Snakes are one of the most fascinating and frightening creatures on our planet. They inhabit almost the entire Earth, with the exception of Antarctica, with a climate completely unsuitable for cold-blooded creatures, and Ireland, from where, according to legend, St. Patrick drove them out. Maybe some other islands were lucky, but most peoples have known them for a long time. But getting to know these creatures does not always end well, especially for those who are overly curious.
In truth, it is worth noting that there are few truly poisonous snakes, only about 10% of species. And most prominent representatives of this tenth, including the most poisonous snake in the world, were included in our TOP 10.
This is one of the most poisonous creatures on the planet and the real queen of snakes. She lives in sea waters next to Indonesia and is the object of close attention of scientists around the world. And this is not surprising, because its poison is a hundred times more destructive than that of the land champion, the taipan (more about him below).
It's good that it's underwater - less likely to meet
Fortunately, it rarely causes the death of inattentive tourists or scientists, because with such extreme toxicity it has a completely peaceful disposition. It takes a lot of effort to piss this sea snake off. She attacks only in case of extreme danger, but she does it efficiently. Within a couple of minutes after the bite, which you may not even feel, convulsions and muscle paralysis begin, leading to death.
These rather large snakes from the aspid family have chosen the arid areas of Australia, where they feed on frogs, mice and other small animals. But this does not mean that the snake is peaceful or safe. On the contrary, one of its two subspecies, ferocious taipan(which telling name!) – the most poisonous snake of sushi. For example, they are almost 200 times more deadly than king cobras; the venom from one bite is enough to cause the sudden death of 100 adult men.
His close relative, a coastal taipan, does not have such a deadly poison, but is almost twice as large (reaches four meters) and much more aggressive.
Before the invention of the vaccine, taipans remained a real scourge of Australia; 9 out of 10 bites resulted in death. Now the statistics are less frightening, but still, it is not recommended to go near them.
This extremely dangerous snake inhabits humid areas of Asia. The king cobra is another representative of the slate with its characteristic lethal toxic poison. And even if it is not as dangerous for humans as that of taipans, one full bite is enough for the bitten person to die from paralysis of the respiratory system and subsequent suffocation within 15 minutes.
It is interesting that this snake produces much more poison than others, but also uses it very carefully. She has special muscles that close the excretory ducts.
But even more remarkable is her behavior. Thus, when defending itself from a person, it often makes the first “idle” bite, without injecting poison, which should scare away, but not kill. Apparently, this is how she saves this valuable raw material. Therefore, despite a certain aggressiveness and toxicity, people rarely die from its bites.
Hook-nosed sea snake
Another one poisonous beauty from underwater kingdom chose the maritime part of the Indian coast as its homeland. When meeting a person unexpectedly, she has a bad habit of injecting a lethal cocktail under his skin. toxic substances. Literally one and a half milligrams and a few minutes are enough to remain at the bottom of the sea, turning into a valuable source of nutrients for its inhabitants. And a snake can inject up to 7 milligrams at a time.
That is, this snake, although not the most poisonous, is still extremely dangerous. The main problem is its prevalence and aggressiveness. But she also has good side. It was on the basis of its poison that an antidote against other sea snakes was made.
Like the tiger, the tiger snake is deadly poisonous and meeting it can be the most vivid, memorable and latest event in life. After all, the venom accumulated by the snake is enough to kill about 100 people!
To justify the snake, it must be said that it is a fairly peaceful creature and rarely attacks. In the Indonesian reserves where it lives, there are a lot of warning signs stating that it is more afraid of tourists than they are of it. And this is true, the main thing is not to grab your hands and not to climb with a camera to take unusual photo. It is best not to approach it at all and observe from a distance.
One of the most aggressive snakes, the black mamba often attacks first, without waiting for provocation. Moreover, it acts for sure, inflicting several bites at once. This, as well as the extremely toxic venom, one portion of which is enough to kill 40 people, made it one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa and the whole world. She earned another title for her speed - up to 20 kilometers per hour over short distances. This is an absolute record among snakes.
Very beautiful snake, but it’s better to admire her from a distance. Great distance.
After a bite to the leg, you have a whole hour to inject the toxin, but if this well-aimed hunter gets hit in the neck, chest or face, the deadline is reduced to 10 minutes. If you do not manage to invest within the allotted time, cardiac arrest and death will occur. The main problem is that initially tree snakes chose garbage dumps near cities and towns, and now encounters with them have become much more frequent.
Mulga
Another poisonous greeting from Australia. This small continent is generally lucky with poisonous snakes. And mulga is one of the most dangerous inhabitants. The reason is not only the lethality of the toxin, but also its quantity: she can inject up to 150 milliliters at a time.
Another problem with this snake is its activity. The snake does not want to be alone in wild conditions, but strives to be closer to people, making their way into houses. She especially likes cool bathrooms.
