There are many dangerous animals on the planet - African crocodiles, poisonous spiders, large predators like lions and sharks. However, one category stands out in particular. Yes, these are the same snakes - dangerous and poisonous, large and beautiful animals that exist in all corners of the earth, and a meeting with which can end a human life.
These reptiles live on all continents except Antarctica, and on many large and small islands. The largest currently known are the python and anaconda, the smallest is Leptotyphlops carlae, only 10 cm long. Most famous snakes are non-poisonous, but those that have a toxin in their arsenal fully compensate for its absence in their relatives.
Below in the article are the TOP 10: the most poisonous snakes on the planet.
Schlegel's prehensile-tailed bothrops
This beauty seems rather funny, but its poison is very toxic - it destroys blood vessels and red blood cells. In Costa Rica, about 6 people die every year from the bites of the ciliated viper (another name for it).
Bothrops, along with some of the species listed below, are the most venomous snakes in the world. Why are they dangerous?
The ciliated viper is found in Central and South America, and grows up to 50-60 cm. It does not specifically attack people; its main food is hummingbirds, small rodents, frogs, and lizards.
However, if someone is unlucky, he will experience very unpleasant sensations - sharp pain, the bitten area swells and internal bleeding may occur. When bitten by an adult snake, medical attention is necessary, otherwise death is possible.
Black Mamba
The black mamba lives in many parts of the African continent - in the list of “the most dangerous snakes in the world” it, like no other, deserves to occupy the first line. Her throw is extremely accurate, and her poison is toxic. She is very fast - the black mamba can move at a speed of 20 km/h, that is, faster than many people run.
This beauty does not like meeting people and tends to avoid them; her main diet is rodents. However, she is very aggressive and, when cornered, will rush to attack - despite the fact that the mamba can make up to 12 bites in a row, this scenario makes a meeting with her extremely dangerous.
This is, without exaggeration, the most dangerous snake in the world - the rating of poisons gives it first place, since in the absence medical care black mamba victims die 100% of the time. An antidote exists and in most cases the person can be saved, however, given that death occurs within 15 minutes to 3 hours, time is short.
White-lipped keffiyeh
This snake can be found in India, China, Malaysia and many Indonesian islands. Lives mainly in trees and rarely comes down to the ground. Males of this species grow up to 61 cm, females - up to 82 cm. Their main food is small amphibians and mammals, birds, and less often - lizards.
The white-lipped keffiyeh uses abandoned bird nests, hollows, cracks as shelters, and hides right in the middle of the foliage. Its place in nature is the floodplains of rivers and streams, woodlands and shrubs, rainforests, flat areas and foothills, bamboo thickets, plantations, sometimes lives in the vicinity of cities and towns.
The venom of the white-lipped keffiyeh is complex; it has neuroparalytic and fibrionolytic effects. Keffiyehs are also not the most dangerous snakes in the world: deaths There are few reported bites from them, some even keep them in terrariums as pets. However, meeting her in wildlife, where it is difficult to detect and get out of the way in time, can end sadly.
Krayts
The most dangerous snakes on our planet can look harmless or even very beautiful. And a clear confirmation of this are the kraits. This genus of poisonous snakes has 12 species, among which the yellow-headed krait is considered the most poisonous. He has small teeth, but this is a dubious advantage in places where people wear light clothing.
Snakes of this species live on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, South Asia and Australia. They love dry places full of shelters, and often crawl into people's homes, as a result of which meetings of both occur quite often.
The average length of the edge is 1.5-2 meters. They are active mainly at night and at dusk, feeding on small mammals, lizards, amphibians and snakes.
Krayt is capable of killing 10 people with one dose of his poison. If you ask a reptile expert to name the ten most venomous snakes on the planet, he will definitely mention the krait.
Reticulated brown snake
The reticulated brown snake accounts for 80% of snake bites in Australia. On average, these reptiles grow up to one and a half meters in length, making them one of the most dangerous snakes on the continent. Firstly, it hunts during the day, which coincides with the period of human activity, and, secondly, it has a complex poison, which is a mixture of neurotoxins with anticoagulants (affecting the entire body and the liver and kidneys in particular).
The reticulated brown snake attacks without warning. She is a selective and highly adaptable hunter, fully deserving of a place on the "world's most dangerous snakes" list. She is capable of living in suburbs and towns. Australian residents and visitors can discover subtle flexible body in a barn, shed, garage, even in her own closet - she climbs anywhere in search of rodents.
