The Cyber Archive.
From the most poisonous snake on Earth to the most dangerously aggressive species, we
count 15 of the world's deadliest most venomous snakes, based on their behavior and venom
potency.
Number 15. The King Cobra. This species is the world's
longest venomous snake, reaching up to 5.7m (18.7ft). Despite the word Cobra in its name,
this snake is not part of the True Cobra family. Mainly feeding on lizards and rodents, the
King Cobra tends to avoid human contact but does have a fearsome reputation. Although
not every bite can be venomous, an untreated venomous bite from this serpent has a fatality
rate of 50-60%.
Number 14. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. This
venomous pit viper is found mainly in southeast United States. It's the heaviest venomous
snake in America and the largest Rattlesnake species. They can measure over 2.1m (6.8ft)
long and weigh up to 15.4kg (34lb). One popular myth is that these snakes must rattle before
striking but in fact they're actually quite capable of striking while remaining completely
silent. Symptoms of a bite from these snakes include instant pain like two hot needles,
bleeding from the mouth, hypotension, a weak pulse, swelling and severe pain in the affected
limb.
Number 13. The Death Adder. Native to Australia, New
Guinea and nearby islands, Death Adders are among the most venomous snakes in the world.
Unlike most snakes, Death Adders don't actively hunt but prefer to lie in ambush and draw
their prey to them. Their venomous bite injects a strong neurotoxin that causes paralysis,
which seems minor at first but can cause death from a complete respiratory shutdown within
six hours.
Number 12. Jameson's Mamba. This snake is very quick
and highly venomous. Normally found in trees and thickets in central African rainforests,
this species of green mamba is extremely alert and highly nervous. If they feel threatened
they'll get very aggressive, lifting their head off the ground, hissing loudly and striking
repeatedly. Their venom contains both neurotoxins and cardiotoxins that can be deadly in as
little as 30 minutes.
Number 11. The Philippine Cobra. Also called the Northern
Philippine Cobra as it's found mainly in the northern regions of the Philippines. This
stocky snake is a highly venomous spitting cobra, capable of accurately spitting their
venom at targets up to 3m (9.8ft) away. As their venom contains a potent neurotoxin,
symptoms of a bite can cause severe headache, vomiting, dizziness and difficulty breathing.
Complete respiratory failure can occur in as little as 30 minutes.
Number 10. The Saw-Scaled Viper. These venomous vipers
can be found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East and India. Saw-Scaled Vipers
are responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. They're relatively
small snakes, reaching about 90cm (35in) in length but their bites can be quite nasty.
Consisting mainly of hemotoxins, their venom destroys red blood cells and disrupt blood
clotting. The amount of venom they produce varies, the lethal dose for humans is about
4mg but they normally produce somewhere between 6mg and 35mg.
Number 9. The Caspian Cobra. This is the most venomous
species of cobra in the world. Also called the Central Asian Cobra or Oxus Cobra, they're
found mainly in the Transcaspian region of Central Asia. This snake is generally very
aggressive and bad-tempered. Although they try to avoid humans, they will fiercely strike
repeatedly if they feel threatened. Their venom contains the usual potent neurotoxins
but also contains cytotoxins which causes tissue-death and necrosis. If bitten by this
cobra you'd have a 75% chance of dying in less than an hour.
Number 8. The Tiger Snake. This snake is found in southern
Australia and Tasmania. They're highly variable in color, often banded like a tiger. Their
venom possess potent toxins, including neurotoxins, coagulants, haemolysins and myotoxins. Symptoms
of a bite include localized pain, tingling, numbness and sweating, followed by a fairly
rapid onset of paralysis. If left untreated, there's about a 60% chance of dying.
Number 7. Eastern Green Mamba. Also known as the common
mamba, this species is quite large at an average length of 2m (6.6ft). Like all other species
of mamba, the Eastern Green Mamba is highly venomous. Their extremely rapid-acting venom
contains pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neurotoxins along with other toxins that can cause convulsions
and rapid fatal paralysis in just 30 minutes. They produce enough venom to kill several
humans in a single bite.
Number 6. The Black Mamba. Found in Africa, this snake
is the second longest venomous snake, and one of the fastest moving snakes in the world,
capable of moving at 11km/h that's 6.8 mph. Being a mamba their venom is very potent as
you'd expect but it's also extremely fast-acting. Capable of killing a human in just 20 minutes.
Without treatment with antivenom, you're pretty much guaranteed to die within an hour.
Number 5. The Common Krait. Also known as the Blue Krait
or Indian Krait, this snake is a member of the 'Big Four', species inflicting the most
snakebites on humans in India. They can grow up to 1.75m (5.7ft) and generally look black
or blue with white stripes. Containing powerful neurotoxins, their bites are often painless.
Victims will complain of severe abdominal cramps, accompanied by gradual paralysis and
if left untreated has an 80% chance of dying within 5 hours.
Number 4. Daboia. Also known as Russell's Viper or Chain
Viper this is another member of the 'Big Four' snakes of India. They produce considerable
amounts of venom but it's quite slow acting, gradually causing organ failure in its victims.
Signs like pain and swelling occur at the bite, followed by bleeding gums within 20
minutes. But death normally occurs from septicemia and organ failure, between 1 to 14 days after
the bite occurred.
Number 3. The Coastal Taipan. Also known as the Common
Taipan is the third most venomous snake in the world. Found in Northern Australia and
New Guinea, this snake can reach lengths of up to 3.3m (10.8ft). Feeding mainly on warm
blooded mammals, their highly potent venom causes severe internal bleeding and because
it always delivers a fatal dose, death normally occurs within 30 minutes.
Number 2. The Eastern Brown Snake. Often referred to
as the Common Brown Snake, it is considered the world's second most venomous land snake.
Native to Australia and Indonesia these snakes are fast and aggressive. Although the venom
is extremely toxic and fatal, this species tends to initiate their defense with non-fatal
bites first. However it would be like playing Russian Roulette, a bite would have a 20%
chance to kill you, so if you don't die the first time, I wouldn't suggest hanging around.
Number 1. The Inland Taipan. Commonly known as the Western
Taipan and found in central east Australia. Its venom, drop for drop, is by far the most
toxic of any snake or reptile on Earth. Unlike most snakes, the Inland Taipan's venom is
specially adapted to kill warm blooded species. The venom from a single bite is lethal enough
to kill at least 100 men. Causing paralysis, brain hemorrhaging, anaphylactic shock and
cardiac arrest, death normally occurs in just 30 minutes.
And that's it for this deadly countdown, as always thanks for watching.