Sandy efa confidently ranks among the ten most poisonous snakes on the planet and is not going to yield its title to anyone. Although, like many others, she is not very aggressive by nature. Most often, attacks are provoked by the person himself. Efa prefers very small prey, most often just insects or small rodents.
It is not very easy to detect
This fractional meals allows her to remain highly active. She can even do without hibernation. In this case, the first baby snakes appear already in March. If anyone should be happy about Global Warming, it’s the Efas.
African boomslang
Like many Poisonous snakes, boomslang preferred to settle in a warm climate, choosing the forests of Africa. IN calm state it resembles a small green twig or vine, so convenient for a tired bird to rest. But for inattention there is an immediate punishment - poisonous vinegar.
The snake is one of the most poisonous, but rarely attacks people, preferring to resolve the conflict peacefully and quietly crawl away. In addition, hunting for a person in her performance does not look very convincing due to the special arrangement of her teeth. They are designed to attack small prey and are located quite deep in the mouth. But still, deaths involving her were recorded more than once.
In Russia, these oriental beauties are now almost never found, but they quite densely inhabit the former Soviet republics located in Central Asia. By themselves, they are quite peaceful and sedentary, but in case of danger they will defend themselves and how.
She happens to be largest species vipers, and at the same time – also one of the most poisonous. Previously, about 30% of victims died from their bite; now, with the help of the serum, the proportion of deaths has been reduced to 1-3%.
Of course, these are not all types of poisonous snakes. In total, there are about 750 species crawling around the planet, of which a tenth, with a certain amount of luck, can lead to death. But they also become sources of valuable raw materials that are used in pharmacology, cosmetology and many other fields. Snakes simply don’t like it when people get too involved with them and respond accordingly.
Have you or anyone you know ever been attacked by a snake? We hope not, because some of the most dangerous bites, as we know, come from snakes. And while not all snakes are venomous, some have enough potential to kill a person within half an hour. These are the abilities of the most poisonous snakes on the planet.
They can be found everywhere - from the arid deserts of Australia to the tropical courtyards of Florida mansions. Those unlucky enough to fall prey to the snake describe distressing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, numbness and failure internal organs. This is a relatively painful way to die.
And although there is an antidote, thanks to which many people have managed to survive, if the necessary actions are not taken immediately, then the bites of many poisonous snakes can claim life in a very short time.
From chain viper to black mamba, before you are the 25 most poisonous snakes living on our planet.
And to be clear, most (if not all) venomous snakes have no intention of attacking humans. Usually they just want not to be bothered. This must be taken into account by a person confronted with a dangerous reptile. Of course, if his life is dear to him.
25. Common Jararaka
The common jararaka is the most abundant and best known venomous snake in densely populated areas southeastern Brazil, where it accounts for 80-90% snake bites. Death is 10-12% without medical care.
24. Viper
Vipers are considered one of the most poisonous snakes on the planet. They feed on small animals (such as rats), which they hunt by striking and injecting their prey with a lethal, paralyzing venom.
23. Green mamba, or western mamba
The green mamba is a very alert, irritable and extremely fast snake that primarily lives in coastal wet areas. tropical forests, bush and wooded regions of West Africa.
Like all other mambas, the western mamba is one of the most poisonous species of the adder family. Its bite can kill several people in a short time if an antidote is not immediately administered.
22. Narrow-headed mamba
Like other members of the mamba genus, the narrow-headed mamba is a highly poisonous animal. One bite can contain enough venom to kill several people.
The poison affects the nerves, heart and muscles, quickly being absorbed through the tissues. After the bite, life-threatening symptoms typical of mamba bites quickly appear: swelling of the bite site, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing and swallowing, irregular heartbeat, convulsions and, ultimately, respiratory paralysis.
21. South China multi-banded krait
Based on several studies of LD50 (the dose that kills 50% of individuals), South China multibanded kraits are among the most venomous land snakes in the world. This species was first described by the English zoologist Edward Blyth in 1861, and has since been recognized as one of the most dangerous snakes to humans.
20. Pit viper
These reptiles are found in lowlands, often near human habitations. Their proximity to human habitat is perhaps the reason why they are considered the most dangerous to humans, even though their venom is not as lethal as that of other snakes. Pit vipers are main reason incidents related to snake bites in their habitats.
19. Russell's viper, or chain viper
The Russell's viper is one of the most dangerous snakes throughout Asia, causing thousands of deaths every year. After being bitten, a person experiences a wide range of symptoms, including pain, swelling, vomiting, dizziness and kidney failure.
18. Black and white cobra
Not as notorious as its Indian cousin, this fast and irritable snake is considered very dangerous. Sensing a threat, it assumes a typical cobra warning position, raising the front part of its body off the ground, spreading its narrow hood and emitting a loud hiss.
These snakes bite humans less frequently than other African cobras due to a number of factors, although their bite is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
17. Taipan, or coastal taipan
Coastal is considered the most dangerous snake in Australia. This is an extremely irritable and vigilant snake that reacts with lightning speed to any movement nearby.
