripes. It grows from one and a half to two meters. The main food is small mammals, amphibians and birds. Viviparous and very fertile, there are up to 30 cubs in one litter.
After a bite, a person dies within 30 minutes due to paralysis of the respiratory center and cardiac arrest. The antitoxic serum must be administered within 3 minutes, otherwise death is inevitable. The only saving grace is that the tiger snake attacks only in the very as a last resort and will most likely crawl into the bushes when meeting a person.
Cruel or ferocious
This is the second most poisonous land snake on the planet after the tiger. One drop of it can kill 100 people.
The fierce snake, or inland taipan, lives in central Australia and is rare. The body reaches a length of 1.9 meters. Her distinctive feature is the ability to change the color of the skin depending on the time of year. It gets darker in winter and brightens in summer. It reproduces by laying eggs - from 10 to 20 in one clutch.
From the bite inland taipan the person dies within an hour. Its poison blocks muscle function (nerve-paralytic effect) and at the same time clots the blood (coagulative).
A cruel, or ferocious, snake does not live up to its name, since it behaves calmly and does not attack without a good reason.
The closest relative of the cruel snake. It is also incredibly poisonous, and is also very aggressive and quick to kill, even attacking bases for obvious reasons. Makes 3-4 lightning-fast attacks, biting the victim and leaving him virtually no chance of survival. Due to the strong toxicity of the venom and hostility, it is often called the most dangerous snake on the planet along with the sand ephas.
The habitat of the three-meter reptile is Australia, New Guinea and the island of Tasmania. The skin is a uniform light or dark brown color. Feeds on small animals. Reproduces by laying eggs. There are usually 10-15 eggs in a clutch.
A taipan bite leads to death within a few hours. The poison paralyzes the respiratory center and disrupts blood clotting. If an antidote is not administered, death is inevitable. Even with the introduction of the serum, every second person bitten dies.
For a very long time, scientists did not have the opportunity to study the common taipan. Only in 1950, a young snake catcher, Kevin Baden, caught one specimen at the cost of his own life. Thanks to the brave young man, scientists were able to create an antidote to taipan poison.
The most dangerous snakes in the world
In addition to the top five named above, the most terrible snakes in the world are the following:
- malay krait,
- mulga (brown king),
- black Mamba,
- green mamba,
- african boomslang,
- Philippine Cobra,
- common viper,
- Indian (spectacled) cobra,
- egyptian cobra,
- gabon viper,
- Australian spinytail,
- bungara,
- rattlesnake,
- puff adder,
- hook-nosed sea snake,
- harlequin (eastern) asp,
- bushmaster or surukuku,
- horned viper.
The article lists the most dangerous snakes in the world, an encounter with which can end very sadly for a person.
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 in different places of “fame”, this applies 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.
Although it is obvious that strength snake venom is an important factor in the danger of these animals, but 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 very timid and really doesn’t 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 they inject, which can result in a more venomous 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 deadly 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 are killed every year significant amount of people.
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 poison may 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 the nervous system, leading 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 meeting a person.
Among this group of snakes, the caisak (Bothrops atrox) deserves special mention. pit snakes(Bothrops asper) and 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. Necrosis has led to a condition called rhabdomyolysis, where muscle 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 the hissing viper is statistically the most dangerous snake in Africa and is guilty of more deaths compared to the number of deaths caused by any other reptile on this 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 these are only some of the 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. Without 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
Sadly famous 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 moderately venomous, somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 bites are made 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 this 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 hand, death can be a side effect.
Photo. Burn wound after a king cobra bite
Sometimes handlers suffer from the fangs of this snake, as on December 7, 2018 in Phuket in Thailand, during an animal exhibition King Cobra sank her 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 save the life of the victim is to use artificial ventilation until the poisons are broken 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 reason the eastern brown snake is not higher on this list is 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 close relative, 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" from a venomous snake usually contain enough venom 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. At LD50 (average dose of poison, causing death half of the test group) about 0.28 mg/kg of poison could theoretically kill 10 people. The venom itself is a fast-acting neurotoxin. It is capable of killing a mouse in less than 5 minutes and completely immobilizing 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 some form of medical treatment after a bite, a person's chances of survival are very slim.
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 a 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 animal kingdom "villains" 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.
For most people, snakes evoke almost sacred horror. And there is a reason for this - some representatives are very poisonous. A bite can cause human death. That's why people are afraid of all snakes just in case. We will tell you below about their most dangerous types.