African boomslang
A tree snake that can grow up to 3 meters in length. Boomslang lives in the south and southwest of Africa, and its venom is very toxic - when it enters the bloodstream, it immediately begins to destroy cells.
Cases of this snake attacking a person in last years Only 23 were registered; when encountered, it prefers to crawl away rather than attack.
This reptile usually hides in bushes or tall grass, she is also an excellent tree climber and is able to imitate branches with her coloring. Its main food is birds; the boomslang will also not refuse to feast on eggs. Moreover, he has an excellent reaction - he is able to grab a bird on the fly. The death of the famous zoologist Carl Patterson Schmidt in 1957 is associated with the African boomslang.
Black-necked cobra
Known for its ability to spit poison. The black-necked cobra is found in the savannas of Africa, its body color varies from light brown to dark brown, its throat and neck are black.
The black-necked cobra is widely known for its peculiarity: when it encounters something it considers dangerous, it rises above the ground and “shoots” a stream of venom. During one pass, the snake releases about 3.7 mg of toxin. In a state of severe irritation, the black-necked cobra is capable of shooting up to 28 times in a row, using up to 135 mg of venom - almost its entire supply from the poisonous glands. The eyes are always the target of “shots” - local residents and tourists from time to time become victims of such encounters.
Arizona adder
This is one of the smallest snakes of the slate family, its length reaches only 40 cm. Its body color is very memorable - alternating black, red and white rings. Arizona adders are not the most dangerous snakes in the world: to get into trouble, it is not enough just to meet one, you also need to behave extremely stupidly.
This one lives bright snake in the desert areas of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and is known for its unusual behavior - when threatened, it hides underground, leaving only its tail curled in a loop outside, and makes flapping sounds. A person who meets her can simply leave - however, when trying to pull out the adder or grab it by the tail, problems are guaranteed.
Thin teeth 8 millimeters long bite almost painlessly. Moreover, the effect does not occur immediately - symptoms of poisoning appear 8-24 hours after the bite.
The Arizona adder, the only relative of the cobra in North America, injects a small amount of venom, but quite enough to kill. Without an antidote, muscle paralysis can occur, which ultimately leads to cardiac arrest and death.
Taipan
The genus taipan includes three species of very poisonous snakes - the taipan itself, cruel snake and Oxyuranus temporalis, discovered as recently as 2007.
All of them - rather large snakes, whose bite is very dangerous - before the advent of an antidote, they died from their poison in 90% of cases.
The coastal taipan is Australia's largest venomous snake and, according to various estimates, ranks third or fourth in toxicity. Due to its aggressive nature, high speed of movement and size, it is undesirable to meet with it - in the state of Queensland, where taipans are most often found, every second person bitten dies, and death can occur in 4-12 hours.
And if someone asked an Australian what the most dangerous snake in the world is, he might well hear the answer - the taipan, and its closest relative - the cruel snake. And it's hard to argue with that.
This animal is an inhabitant of Central Australia, prefers cracks and breaks in the soil in dry plains and deserts and feeds mainly on small mammals. The snake grows up to 1.9 meters in length and is the only Australian species, famous on this moment, which changes color depending on the time of year.
The venom of a cruel snake is enough to kill 100 people or 250,000 mice - among land species this is the most poisonous. Fortunately, this snake is not at all aggressive - most documented cases of bites were caused by carelessness of people.
King Cobra
The average body length of this beauty is 3-4 meters, the largest of those caught reached 5.71 m. The king cobra lives for about 30 years, continuing to grow all this time. Thanks to the diet of this snake, the most dangerous reptiles in the world should also be afraid of it - after all, it feeds mainly on other types of snakes, not disdaining poisonous ones, for which it was given the name Ophiophagus hannah.
There are several exceptional features characteristic of this reptile:
- She can regulate the amount of poison when she bites - in most cases she bites a person without toxin (as some scientists believe, she does not want to waste precious poison on someone who is not prey).
- A snake can make sounds using its respiratory system. Of the currently known reptiles, only King Cobra and the Indian rat snake.
- The female makes a nest for the eggs, which is uncharacteristic of snakes of other species, and guards it throughout the entire incubation period - about 100 days. During this time, the cobra is able to do without food.
- The venom of a hamadryad can even kill an elephant if it bites its trunk or fingers (the only places vulnerable to snake teeth).