Like any snake, the taipan prefers to avoid conflict and will quietly slip away if given the chance. However, if she is caught off guard or cornered, she will defend herself fiercely, and her venom will likely result in death within hours.
16. Dubois sea snake
This swimming snake is found from the northwestern coast of Australia to the islands of New Guinea and New Caledonia. And although the poison sea snake Dubois is one of the deadliest known, with less than 1/10 of a milligram injected per bite, which is usually not enough to kill a person.
15. Schlegel's prehensile-tailed bothrops
A typical ambush predator, the prehensile-tailed Schlegel's bothrops patiently waits for its unsuspecting prey to pass by. Sometimes he chooses a specific place for an ambush, and returns there every year during the spring migration of birds.
14. Boomslang
Many venomous members of the colubrid family, which includes the boomslang, are harmless to humans due to small venom glands and ineffective venomous teeth. However, the boomslang is a notable exception when it comes to the toxicity of the venom, which is found in the poisonous teeth located in the middle of the upper jaw.
When biting, boomslangs can open their jaws 170°, releasing a large number of poison, which usually leads to the death of the victim due to internal and even external bleeding.
13. Coral adder
The bite of this poisonous eastern snake at first glance it seems weak: there is almost no pain or swelling, and other symptoms may occur only after 12 hours. However, if an antidote is not administered, the neurotoxin begins to disrupt the connection between the brain and muscles, causing speech impairment, double vision, muscle paralysis and, ultimately, pulmonary or heart failure.
12. Western brown snake, or guardar
The western brown snake is very fast and very poisonous looking of the aspid family, living in Australia. Its color and pattern vary greatly depending on location, but poison and mortal danger, posing a threat to the life of the victim (including humans), is standard.
11. Efa, or sand efa
Ephas are small but very irritable and aggressive snakes, and their deadly venom makes them very dangerous. They usually strike very quickly, and the mortality rate from their bites is very high.
In the regions of their habitat (Africa, Arabia, South-West Asia), ephs are responsible for large quantity human deaths than all other snake species combined.
10. Rattlesnake
Although rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal to humans if prompt medical attention (including antivenom) is provided, they are nonetheless the most common of all snake bites.
The highest concentrations of rattlesnakes are found in southwestern and northern Mexico, while Arizona is home to as many as 13 species of rattlesnakes.
9. Spectacled snake, or Indian cobra
This snake is perhaps the most popular in the world. Possessing highly toxic poison, it feeds on rodents, lizards and frogs.
The Indian cobra, in addition to bites, can also attack or defend itself at a distance of “spitting” its venom, which, if it gets into the enemy’s eye, causes sharp and severe pain, causing severe damage.
8. Black Mamba
Black mambas are very fast, irritable, deadly poisonous and, when threatened, very aggressive. They are considered the culprits of numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. Therefore, it is widely accepted that they are the deadliest snakes on the planet.
7. Tiger snake
Native to Australia, tiger snakes have a truly fearsome reputation throughout the country, where they are considered one of the most dangerous predators for humans.
These reptiles are very dangerous due to their aggressiveness and toxicity of the poison. However, tiger snakes are highly resilient, adapting admirably to some of Australia's harshest living conditions.
6. Indian krait, or blue bungarus
The blue bungarus, which is often found in Thailand, is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the world, as more than 50% of all its bites result in fatal outcome, even taking into account the introduction of antibodies against antigens of snake venom (antidote).
5. Eastern Brown Snake, or Reticulated Brown Snake
This snake is considered the second most venomous land snake on the planet, according to the LD50 (a measure of the lethal dose of toxin) in mice. It lives in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, where it brings mortal terror to people.
4. Deadly snake
The death snake is a genus of venomous snakes from the viper family, found naturally in Australia. It is one of the most poisonous land animals in Australia and the world.
Unlike other snakes, a deadly snake can spend many days waiting for its prey before the victim appears. She hides in the foliage, and when the prey approaches, she quickly attacks, injecting her poison, and then waits for the prey to die before starting the meal.
3. Philippine cobra
Of all the cobra species, Philippine cobras may have the most toxic venom, according to toxicology experts. As a result of the bite of this snake, a person’s death can occur within half an hour.
Its venom has the deadly ability to interrupt the transmission of nerve signals and damage the respiratory system, making it one of the deadliest and most venomous snakes in the world.
2. Fierce snake
This snake of the taipan genus is also known as the inland or desert taipan. The impressive feature of this snake is not even the high toxicity of the venom, but the speed with which it bites its prey.
It usually kills its prey with a series of quick and precise strikes, during which it injects its extremely toxic venom deep into the rodent. Its venom is unmatched in toxicity among all snakes living on our planet.
1. Belcher's sea snake
According to many experts, the venom of the Belcher sea snake is almost 100 times more toxic than the venom of any other snake on the planet.
To give you an idea of the toxicity of its poison, let's say that one drop of poison king cobra can kill more than 150 people, while just a few milligrams of Belcher's sea snake venom can kill more than 1,000 people.