Taipan. The species Oxyuranus scutellatus lives in northeastern Australia. These snakes reach a length of 3.5 meters. Taipans have very strong poison - one bite contains so much of it that it is enough to kill 100 people or 250 thousand mice. One bite can release up to 100 mg of poison. The study of the taipan is steeped in tragic stories. For a long time, people could not catch this snake at all; scientists in their research relied only on the legends of local aborigines. In 1867, a single specimen of the taipan was finally found, according to which it was described. For 56 years no new information was received about the snake. But people urgently needed an antidote - every year in Australia more than 80 people died from taipan bites. On June 28, 1950, an important historical expedition began. A young scientist, Kevin Baden, set off from Sydney to catch the taipan. He managed to find the mysterious snake, but when he picked it up, it bit his finger. Baden was unable to escape, but managed to deliver the snake to scientists for further study.
Mulga. The species Pseudechis australis has received the nickname "Brown King". This snake also lives in Australia, growing up to 2.5-3 meters. Mulga is a very dangerous snake as it produces a lot of venom. The average snake can secrete up to 150 mg of it at a time. Mulga can be found almost anywhere in Australia. The snake is especially often found in the north and west of the mainland. Mulga does not live only in the states of Tasmania and Victoria. The snake has chosen for itself forests, meadows, deserts, pastures, abandoned holes and deep cracks. And here rainforests Mulga doesn't like it. The main food of a snake is other reptiles, including poisonous snakes, frogs, and lizards. Mulga can attack birds and even mammals. The snake's body is very well adapted to digest other dangerous creatures, as a result, their poison is harmless to the mulga.
Krayt. This species, called Bungarus candidus, is distributed in South Asia, Australia and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. The snake reaches a length of 1.5-2 meters, and a portion of its poison is enough to kill 10 people. The krayt prefers to spend time in dry places, in which there are many shelters for it - burrows, bushes, dead wood. Often the snake penetrates into lands cultivated by humans, into houses and yards. This is what caused frequent contacts and attacks on people. Snakes not only cross the path of travelers, but also penetrate into locked homes and rooms, slithering into bathrooms and bedrooms, getting into closets. The most common is the ribbon krait, or pama. It lives in southern China, India and Burma. The entire one and a half meter body of the snake is covered with alternating yellow and black rings. The poison of the krait is so strong that even the viper, which is considered the most susceptible to many types of poison, can die from it. During the day, an encounter with a krait is practically safe; it is unlikely to attack. At this time, the snake is rather sluggish; it hides from the sun, moving slowly. Even if it is disturbed, the krait will not rush at the offender, but will prefer to crawl to the side and curl up in a ring. The diurnal lifestyle and abundance of the species contribute to frequent meetings with humans. But at night the kraits are completely different; they are extremely unfriendly. Snakes can attack even if they are not in danger. The krait venom is so strong that a bitten chicken dies within 15 minutes. The scientist Roussel studied the effect of the venom of this snake. It turned out that 10 minutes after the bite the dog began to twitch its wounded limb and lift it upward. However, the dog could still stand. After another 5 minutes the dog lay down and started barking. Less than half an hour after the bite, both hind legs were already paralyzed. During the second hour, the paralysis only worsened, and breathing became heavy. By the end of the second hour the dog was dying.
Tiger snake. The species Notechis scutatus lives in Australia, except for its northernmost regions, Tasmania and some islands south coast countries. The length of the snake reaches 1.5-2 meters. She is famous for the fact that among all the snakes living on the planet, she has the most powerful venom. Small animals die from bites very quickly, literally in a matter of seconds. The tiger snake's glands contain enough poison to kill 400 people. It affects the victim's nervous system, causing paralysis. The poison quickly reaches the nerve centers that control breathing and heartbeat. As a result, it stops, and the victim cannot even breathe. When the tiger snake is excited, it raises the front part of its body high, while the head and neck become flat. An encounter with a tiger snake is a dangerous adventure. Is it true, local residents trying to calm down frightened tourists. Indeed, despite the danger of a tiger snake bite, it is also the most cowardly. She herself does not crawl into the house on purpose, does not rush at people, avoiding them. A snake will attack only as a last resort and then for the purpose of protection. This reptile is ovoviviparous. The offspring are quite abundant; up to 72 baby snakes can be born at once. There is a known case when 109 embryos were found during an autopsy in one dead female.