Candidates for the title
Of course, the most poisonous snakes in the world, the top ratings for which are regularly compiled by various experts and popularizers, are not all included in this list. In fact, there are many dangerous ones. In addition to those mentioned, rattlesnake bites are very toxic, sand f-hole, viper-shaped death snake, Philippine cobra, tiger, eastern brown snake.
The latter prefers to live near populated areas and can be very aggressive - cases of bites and persecution by this reptile are not uncommon.
Rattlesnake
The well-known rattlesnake is capable of biting through both clothing and shoes, and although it “kindly” announces its presence with the crack of its tail, not all of its “victims” can escape. Representatives of this category are not the most dangerous snakes in the world, but an encounter with them can result in death - although a vaccine exists, people who are bitten die in 4% of cases.
In fact, rattlers are an entire subfamily of venomous snakes, which includes approximately 224 species. Their sizes vary greatly.
The rattlesnake prefers to avoid people; it attacks if it is in danger or has nowhere to run. It hunts mainly at night, although it can crawl out to bask in the sun during the day. For the winter, these snakes often gather together, warming each other and hibernating in a kind of snake ball.
Sandy efa
This is a small snake, up to 75 cm long, that lives mainly in clay deserts, abandoned ruins, thickets of bushes, and on river cliffs. It feeds mainly on small rodents, as well as birds, toads and frogs, lizards; young individuals also eat scorpions, scolopendras, and darkling beetles.
There is so much talk about sand faffs that they are already becoming a legend. According to rumors, the bite of this snake can kill a company of soldiers, and the vaccine, although it saves from death, does not completely cure the consequences of the bite (a person may remain crippled). If an African wanted to name the seven most dangerous venomous snakes on his continent, the epha would definitely be among them.
In reality, every year in Africa many people die from the poison of the sand epha. This death is far from pleasant - the poison reduces the amount of fibrinogen in the blood, causing bleeding - at the site of the bite, from the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth.
But this snake itself does not attack people - most deaths occur due to human carelessness. She very rarely crawls into homes, and warns of an attack with a characteristic rustling sound that she makes with her tail.
With the active increase in the rate of 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 taipan is rightfully considered the most poisonous snake in the world.
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 representative of this species found in the wild reached three meters in size.
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 heads, shaking them 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, swampy areas and along the banks of various reservoirs. The length of the body (quite thick) rarely exceeds 1 meter. There is a characteristic X-shaped pattern on the head, and a line runs along the ridge dark color in the shape of a zigzag. Color can vary from reddish-brown to gray.
- - found on the territory of all steppes 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 individual 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. A clearly visible stripe appears on the lateral surface of the body, especially in large individuals. dark shade, the upper border of 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.
- 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.
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
The following people live on the African continent:
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 rattlesnakes in the United States, are the only species of venomous snake found in the United States. 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:
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.
The ribbon krait is a very poisonous snake from the family Colubridae, the order Squamate. It is popularly called ribbon krait, yellow krait, sankni and koklia-krait.
External signs of pama
Pama reaches 1.50 - 1.75 meters in length. The color of the snake is black or black and blue. The head is black and blue. The muzzle is brown.
Back and down from the occipital shield, a yellow stripe descends on both sides, like a collar. The remaining parts of the snake’s body are covered with yellow and black-blue rings, located almost at an equal distance from each other and almost the same width; their number ranges from 25 to 35.
The ventral scutes are greatly expanded, the caudal scutes are arranged in a single row. The keel on the back is pronounced, the tail is blunted, so the shape of the snake’s body appears triangular. The teeth are small, no more than 2-3 millimeters in length.
Lifestyle of Ribbon Kraits
The ribbon krait is nocturnal. During the day, he prefers to hide in dry holes or under tree roots.
If you catch it, it does not offer any resistance; you can throw it, shake it, or hold it in your hands. But when night falls, mom crawls out to hunt. Sensitive thermoreceptors detect the heat of prey within a radius of 5-7 meters, and the snake is rarely left without prey.
Pama Spread
Pama is widespread in the forests of Northeast India, on the islands of Sumatra and Java, and the Indochina Peninsula. Often this type of snake inhabits Burma, Southern China, the countries of Southeast Asia, and the Sunda Islands.