The good news is that this snake is considered very timid, not aggressive - you need to try very hard to provoke it into biting.
Snakes are one of the most amazing animals that evolved from lizards and have lived on Earth for more than 165 million years. Reptiles inhabit almost all continents, living on land and in aquatic environment. Today, more than 3,600 species have been registered, of which about 25% are poisonous. Most people only appearance these reptiles evoke strong emotions.
And if some are fascinated by the mystery and stunning elegance manifested in every serpentine movement, then only the name makes others panicky. But the fear of reptiles, unlike other phobias, has very significant justifications, since an encounter with poisonous snake can lead to serious consequences. Every year, more than 2 million people suffer from snakebites, of whom about 10% die, and another 10% lose their bitten limbs and remain disabled.
Perfect Killers
The main weapon of poisonous snakes is back-curved, large and sharp venom-conducting teeth, which have a special groove or internal channel through which the poison enters the wound. Composition of snake venom various types reptiles are not the same, but in any case negatively affects human body, causing the strongest allergic reactions and intoxication, affecting tissues and internal organs.
In addition, these reptiles are excellent at camouflage, move silently, swim well and easily penetrate hard-to-reach places, which makes them ideal killing machines. Although, for the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that reptiles primarily use poison for hunting, and not for self-defense. Aggression towards humans, as a rule, is shown only in response to provocations and when protecting offspring. What are the most poisonous snakes that you should avoid?
Poisonous reptiles of Russia
In Russia, the most common is the common viper. She lives in wild forests and steppes, in swamps and near rivers, including in northern regions countries, because he loves more low temperatures than her relatives. It is a relatively small reptile with a flat, triangular head that resembles an arrowhead. The reptile's evil and frightening appearance is given by unusual vertical pupils with supraorbital shields hanging over them. The color can be very diverse from grayish to coal black. Along the back, a clearly defined zigzag pattern stands out against the main background.
When meeting people, the viper usually freezes or begins to quickly crawl away, never attacking first. She shows aggression only when someone steps on her, tries to grab her, or starts to chase her. Its bite is potentially dangerous, but rarely leads to death. It’s just that the viper spends a lot of energy and effort to produce poison, so it injects it into its prey or enemy very sparingly. As a result, human mortality is no more than 1%, and in 70% of cases, symptoms from a bite disappear within a couple of days, although it’s definitely not worth taking the risk.
The list of the most poisonous snakes found in the Russian Federation also includes rattlers.
Representatives of this species, unlike vipers, have a special sensory organ - a thermolocator, thanks to which they detect even minor fluctuations in air temperatures. This “device” allows you to successfully hunt warm-blooded animals, including at night. When danger arises, rattlers take a threatening position and begin to dynamically shake the tip of their tail with a rattle, which is old skin that remains after molting. Dried horny sheaths produce a characteristic cracking sound when vibrating. By the way, rattlesnake venom is used in medicine to prepare a number of drugs and vaccines.
Poisonous and dangerous land snakes
In terms of poisonousness, the second place is occupied by the eastern (reticulated) brown snake, which lives in the eastern part of Australia, as well as in Indonesia. The color, despite the name, can be very diverse from light yellow to gray and black. The reptile inhabits not only eucalyptus forests and wild steppes, but is also found in farmlands, which is associated with a considerable number of deaths. When meeting a person, the individual does not run away, but aggressively raises its head, bends in an S-shape and immediately attacks. The victim can lose the creature in just a couple of minutes. If first aid is not provided in a timely manner and antivenin is not administered to relieve the consequences of intoxication, even death cannot be ruled out.
McCoy's taipan, or, as it is also called, the cruel snake, is a member of the adder family. This large reptile, up to 2-2.5 m long, lives mainly in the deserts of central Australia. Body color can vary from light yellow to dark brown, and the color depends on the season of the year.
The taipan's bite is the most dangerous among the venomous snakes that live on Earth's land. The venom has a neurotoxic effect on the body, so there is usually no redness or swelling at the site of the bite, but neurotoxins quickly affect nervous system, stopping neuromuscular transmission. Death occurs in 8 hours or less from paralysis of the respiratory center. A dose of 44 mg is enough to kill 250 thousand rodents and kill a hundred people, and the semi-lethal dose (0.01 mg/kg) is almost 200 times stronger than the poison of other members of the family, for example, cobra. Fortunately, in the mid-50s. last century, an antidote was developed for snake venom. Before this, the chances of surviving a bite were less than 10%.
Cases of attack inland taipans primarily associated with careless behavior of people. Their main diet consists of small animals, and the reptiles try not to meet humans, unlike the large, fast, very aggressive and also poisonous coastal taipans. These reptiles also live in Australia and lead a diurnal lifestyle, hunting rodents near human settlements. When meeting a person, such a taipan does not run away, but, on the contrary, rises and shakes its head, and then attacks with lightning speed and hits the enemy several times in a row.