Indian cobra. Naja naja lives not only in India, but also in Burma, Afghanistan, and southern China. This species can be found in the south of Turkmenistan, right up to the Caspian Sea. The snake can reach a length of 1.4-1.81 meters. The legend about this cobra says that Buddha once wandered the earth. And then one day he fell asleep under the rays of the midday sun. Then a cobra appeared before him, which opened its shield and covered the god’s face from the heat. Buddha, in gratitude for this, promised his mercy to the snake, but soon forgot about his word. The cobra soon reminded him of the promise, as the vultures began to attack its relatives. To enable the snake to defend itself, Buddha gave it glasses, which became protection from birds of prey. In nature, the cobra prefers to bask in the sun before entering its home. As soon as a person appears nearby, the snake quickly hides. She will attack extremely rarely, only defending herself from an attacker as a last resort. Cobra venom is neurotoxic. Complete paralysis occurs in just a minute. The strength of the poison is such that a laboratory mouse dies from it in 2 minutes, and a chicken in 4. True, the cobra tries not to bite a person unless absolutely necessary. Often the snake even makes only a false throw towards the enemy, without opening its mouth, but only scaring. However, there is no point in angering the cobra. If she is nearby, you should not hit her with a stick or throw anything at her. After all, this can anger the cobra, it can attack in self-defense.
Sandy efa. The species Echis carinatus usually does not exceed 70-80 centimeters in length. Efu can be found in the valleys and foothills of Central Asia and northern Africa. The epha's bite becomes fatal to humans. Even if he survives, he will remain disabled forever. In Africa, more people die from the venom of this snake than from all other poisonous snakes combined. The efa's favorite habitat is lumpy sands overgrown with saxaul. She also loves clay deserts, thickets of bushes, ruins and river cliffs. When conditions are favorable, efa can be quite numerous. So in the valley of the Murghab River on an area of only 1.5 sq. km. Over the course of 5 years of hunting, snake catchers managed to catch more than 2 thousand of these snakes. Efa - very interesting snake. She differs in many ways from her cold-blooded counterparts. If the winter is not cold, then the efa may not hibernate. These snakes can even mate in January. By March, small snakes appear. For most snakes, offspring are usually born no earlier than summer. Efa also lays eggs, giving birth to small snakes alive. One female is capable of giving birth to 3-16 young heirs, which usually reach 10-16 centimeters in length. Although the efa is one of the most poisonous snakes, its hunting targets are small. The main prey of a snake does not exceed the size of a mouse - grasshoppers, spiders, centipedes. This is probably due to the fact that the efa is quite mobile and cannot, like its other relatives, simply lie in the sun. But rest is precisely what is needed to digest large prey. Efa usually moves sideways. In this case, the head is thrown to the side, then carried out rear end body forward, and the front part is pulled up. This method of movement is very effective when moving on loose surfaces. At the same time, a characteristic mark remains on the sand - oblique stripes with curved ends. Rarely, efa still creeps into human homes. Last time such cases have been recorded in Egypt. So you need to be careful when visiting abandoned houses or ruins in those parts. In 1987, three children found an epha's nest in an old empty house. All the curious kids died from snake bites, alarming the hiding family. The snake had just given birth and began to protect its offspring. It was not possible to save the children, as the poison acted very quickly. Usually, when bitten, the first aid measure is to suck out the poison from the wounds. This way you can remove a significant part of the toxic substance from the body. You can squeeze out the poison with your fingers and suck it out within the first 7-10 minutes after the bite. This measure is absolutely safe for people doing it. But there is no point in applying a tourniquet, because it does not in any way prevent the absorption of poison.