Pama is a poisonous snake that poses a danger to humans. Habitats of the ribbon krait
The ribbon krait lives in both moderately humid and dry places. However required condition for snakes to live is the presence of a variety of shelters - holes, heaps of dead wood, thickets of bushes near which the krait hunts. Krayt can also be found on agricultural lands, in human yards and homes. In areas with high population density, they are not so common, although they can appear in the house. IN daytime Pama most often avoids the sun, hiding in her shelters.
Ribbon krait – poisonous snake
Pama is one of the most dangerous snakes for humans. She often crawls into people's homes, hiding there from sunlight. In terms of the way it attacks the victim, the pama resembles: it not only bites tightly into the victim, but also tries to inflict as many bites on it as possible. Frogs die from its bite within a few seconds. Larger animals, like cats, can live for just over 20 minutes. A person's death may occur in the next 10-15 hours.
Most often, an encounter with a ribbon krait ends sadly. The amount of poison received turns out to be too great for the body, and the person dies within 2-5 hours from the moment 2-3 milliliters of pama poison enters the bloodstream. After the bite, a slight shock initially occurs, headache, a state of suffocation from lack of air, fainting, interruptions in heart function. It is urgent to administer anti-snake serum, otherwise the person will die in 10-15 hours. Recovery occurs in 5-7 days.
Features of the behavior of the tape edge
During daylight hours, the ribbon krait hides in shelters. The light blinds and frightens the snake, depriving it of aggressiveness. In this case, if the krait is disturbed, it usually curls up in rings, hiding its head inside. In the dark, the actions of this snake are bold and energetic.
When a person approaches, the pama most often takes flight, but if the snake is irritated, it may attack the offender. During the daytime, the krait attacks extremely rarely, since during the hot period the snake is very lethargic. If disturbed at this time, it most often will not attack, but will crawl to the side and curl up in a ring. At night, the ribbon krait is extremely aggressive and attacks even in the absence of a threat to life.
Therefore, when meeting this snake, it is best to avoid it. Pama bites are fatal, however, due to the fact that the snake's poisonous teeth are quite short, the bitten person still has hope of survival, unlike bites spectacled cobra. However, Vietnamese children play with their pama, hang it on a stick, put it on their neck, behave with poisonous snake rather unceremoniously. The ribbon krait never bites, blinded by bright light and strives to hide its head under its scaly body. However, you need to be careful with this snake, even the slightest scratch poisonous tooth causes signs of poisoning.
Reproduction of ribbon kraits
Pama breeds from April to June. There are from 5 to 14 eggs in a clutch. The incubation period lasts 60 - 63 days at a temperature of 29 degrees C and high relative humidity. Young pamas are born weighing 7-8 grams every month. On the tenth day the first molt occurs. Within a few days, the cubs will become poisonous and dangerous to small animals and other snakes. After this, the young snakes actively feed on both carrion and live small snakes and grow quickly.
Pama's diet
Pama hunts small snakes, lizards, small mammals (shrew, bats) and amphibians.
The ribbon krait attacks unexpectedly and sharply. At the same time, the snake moves its head far back and throws half of its body forward in an oblique direction, trying to sink its teeth into its prey. The ribbon krait then squeezes its jaws several times to force the venom into the wound.
Millions of people are afraid of snakes, and it is no coincidence that this type of reptile can not only injure, but also kill. Many species have poison that can cause harm to the human body. It belongs to the LD50 substances, which cause the death of every second person. Who are the most dangerous snakes in the world? Where do they live? How do they look? What do they eat?
We propose to consider the most dangerous reptiles, taking into account the semi-lethal dose of a toxic substance (LD50).
Top 10 most dangerous snakes in the world
10th place – Philippine Cobra
The LD50 of this individual is 0.2 mg/kg. The reptile has the most toxic venom of all cobra families. Despite the attractive, majestic appearance, a beautiful golden-copper skin tone, it is better to avoid her and not catch her eye. A representative of the Aspid family, in defense, secretes poisonous saliva and spits it, which is dangerous for humans, not to mention a snake bite. It shoots poison at a distance of up to 3 meters and can get into the eyes. Once in the human body, it causes dizziness and headaches, severe bouts of diarrhea, abdominal pain, after which it can affect the nervous and cardiac systems if medical help does not arrive in time.
The reptile feeds on small animals, as well as lizards. Its habitats are wooded areas, lowlands, dense jungles, thickets near the river, meadows and fields. Many representatives of this family live in the tropics. The Philippine Cobra can even be seen near human settlements and agricultural lands.