Despite the invention of an antidote, even today every 2nd person bitten dies from the venom of this species of taipan, especially in places where they are widely inhabited.
Poisonous snakes of the water area
The most poisonous snakes on our planet live not only on the surface, but also in the coastal waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Sea creepers have a length of 1.2 to 2.75 m, and the body ends with a tail that is strongly flattened laterally. From an anatomical point of view, marine reptiles are very different from their terrestrial relatives. Despite the lack of gills, reptiles do not suffocate underwater. The large right lung acts as a hydrostatic organ, and the nostrils have closing valves. Moreover, reptiles can even breathe underwater, absorbing dissolved oxygen through the oral mucosa.
Marine species have strong, highly toxic poisons. This is due to the fact that their diet consists mainly of cold-blooded aquatic animals, which, in comparison with warm-blooded ones, are more resistant to the effects of toxic substances. But my powerful weapon marine species are used mainly for hunting and, if you do not provoke a predator, it is unlikely to bite. Otherwise, a lightning attack will follow. A bite can cause severe consequences, and in some cases death. The Dubois sea snake is considered the most poisonous.
The largest snake
The king cobra is the largest venomous snake, whose body length can reach 5 meters or more. Back in 1937, an individual 5 m 71 cm long was caught, which was subsequently kept for a long time in the London Zoo.
Cobras grow throughout their lives, which is 30 years or more. They mainly live in the tropics of Asia. Before pouncing on the enemy, these snakes raise their heads vertically to a third of the front part of the body, expand their cervical ribs, forming a kind of hood, and make loud noises using breathing movements characteristic barking sounds, make a warning throw and a “idle bite”, trying to scare away.
Cobras are usually very patient and can control the flow of venom, trying not to waste it. At the same time, 7 ml of poison is enough for an adult to die within 15 minutes. When meeting a cobra, you need to sit down at the level of its head and freeze so that it does not see the danger and calmly crawls away.
The most dangerous representative of the true cobra genus is the Philippine cobra, since its venom is very toxic, and the lethal dose is only 0.2 ml/kg. In addition, Philippine cobras are capable of shooting poison into the eyes of their opponent from a distance of 3 meters.
Where are the most snakes found on the planet?
The inhabitants of Africa share their continent with four hundred species of snakes, including the most poisonous in the world. For comparison, in Australia there are twice as many reptiles. At the same time, the highest mortality rate from snakebites is recorded in India, where more than 50 thousand people die per year.
China can also claim to be the snake kingdom, especially when the country was attacked by hordes of snakes in 2009. Every resident literally risked stepping on a poisonous reptile at every step. Although the Chinese were not very upset, because reptiles in the Celestial Empire bring good luck and are considered a friend of man. In addition, it is difficult to imagine the diverse and unique Chinese cuisine without poisonous reptiles, because they are included in the recipes of many national dishes and, of course, exotic rice vodka with snake.
If we take into account the density of the number of snakes in a certain area, the Canadian province of Manitoba is in the lead. Every winter it concentrates great amount reptiles that, for the purpose of reproduction, are woven into a huge snake blob. Every year, many tourists come to see such an unusual and stunning spectacle, and children play with reptiles like kittens or puppies without fear. But this is not surprising, because at first glance the evil creatures are not at all poisonous. These are just harmless striped snakes.
At the same time, land snakes do not live in New Zealand at all, and a couple marine species, which do exist, do not pose a danger. Terrestrial reptiles became extinct in glacial period, and the strict policy of the New Zealand authorities categorically prohibits keeping creeping creatures in local zoos and as pets. This country is considered one of the safest, so it is perfect for lovers of travel and relaxation in the lap of nature.
4.1 (82.67%) 15 voters
Snakes leave no one indifferent, causing either delight or panic fear. They inhabit the entire Earth, excluding only Antarctica, Ireland, New Zealand. These are some of the most dangerous creatures, and we must not forget that only about 8 percent of all snakes in the world are poisonous. They attack infrequently, because humans are too large prey for them.
If you want to know which snake is the most poisonous in the world, and this question is relevant and arouses undoubted curiosity, then we will try to answer it. But scientists have no consensus on how to rank these deadly beauties. Introducing the top 10 most poisonous snakes in the world.
10 Rattlesnake
The rattlesnake is often listed last on this list. The animal lives in North America. For a long time, the mortality rate from the bite of this snake was very high, but much has changed since then; as a result of timely assistance, the victim will almost certainly survive.
The poison helps to change the blood formula, preventing it from clotting, which causes extensive bleeding. The bitten person experiences severe malaise, nausea, drooling, and suffocation. After some time, paralysis sets in.
This snake is called a rattlesnake because of the thickening on its tail that resembles a rattle (it can be clearly seen in the photo) and the strange sounds that the scales make.
Some researchers believe that the tenth place should be taken by the spiny tail - not the most dangerous Australian snake with poison that inhibits the functioning of the lungs. Now an antidote has been developed, so people die from bites quite rarely, whereas previously every second person died.
