These are the 12 most venomous snakes in the world! This does not mean that they are necessarily the most dangerous, since the snakes with the most toxic venom are not always the ones that attack the most and, consequently, the ones that kill the most. The criterion we used to make this list is the toxicity of the venom, measured in LD50.
O LD50 (Median Lethal Dose) is an indicator of acute toxicity. That is: it indicates the potential for short-term intoxication of a given substance. The Lethal Dose is given in milligrams of venom per kilogram of body mass. This means that the smaller the amount, the more toxic the poison will be.
12. Well
- Toxicity: 0,656 mg/kg
- Genre: Oh well
- Location: southwest, south and southeast Asia
There are more than 20 species of snakes that belong to the naja genus. A striking feature of this type of snake is the fact that it raises a large part of its body and inflates its neck like a hood when it feels threatened. In addition, cobras are capable of spitting venom over two meters away to defend themselves against stoners. When it hits the skin, the venom causes irritation. If you get it in the eyes, it can even blind you.
11. Australian Copperhead
- Toxicity: 0,560 mg/kg
- Genre: Austrelaps
- Location: southeastern Australia
There are three species of snakes belonging to the genus Austrelaps: labialis, ramsayi and superbus. All of them are popularly known in Australia as copperhead ("copper head"), which is explained by their coppery brown color. These snakes usually appear little to humans. But if provoked, they can bite. Its venom is neurotoxic (causes motor paralysis), hemolytic (destroys red blood cells) and cytotoxic (destroys cells).
10. Brown spotted snake
- Toxicity: 0,360 mg/kg
- Species: Pseudonaja guttata
- Location: northeast Australia
As you can see, the most venomous snakes in the world are actually in Australia. The species Pseudonaja guttata lives in plains and has the habit of going out hunting during the day. At night, it hides in deep holes in the ground. Its venom is mainly neurotoxic, causing motor paralysis in its prey.
9. Storage
- Toxicity: 0,473 mg/kg
- Species: Pseudonaja nuchalis
- Location: in much of mainland Australia
This species of western brown snake can be found in much of the Australian territory, in arid and semi-arid regions (forests, shrublands and grasslands). An individual of this species can reach 1,6 meters. This species is known for its speed and the aggressiveness with which it faces any threat. Its venom, in addition to being neurotoxic, is also hemolytic.
8. Death snake
- Toxicity: 0,400 mg/kg
- Species: Acanthophis Antarcticus
- Location: east and south coasts of Australia
This snake has a curious physical type: its body is stocky (it grows up to 75 cm), its head is arrow-shaped, and its tail is thin. It is known as a master of camouflage and ambush, remaining immobile in the middle of the bush, waiting for its prey. Despite its highly neurotoxic venom, which can kill a person in just six hours, cases of human deaths caused by the bites of this species are rare.
7. Chappell Island Tiger Snake
- Toxicity: 0,194 mg/kg
- subspecies: Notechis ater minions
- Location: Mount Chappell Island off Tasmania and other islands in the Furneaux Archipelago
The Chappell Island snake, which lives in the Tasmanian islands, is the largest species of snakes belonging to the tiger snake family, and can reach almost two meters in length. What, at first glance, sets it apart from other types of tiger snakes is its beautiful olive green coloration.
6. Common sea snake
- Toxicity: 0,164 mg/kg
- Species: Enhydrina schistosa
- Location: Arabian Sea, South and Southeast Asia, coastal islands of India
Also known as the hook-nosed sea snake or the Valakadyn sea snake, the Enhydrina schistosa is a highly venomous and dangerous species, responsible for about half of the cases of sea snake bites recorded in the world. . This sea snake can reach a depth of 100 m and remain submerged for up to five hours. Its venom is so potent that just one bite from this snake contains a dose capable of killing six people.
5. Black Tiger Snake
- Toxicity: 0,131 mg/kg
- subspecies: Notechis ater humphreysi
- Location: Tasmania and King Islands
This subspecies is found only on Tasmania and King Islands. It has diurnal habits, although during the summer it prefers to move at night. It is usually found in denser forests or swampy areas. Its forked tongue serves as a sensor to detect the most hidden prey.
4. Snake-tiger
- Toxicity: 0,118 mg/kg
- Species: You will notice the shields
- Location: mostly in southeastern Australia
This is one of the most feared snakes in all of Australia. She is usually seen in swampy environments or near streams, and doesn't like to be disturbed at all. When it feels threatened, it raises its head, inflates its body and whistles loudly, as if to say: "don't you dare come any closer". Its venom is highly neurotoxic and can lead a person to death within 30 minutes.
3. Coastal Taipan
- Toxicity: 0,099 mg/kg
- Species: Oxyuranus scutellatus
- Location: northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea
The third most venomous snake species in the world usually measures two meters in length and inhabits warmer, more humid coastal regions. It can be found in pastures, plantations, hollow logs and even in garbage (it's just that in garbage there are usually rats, one of its favorite preys).
Due to its proximity to humans and its aggressive behavior, the coastal taipan is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Australia. Prior to 1956, when its antidote was developed, a coastal taipan bite meant certain death.
2. Brown Cobra
- Toxicity: 0,053 mg/kg
- Species: Pseudonaja textilis
- Location: New Guinea and Australia
As this species is distributed across the most populated regions of the Australian territory, it is not uncommon to come across such a snake in Australia. Like the coastal taipan, the brown taipan is extremely dangerous, and doesn't usually "think twice" before making a move.
Despite its bite expelling a small dose of venom, the toxicity is very high, which causes countless human deaths. No snake species kills as many people in Australia as the brown snake - making it the country's most dangerous snake. The venom causes paralysis and hemorrhage.
1. Inland taipan: the most venomous snake in the world!
- Toxicity: 0,025 mg/kg
- Species: Oxyuranus microlepidotus
- Location: semi-arid regions of Australia
Despite its very powerful poison - the most toxic in the world! -, this snake is far from the most dangerous. This means that, due to their distribution in the territory and their temperament, species such as the brown taipan or the coastal taipan pose much more risks to humans than the inland taipan.
In addition to being a "shy" snake, the mighty taipan lives in remote regions, so contacts with people are quite rare. Its venom, in addition to being ultra potent, has an enzyme called hyaluronidase that facilitates its diffusion into the bloodstream. Luckily, this snake is relatively tame and lives far from cities.
In the video below, you can see the most venomous snake in the world up close:
INLAND TAIPAN SNAKE aka FIERCE SNAKE CLOSE UP! Encounters with the World's Most Venomous Snakes!What is the most venomous snake in Brazil?
The most venomous snake in Brazil is the true coral (genus Micrurus). There are 32 species of true corals in Brazil, all of them belonging to the naja snake and mamba family (Elapidae). A striking feature of the coral, in addition to its small length (80 cm) are the white, black and red rings along the entire body.
The true coral can be found in almost all of Brazil, from Rio Grande do Sul to the state of Tocantis. Its toxicity is considered high, 0,69 mg/kg, slightly behind the cobra (12th on this list). A coral sting can cause double vision, dizziness, muscle pain and respiratory failure. If the person bitten is delayed in receiving medical treatment, the bite can be fatal.
Snake bites in numbers
According to the international NGO Doctor Without Borders, 5,4 million people are bitten by snakes every year. Of these, 100 die and 400 are left with some type of injury that can make them unable to work.
Worrying, isn't it? Therefore, the World Health Organization has developed a strategy that intends to reduce this number by half by 2030. The great challenge is to improve treatment and facilitate access to antidotes in some regions of the world.