Adults reach 1 m, less often 1.5-2 m.
9th place – Harlequin coral adder
The LD50 of this individual is 0.196 mg/kg. Individuals live in North and Central America. They can be seen in Mexico and American states Kentucky and Indiana. Adult reptiles reach 1-1.5 meters.
The color of this reptile cannot be confused with other representatives of snakes - their skin is covered with rings of black, red and bright yellow (coral) colors.
Individuals crawl out to hunt at night. They catch mice, lizards, and small birds.
Exactly from sand snake Hundreds of people die every year. In general, she is afraid of people, but if she feels threatened, she will immediately attack. Just 5 mg of poison – and the person is immobilized. It is possible to help him in rare cases. The toxic substance penetrates with lightning speed. That is why in the countries where this viper lives, it is nicknamed “wound”, “boiling snake”.
5th place – Black Tiger snake
Compared to the classic Tiger, this species of snake has an LD50 of 0.131 mg/kg, which makes it more dangerous than the aforementioned representative of the same family.
Adults reach 1 meter in length. Skin color is dark brown, chocolate or black interspersed with olive or light brown shades. Asps live in the southwestern and southern parts of Australia, on the islands of Bass Strait and Tasmania. For life and reproduction, they choose sandy terrain (dunes and beaches), rocky surfaces without vegetation. They feed on frogs, small mammals, fish and even. Cannibalism occurs in this family.
A person should avoid meeting Black Tiger snake because it is very dangerous. In a split second, she pounces on her victim and pierces with her sharpest fangs. Appears at the site of the bite strong pain, burning, after which the poison begins to affect the entire body, causing nervous paralysis, followed by respiratory arrest and death. There is an antidote - it is being developed on the basis of snake venom, the main thing is to help the person in the next few minutes.
4th place – South China multi-banded krait
The LD50 of this predator is 0.108 mg/kg. This snake is one of the most insidious and poisonous species. Refers to land species reptiles. The aspid family can be found in Asian countries: Taiwan, Laos, southern China, Thailand, northern Vietnam, Myanmar. It chooses rocky and mountainous areas for habitat, rising up to 1500 meters above sea level.
The color of the snakes is black with light thin stripes. The length of adults varies from 1 to 1.5 meters, males can reach 1.8 meters.
Reptiles are dangerous and aggressive. They mainly hunt at night. Predators feed on small lizards, mice and birds.
Unlike other snakes, they are not afraid of humans, so it is better not to meet them. This type of adder can pursue its prey for a long time, after which it attacks it. Krayt has a nerve poison that can kill in just 2 hours.
3rd place – Coastal Taipan
The coastal Taipan reveals the top three most dangerous and aggressive snakes on the planet. Their LD50 is 0.106 mg/kg. They are also one of the longest reptiles - their length can exceed 3 meters.
Taipans are found in the northern and northeastern parts of Australia and the southeastern part of New Guinea. Unlike many other snakes, these predators prefer daytime hunting. They feed on rats and mice, small mammals, and frogs. Snakes often creep up to human settlements and attack local residents, their livestock and pets.
Taipan - externally beautiful view asps, but very insidious, so you should stay away from him, as he is not afraid of anyone. The reptile has a uniform skin tone of light brown or dark brown. There are reddish species. The head is usually lighter than the belly, which can be yellowish or white.
If Taipan sees a stranger, it raises its head, after which it can pursue its prey. He attacks with lightning speed and can pierce with his sharp teeth several times in a row. Every second person dies from neurotoxic poison. First, the person suffocates, then hemorrhages occur. Death occurs within 4 hours after the bite.
2nd place – Eastern, or Reticulated brown snake
Few people know about this species, but this particular asp is one of the most dangerous in terms of its poison content. Its LD50 is 0.037 mg/kg.
Eastern brown snakes come in a variety of colors: brown, tan, black, orange, silver, and gray. The body length of adult individuals ranges from 1 to 2 meters.
Predators live on the east coast of Australia, in New Guinea. They choose to live in eucalyptus forests, sandy beaches, rocky terrain, and mountainous heath. They feed mainly on frogs, mice and small birds.