Asp. The Micrurus species is 0.6-2.5 meters in length. It lives in Australia, North Africa, Argentina, Brazil and the West Indies. Aspid became famous for his extremely aggressive character. The snake's venom acts with lightning speed, leading to the death of a person in just 7 minutes. The most common types of adders are common, coral and Egyptian. The latter is the most poisonous of its kind. A person's death from a bite occurs within 5 minutes. The average length of such a snake is 2 meters. The Egyptian asp's color resembles spectacled snake. It is curious that scientists suggest that the snake can not only bite venomously, but also spit out poisonous saliva at a distance of up to one and a half meters. The common adder lives in Australia and New Guinea. It is smaller in length - up to one and a half meters. And his temper is unfriendly. The snake attacks anyone who gets in its way, be it human or animal. From the bite of an ordinary asp they also die quickly and also in terrible agony. If the asp is going to attack, then the chances of escape are quite small. The traveler Anderson said that one day he was collecting herbs. When suddenly a snake, unnoticed by him, was about to pounce on the man and bite his hand. Without thinking twice, Anderson started to run away. The snake did not even think of falling behind, almost overtaking the man. He was saved by the ditch, where the fugitive stumbled and fell. The snake, in its rage, did not notice the disappearance of the pursued one, sliding past. Scientists have a vaccine against asps. But there is little point in it, because the poison acts very quickly. In the 7 minutes allotted to a person, it is simply impossible to administer an antidote to him. Statistics show that out of 10 people who are bitten, eight cannot be saved.
African boomslang. The species Dispholidus typus is found in southern and southwestern Africa. Its length is 0.5-3 meters. The boomslang's venom is twice as dangerous as that of the viper or Indian cobra. The front teeth on the snake's upper jaw are grooved. This is where the poison flows during a bite. It itself is quite toxic. When it enters the bloodstream, the poison immediately begins to destroy cells. In experiments, after being bitten by a boomslang, ducks died within 15 minutes, and paralysis occurred within a minute. In 1957, a famous tragic incident occurred. Then the famous American zoologist and reptile specialist Carl Paterson Schmidt died from a boomslang bite. He tried to grab the snake to study it further. However, the boomslang was able to dodge the man's hands and bite him. Dying, the scientist continued to make observations, describing his condition. Over the past 5 years, boomslangs have caused the death of 23 people. For comparison, vipers killed twice as many people in the same period, and cobras killed three times as many people. With a boomslang, as with any other snake, you should be as careful as possible. You should not come close to her, anger her or make sudden movements. The snake becomes aggressive and attacks only through the fault of the person himself. Usually, when a snake sees people, it prefers to hide itself. The rules of communication with her are simple - do not touch her, and she herself will not touch you.
Green mamba. A species of snake called Dendroaspis angusticeps, which reaches a length of one and a half meters, lives in South Africa. Mamba venom is very toxic, surpassing in its strength even the venom of some cobras. This snake can attack unexpectedly, for no apparent reason and without warning. In this case, it becomes very difficult to escape from the mamba. In addition, the poison acts so quickly that even when doctors are on the spot, they do not have time to administer the antidote. Delivery to the hospital to administer the medication is out of the question. The green mamba is very beautiful. The scales on her body shimmer with an emerald-greenish color, containing shades of yellow and blue. Mambas love to jump from tree branches by the collar of their clothes. It is quite difficult to get it quickly. While the person is fiddling around, the snake manages to inflict its poisonous bite. It is quite difficult to notice a green mamba in the thick of leaves. Therefore, when in the habitat of such a snake, you need to observe not only the living creatures swarming in the grass, but also look at the trees. If a green mamba is spotted among the leaves, then it is better not to risk it, but to avoid this place.
Gyurza. The species Vipera lebetina lives in northern Africa, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and North-West India. This snake is also found here in Dagestan. The viper reaches a length of one and a half meters. The snake is deadly. Even though an antidote has been invented, they often simply do not have time to administer it to the victim. According to statistics, every fifth person who is bitten dies. When the poison enters the bloodstream, it begins to destroy red blood cells, causing blood clotting. As a result, numerous internal hemorrhages, blockages of blood vessels are formed, and swelling appears in the bite area. All this is accompanied by sharp pain, the person begins to feel dizzy and vomiting. The bitten one needs emergency assistance, otherwise he will die in 2-3 hours. The number of viper is quite large. There can be up to 5 snakes on one hectare. At the same time, viper vipers often gather in groups. There have been cases when 20 of these snakes were found under a small stone at once. The viper is quite slow by nature, preferring to lie under a stone or in the sun. However, this behavior is typical of it if nothing threatens the snake. And the viper does not pursue its prey, but prefers to wait in one place. But the sluggishness and slowness of the snake is only an appearance. In case of danger, the viper begins to move quickly, including through trees. Usually the snake tries to hide in the nearest shelter as quickly as possible. You shouldn’t block her path at such a moment. Gyurza begins to hiss threateningly, after which she can make a sharp throw with her whole body towards the enemy.