9 Enhydrina hook-nosed sea snake
One of the most poisonous snakes living in water, enhydrina, can be found near Madagascar, the Seychelles Islands, and also in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of India. She is an excellent swimmer, moves very quickly, dives to considerable depths, and can not surface for five hours.
At the sight of a person, enhydrina usually rushes into the water and tries to hide. Its venom is eight times stronger than that of a cobra, but it is never ranked higher, because this creature is not at all aggressive; on the contrary, the hook-nosed snake itself suffers from the aggression of fishermen who prepare food for themselves from the meat of this snake.
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Some scientists completely exclude enhydrin from the ranking, giving ninth place to boomslang - African snake with a beautiful emerald color and the most dangerous poison (paralysis after its bite in a bird occurs in minutes); Boomslangs come in olive, brown, and black colors.
This reptile is an amazing conspirator: it has an excellent ability to mimic tree branches. And since Boomslangs prefer birds out of all game, their hunt is always successful. Another bird, gaping, may even sit on a snake, mistaking it for a branch.
But even if you are not so lucky, the boomslang has a lightning-fast throw: it can grab prey right on the fly.
8th place in the list of the most poisonous snakes - Harlequin adder
Most researchers give eighth place in the ranking of the most poisonous snakes in the world to the harlequin adder. It received its name for its unusually bright and spectacular coloring, consisting of stripes of red, black, yellow or orange.
This creature lives in Mexico and some areas of the United States and feeds on frogs, lizards, and insects. The reptile is not very large (up to a meter long), does not show much aggressiveness, prefers to flee.
If a snake has bitten, it can be very dangerous: despite its short teeth, the asp is capable of injecting poison deeply, as it clenches its jaws tightly.
So, the efa crawls strangely, somehow sideways, leaving traces that suggest cuneiform writing. When it sees a person or a large animal, the efa tries to scare it by emitting a strange crackling sound that occurs when special rings hit each other.
The epha's pupil is elongated, like a cat's. In addition, the efa is a viviparous snake: it brings from 10 to 15 small efas at a time. They live in desert places and, although very poisonous, never attack people without aggression from the latter.
7 Philippine cobra
A snake inflating its collar really amazes the imagination of anyone who has seen it, and the poison has a nerve-paralytic effect, so it is extremely dangerous. There is nothing special about the cobra's collar: the animal is trying to scare off the enemy in this way, solving the matter peacefully.
Markings on the nape spectacled snake, according to scientists, perform the same function. Cobra venom is very strong, and such a significant dose is injected that it is even wasteful: 250 mg! It's enough to kill several average-weight people.
Death can occur within half an hour after an accident, although effective antidotes have existed for quite some time. Beginning paralysis respiratory system sometimes it can no longer be stopped.
It's amazing that Philippine cobra not only bites, but also spits poison with precision, hitting the enemy at a distance of up to three meters.
6 Tiger snake
The sixth position is occupied by the tiger snake. The beauty lives in Australia and tries not to catch people's eyes. If this happens, the tiger snake can behave extremely aggressively, possessing a lightning-fast strike and a very strong poison that paralyzes cardiac activity.
The two-meter-tall gray or reddish creature has faint stripes all over its body and hunts insects, rodents, and small reptiles. This reptile is also viviparous; one brood can contain up to 30 snakes.
I tiger snake so strong that it kills a small animal in a few seconds, and an adult man lasts about an hour, up to a maximum of a day. Even the antidote does not always work, so the mortality rate is very high.
5 Black Mamba
The most dangerous snakes in the world rightfully include the black mamba, which is also one of the largest and largest of them, reaching a length of 5 meters. The giant lives in the vastness of South Africa.
It is surprising that it received its name not at all for the color of its body, which is actually gray or olive, but for its color oral cavity. It looks really scary, and is used by the mamba for precisely this purpose: to scare away large enemies.
This reptile is quite aggressive, gets angry, chases the enemy and continues to bite him, and the poison is enough for 12 times. And it moves at a very considerable speed - 20 kilometers per hour. These reptiles usually settle in places occupied by people, so attacks on a local resident are, unfortunately, not uncommon.
Every year, up to twenty thousand people die from this dangerous neurotoxin. An angry animal, having bitten several times, can inject up to 400 mg of poison, while the lethal dose for an adult man of average weight is from 10 mg!
4 Malay Krait
A native of Australia and South Asia, the krait is distinguished by its disgusting character and extremely toxic, brain-killing poison. Despite the fact that there is an antidote designed to save people bitten by the Malayan krait, it does not always help.
At least half of those attacked by the evil creature die. The Krayt is a nimble and inquisitive reptile. He willingly visits places where he often encounters people: farmland, villages, and even crawls into houses, so the chance to encounter a deadly creature for local residents very big.