The main danger is that they can creep up to people's houses. If the snake feels threatened, it immediately attacks. Its venom has a neurotoxic effect and contains blood coagulants. After a bite, a person feels severe dizziness, loss of strength, severe diarrhea, and begins to have convulsions. If resistance is not given in time, his kidneys will fail, after which his heart will stop.
1st place – McCoy's Taipan
McCoy is a snake with the maximum concentration of venom. Its LD50 is 0.025 mg/kg. Just one bite and a person is doomed to painful death. It is this family that is 50 times more poisonous than cobras.
Predators live in Australia and New Guinea. They prefer plains, deserts, and hide in soil faults.
The color of the snakes is straw, brown or dark brown. Length adult reaches an average of 2 meters. They feed on small mammals.
Under no circumstances should you approach McCoy, otherwise she will attack. Its poison is extremely toxic, it almost instantly disrupts blood clotting, causes paralysis, after which breathing stops. Fortunately, there is an antidote for the poison of this predator; the main thing is to contact a medical service in time.
McCoy's taipan is also called the "hard snake".
These are the most dangerous and poisonous snakes existing on planet Earth.
The top 15 most poisonous snakes in the world is a list of poisonous reptiles, an encounter with which most often ends in death for humans. Our ancestors worshiped snakes as powerful deities and were terrified of their appearance as a deadly weapon that could both heal and kill. They became a symbol of wisdom and deceit. There are more than 2,500 species of snakes on our planet, most of which secrete venom.
Not only reptiles, but also some plants and insects have poisonous properties. There are especially many of them in those climatic zones, in which nature still remains lush and unknown. These are the so-called exotic countries, where danger awaits tourists at every step. Therefore, it is important for the traveler to know what deadly creatures live there in order to exercise maximum caution when meeting them. This article will help the reader figure out which snakes are best avoided on a long journey.
15th place – Sandy efa
Vipers are one of the most common families of reptiles, and the sand ephas also belongs to them. It's pretty small snake, barely exceeding 60 cm in size. It is easily recognized by its side stripe in the form of a light zigzag, as well as white spots that are found on the head and back. Sandy efa is covered with small, somewhat ribbed scales. On the surface of the earth it moves as if sideways, that is, initially the snake throws its head to the side, after which the rear body is moved sideways, and only after that the front one. Because of this, the sand efu is quite easy to recognize by the traces it leaves - oblique strips with hooks at the ends. Its habitat includes most of North America, Turkmenistan, India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. 
The behavior of the sand epha is not aggressive; it avoids meeting people and prefers to calmly crawl away to its shelter. It is easy to spot on the soil or in dry grass by the whitish spots on its back. Most often, the snake warns the unwary traveler with a slight rustling sound that it is somewhere nearby. Fatal bites most often occurred due to the negligence of the person himself, who wanted to pick her up or accidentally stepped on her. The venom is toxic and causes profuse bleeding, both at the bite site and in weakened areas such as the nose or mouth. Every fourth person bitten by ephas dies. If you have an antidote at hand, the toxin can be sucked out by mouth; it will be absolutely safe for the rescuer.
14th place – Ruzel’s Viper
This snake lives in Sri Lanka. Its poison is not a potent toxin of animal origin. However, the danger for tourists is that there is simply no antidote for the poison secreted by the Ruzel viper in Sri Lanka, which leads to a large number of deaths. You can recognize it by its widened nostrils, which makes the snake’s hiss even louder and more threatening. The color of this representative of reptiles is unusually beautiful: the entire back is covered with red spots in three rows, which are edged with narrow stripes. Most often, the spots are fused together, resulting in an original-looking chain. 
13th place – Black echidna
Local residents simply call this snake “black death.” Its coloring is truly extremely shocking: absolutely black scales and a bright red belly. It is one of the largest, about 2.5 meters, and at the same time poisonous snakes. Its daily diet includes rodents and various amphibians. The bite of the black echidna is fatal if the person is not provided with an antidote in time. The Black Death spread throughout Australia, with the exception of Tasmania. Every year he dies from its poison a large number of sheep and cattle cattle, however in Lately, as a result of the destruction and development of industry, the number of these snakes has decreased significantly. 
However, if a person is nevertheless bitten by a black echidna, then slight pain will be felt at the site of the bite, and later swelling will appear in the affected area. If the antidote is not administered in time, the following symptoms will be: severe vomiting, possibly with blood, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhea. However, without catatonia or seizures.