If you regularly read the site, then most likely you are already familiar with the previously published list of the rarest snakes. In today's top we will talk about the ten most poisonous snakes in the world. We also recommend that you read the list with photos of the ten most poisonous spiders in the world. So, let's begin.
A rattlesnake is easily identified by the rattle at the end of its tail. Surprisingly, juvenile snakes are considered more dangerous than adults due to their inability to control the amount of venom they inject. Even fast and effective treatment, may result in loss of limb or death. Common symptoms are difficulty breathing, paralysis, increased salivation and massive hemorrhages.
Death Adder
They live in Australia and New Guinea. They tend to hunt and kill other snakes, including the snakes on this list. Typically, the Death Adder snake releases approximately 40–100 mg upon bite. poison. Its bite in humans causes paralysis and can lead to death within 6 hours. Symptoms usually appear within 24 to 48 hours. Antivenom is very successful due to the relatively slow progression of symptoms, but before it was developed, this snake's bite was fatal in 50% of cases.
Viper leads night look life, very often active after rain. During the daytime, it most often basks in the sun. These snakes are incredibly fast and reach a length of 60–70 centimeters, but sometimes rare specimens can be found that reach a length of 1 meter. Most of these species have a venom that causes symptoms - pain at the site of the bite, which can last for 2-4 weeks. Vomiting and facial swelling occurs in approximately one third of all cases. There is a sharp drop in blood pressure and heart rate. Death from sepsis, respiratory failure, or heart failure may occur one day to two weeks after the bite, or even later.
The venom of the Philippine cobra is the deadliest of all cobra species. The peculiarity of these snakes is that they are capable of spitting venom at a distance of up to 3 meters. Their venom is a neurotoxin that affects the heart and respiratory system, the bite can lead to respiratory paralysis and death will occur within thirty minutes. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, collapse and seizures.
The tiger snake is common in southeastern Australia. Habitats include forests, meadows, grasslands and deserts. The length of these snakes reaches up to 2 m. As a rule, they have a peaceful disposition, but it should be remembered that the Tiger snake is one of the most dangerous land snakes in the world, occupying 6th place in the ranking. Death from the bite can occur within half an hour, but usually takes 6–24 hours. Symptoms may include localized pain in the leg and neck, tingling, numbness and heavy sweating.
One of the most dangerous and poisonous snakes living in Africa. It reaches a length of 2.4–3 meters, but in nature there are individual specimens reaching a length of up to 4.5 meters. The black mamba is also the most fast snake on the planet, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h. It has an aggressive disposition and often attacks first. These scary snakes can bite their prey up to 12 times in a row. The initial symptoms are pain in the bite area. The victim then experiences a tingling sensation in the mouth and extremities, double vision, tunnel vision, fever, increased salivation(including foaming of the mouth and nose) and severe ataxia (lack of muscle control). If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms quickly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, pallor, shock, nephrotoxicity, and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma and death. Without an antidote, the mortality rate is almost 100%. Depending on the nature of the bite, it can lead to death in 15 minutes to 3 hours.
Taipan or coastal taipan
Large Australian snakes whose venom is strong enough to kill up to 12 thousand. guinea pigs. The venom of this snake is highly neurotoxic and forms blood clots that block the arteries and veins of the victim. Before the advent of antivenom, there were no survivors of the bite, and death usually occurred within an hour. Even with successful administration of antivenom, most of those bitten will remain in intensive care. In behavior and habitat, the Taipan can be compared with the Black Mamba (5th place).
Blue Krayt
The Malayan snake or blue krait lives in Southeast Asia and Indonesia. 50% of bites are fatal, even after antivenom is administered. Krayt hunts and kills other snakes. More aggressive under cover of darkness. However, in general they are quite timid and often try to hide rather than fight. The venom is a neurotoxin that is 16 times more potent than cobra venom. It quickly causes muscle paralysis. Fortunately, cases of human bites are very rare due to the nocturnal lifestyle of these snakes. Before the advent of antivenom, the mortality rate was 85%. Death usually occurs within 6–12 hours after the bite.
Do not allow harmless name This snake will mislead you, its poison is enough to kill an adult. Unfortunately, this snake prefers to settle along large populated areas in Australia. The brown snake has good speed and, under certain circumstances, can be aggressive. Even juvenile snakes of this species can kill a person. They only react to movement, so it is better to stand still when you encounter this snake. It is not only one of the most poisonous, but also one of the longest snakes in the world.
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