Its spectacular bright coloring helps a little to protect itself from the krait: its entire body is covered with stripes alternating yellow and black, so that the reptile is clearly visible in the house or yard, and it is impossible not to notice it.
The Malayan krait hunts rodents, frogs, and other reptiles, including even snakes: it takes aim and makes a sharp lunge with half its body towards the victim, immediately sinking its teeth into it.
3 dangerous snake Mulga
In the top three, virtually all wildlife researchers include representatives of the same species, except that sometimes they swap the dangerous Mulga with Belcher’s snakes. These are truly the most dangerous creatures, armed with the most powerful deadly poison.
Mulga, often called the brown king, is a resident of the Australian continent. This is one of the largest reptiles in Australia: its length reaches three meters.
In addition, the brown king is a thick, heavy reptile. He usually feeds on the same things as others like him: small mammals, birds, amphibians. But the mulga also hunts other snakes, even poisonous ones, which does not cause it the slightest harm.
The huntress sneaks up on her prey, then makes a lightning-fast throw. If it was unsuccessful, the prey flees and the brown king does not pursue it. But if the mulga is angry, then, on the contrary, it gives chase, biting the enemy as soon as the opportunity presents itself, sometimes several times.
The brown king has a nervous, difficult character and often attacks for no apparent reason. When meeting him, it is best to freeze, as the mulga reacts to movement.
The venom of this reptile is not very strong, but the mortality rate from it is still extremely high, since the mulga injects up to 150 mg of toxin in one bite, which, of course, is the most dangerous dose for any large creature.
2 Belcher's sea snake
This is the most poisonous of the sea, and indeed of all reptiles in the world. Why is she placed only in second place in the ranking? The reason is simple: the sea snake is very peaceful: it rarely bites.
And not with every bite does the Belcher's sea snake inject venom. This creature tries to stay away from people. Most often, tragedies happen due to the fact that during a hunt, a reptile gets entangled in nets and fishermen pull it out along with the fish.
This is where the angry, frightened animal can no longer restrain itself and attacks the offenders. If the snake injects venom when biting, the victim’s minutes are numbered. The venom of the sea snake is 10 times stronger than that of the winner of the rating - the taipan. Just a few milligrams is enough to kill a thousand adult men!
The first place in the ranking, according to all experts, is occupied by the taipan, which rightfully enjoys the reputation of the most poisonous snake on the planet. The genus Taipan includes three (or, according to other sources, two) species. This is a taipan and a fierce (fierce) snake. The third species was described for the first time only a few years ago and is extremely rare.
The coastal taipan is a large, up to 3 meters, brown reptile. Lives in Australia, feeds on frogs, insects, lizards. But she also loves to feast on mice and rats, which determines her desire to get closer to people’s homes. Leads a diurnal lifestyle, which increases the likelihood of its collision with people.
These reptiles often live in sugar cane thickets, they are distinguished by a quarrelsome, aggressive character, and their causeless attacks on people and large animals are not uncommon. Considering herself offended, the taipan raises the front part of its body and strikes several times.
Teeth almost one and a half centimeters in length inject 120 to 400 mg of nerve-paralytic and blood-thinning poison into the wound, as a result of which death occurs within a few hours. The victim cannot be saved, despite the efforts of doctors, the antidote at their disposal, at least in half of the cases.
And until the mid-20th century (it was then that the antidote was developed) the mortality rate was 90%. Even a horse dies within minutes after being bitten by a snake.
Fierce (cruel) - the second species of the taipan genus - is considered the most poisonous of land reptiles. Its venom is at least 180 times stronger than that of a cobra, so it the most poisonous snake in the world. If a fierce snake bites a person, death will occur within the next 40 minutes. The poison injected at one time is enough to kill 100 people.
These reptiles live in desert places, lay eggs in cracks between stones, and try to stay away from local residents. This type of taipan is not at all aggressive; it rarely attacks people.
Only a few such cases have been documented, and in all of these cases it was humans who showed aggression. An interesting ability of this type of taipan is to change color depending on the time of year: in summer it darkens, and the head can become almost completely black. Watch the video and see for yourself the danger of these reptile species.
With an active increase in pace global warming the number of various cold-blooded organisms, including snakes, inhabiting our planet began to increase significantly. This is primarily due to the fact that heat environment creates conditions of increased comfort for these creatures. This article presents all the most dangerous and poisonous species of snakes living in different parts of our planet.
The most poisonous snake
The most poisonous snake globe is rightfully considered a taipan.
These reptiles live in Queensland and New Guinea and have the following features:
- on average, their body reaches a size of 190–200 centimeters, has a uniform color of red, dark or light brown;
- the head is often slightly lighter than the body, and the abdomen is white or yellow;
- The poisonous glands of the taipan, placed at the base of the poisonous teeth, reaching a size of 1.3 centimeters, on average contain from 120 to 400 mg of poison, which has a neuroparalytic and coagulopathic effect.
Did you know? The largest one discovered in wildlife representatives of this species reached a size of three meters.
This reptile is prone to a diurnal lifestyle. The basis of its diet consists of small frogs and rodents, which is why the taipan can often be found not far from human dwellings and sugar cane fields, where cases of their attacks on people are often recorded.
Seeing potential danger, these reptiles raise their head, shaking it slightly, and then make a series of sharp lightning-fast attacks towards the enemy, each of which ends with a bite. If appropriate assistance is not provided, death from the bite of this snake can occur within 4–12 hours.
Video: about the most poisonous snake in the world - taipan
Poisonous and dangerous snakes
In nature, there are many varieties of snakes that pose a significant threat to human life. At the same time, the danger is posed not only by poisonous representatives of this group of animals, but also, for example, by anacondas and pythons, which, despite the presence of quite impressive teeth, do not have glands in their bodies responsible for the production of poison.
In addition to various terrestrial reptiles, there are also sea and freshwater snakes that pose a potential danger to human life. Below we present to your attention a list that includes the names of the most dangerous species of snakes on Earth, depending on their habitat.
Russia
The following poisonous representatives of reptiles live in Russia:
- - the most common type of venomous snake middle zone Russia. Most often it can be found in forest areas, in swampy areas and along the banks of various bodies of water. The length of the body (quite thick) rarely exceeds 1 meter. There is a characteristic X-shaped pattern on the head, and a dark-colored line in the shape of a zigzag runs along the ridge. Color can vary from reddish-brown to gray.
- - found on the territory of all steppes of the Russian Federation. Most often it settles in various bushes, ravines, gullies and along roadsides. The size of its body very rarely reaches 60 centimeters; males are slightly smaller than females. The back of the steppe viper has a grayish-brown color; along the ridge there is a stripe tapering towards the tail, which can sometimes be divided into separate fragments. The lateral parts of the muzzle of this reptile have pointed edges and are slightly raised above its upper pole.
- - body length is about 170–190 centimeters. The anterior edge of the muzzle has a pronounced roundness. The body is covered with olive scales on top. On the lateral surface of the body, especially in large individuals, a clearly visible stripe of a dark shade appears, upper limit which is bordered by a yellow or white dotted stripe.
- - in its structure it is very similar to the steppe viper, however, it is characterized by a thicker body and brighter coloring. The body is usually brick-red or orange-yellow, and a zigzag stripe of brown or black appears on the back.
- - the head of this snake is covered with fairly large shields, which is why it got its name. Between the nostrils and eyes of such a reptile there is a small depression in which a heat-sensitive organ is located. They are characterized by a gray or brownish color. The back is streaked with transverse stripes of dark shades.
- - distinctive feature are covering it top part skull ribbed scales. This snake is the most dangerous of all the reptiles that live in modern Russia. Body size rarely exceeds 1.5 meters. Males of this species are smaller in size than females. The color of the body varies from gray to brown-red. Along the ridge there is a row of elongated spots of orange or brown color. On the sides of the body there are rows of small dark spots.
Ukraine
The following poisonous snakes are found in Ukraine:
Belarus
The common viper is the only poisonous snake found on the territory of Belarus.
Did you know? Steppe vipers have almost completely died out on the territory of Ukraine, since they are not adapted to life in the conditions of cultivated fields.
Kazakhstan
The following representatives of poisonous reptiles are common in Kazakhstan:
Australia
The following venomous reptiles live in Australia:
Brazil
In Brazil you can find the following poisonous snakes:
Africa
On African continent reside:
India
Live in India:
Important! India is one of the most densely populated countries with snakes; three million people in this country suffer from snake bites every year, so be extremely careful if you go there on a tourist or work visit.
Thailand
In Thailand there is a danger of encountering the following poisonous snakes:
America
Pit vipers, more commonly called in the United States rattlesnakes - the only kind poisonous snakes living in the USA. They are found mainly in desert and hot parts of this country.
Other countries and continents
In other countries there are also reptiles, meeting which can pose a danger to humans:
First aid for a poisonous snake bite
When bitten by any poisonous snake, you should follow these rules:
- Apply a tourniquet from available materials (fabric, elastic band, rags, belt, etc.) above the bite site to prevent further spread of the poison throughout the body.
- Suck out the poison that gets into the wound with your mouth, always spitting, with a rubber bulb or a syringe without a needle. It is necessary to suction until normal blood flows from the wounds inflicted by the snake (at first, coagulated clots will flow).
- Then treat the wound with an antiseptic and apply an aseptic bandage over it.
- Take the victim to a doctor to provide further assistance and monitor the patient's condition.
Video: first aid for a snake bite We hope this article will help you recognize the most poisonous and dangerous snakes on our planet and avoid meeting them.
Did you know? There are no documented sightings of snakes in Greenland.
Remember that in most cases, snakes will not attack you unless you violate the limits of acceptable behavior with them. Treat any representatives of flora and fauna with respect - this will definitely help you avoid unnecessary troubles and visits to the doctor.
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