12th place – Bushmaster
The habitat of the bushmaster includes some countries South America: Brazil, Panama Islands, Trinidad and Guyana. Individuals of this species are distinguished by their large size (more than 3 m) and body width, but the most important feature is the head in the form of a triangle. Local residents claim that this snake is extremely aggressive and always attacks to the last, trying to bite a person as many times as possible. The toxins released by the bushmaster are very poisonous; even the bite of a young snake is enough to cause death. 
Local residents have bloodthirsty legends in which the bushmaster also appears; he can crawl to women under the cover of darkness and suck out their milk and blood. Travelers are also in danger from this snake, since the legends of the tribes of the places where this reptile lives say that the bushmaster first hypnotizes and then lures a person into his lair, where he devours him. However, no legends prevent the same Indians from successfully using the poison of this land reptile for medicinal purposes. This is such a paradox.
11th place – Tiger snake
Prefers to settle in meadows and steppe zone, less often in forests. The habitat is not very wide, including only the southern and eastern parts of Australia. Maximum length the body of a tiger snake is 2 m. It is of particular interest to naturalists, since it does not lay eggs, but immediately gives birth to small snakes (more than 25 individuals). The coloring resembles the skin of a tiger, hence the name tiger snake. Its diet consists of amphibians and small rodents. If a tiger snake bites a small animal, it dies on the spot, its venom is so strong. For humans, the danger is no less; if you do not take the antidote within 24 hours, the probability of death is more than 96%. 
Naturalists share their observations that this type of reptile is equipped with a pair of poisonous fangs with special grooves. In other snakes, the teeth are closed in the form of hollow tubes, but in a tiger snake everything is completely different - around the gland that produces poison, there is a muscle that, when contracted, squeezes the poison out, like a spring, straight into the body of the victim. Having reached the center of innervation, the toxin actively affects the heart and lungs, which shut down without an antidote, which leads to death.
Local residents claim that this snake, although dangerous, is also quite cowardly. She is not attracted to crowded places, and prefers to live away from highways and big cities. However, tourists should stay as far away from it as possible, since one portion of its poison can kill about 200 people.
10th place – Viper
The family of vipers is one of the largest among snakes, for this reason they should be described separately, moreover, they are most often found in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. These include: common viper, steppe viper and Nikolsky's viper. Their favorite places traditionally include wetlands, the banks of ponds and lakes, mixed forests and mountainous areas with high air humidity. The viper prefers to go hunting at night, which significantly reduces encounters with it during the daytime. However, there are often cases when a snake crawls out onto a stump or mossy stone to bask in the rays of the sun, where tourists meet it. Vipers are not known for their aggressive behavior, so they try to hide when they see a person. 
Symptoms of a viper bite are the following: sharp pain at the site of the immediate bite, decreases over time arterial pressure, and then the heart rate. In parallel with the internal processes, the bite is externally accompanied by: nausea, aching bones and joints, gag reflexes and nosebleeds. If the victim is not given an antidote within 14 days, death occurs, mostly due to cardiac or respiratory failure, or due to infection of the circulatory system. However, there is a high chance of surviving without taking medication, but it’s better to be safe.
9th place – Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake habitat is limited North America. Its favorite places to choose a home should be dry, most often it settles in the burrows of small rodents and birds. A distinctive feature of this representative of reptiles is the rattle at the end of the tail, which crackles as the snake moves. Thus, she warns of her appearance. A tourist who hears the characteristic cracking noise made by a rattlesnake needs to get away, although this individual tries to avoid humans whenever possible, biting only in the most extreme danger. 
Adult snakes are characterized by the ability to hide and camouflage perfectly, which cannot be said about their young offspring, who pose a particular danger. Firstly, they have not yet learned to avoid people, and secondly, they have absolutely no control over the amount of poison released during an attack. The strong coagulant contained in the toxin leads, in most cases, to complete or partial paralysis of the body, which occurs simultaneously with interruptions in blood circulation. An antidote does not provide a complete guarantee of healing, but it increases the chance of survival.
8th place – Philippine cobra
The name of this snake is strongly associated with its habitat - the Philippine Islands. This cobra is the most poisonous in its family. One good thing is that you can meet her only in remote, abandoned places or impenetrable jungles. It is distinguished by aggressive behavior, and attacks the violator of its peace without delay, while spitting poison no less than 2.5 m. Naturalists warn that such spitting very rarely misses the target, so stay away from the Philippine cobra when you meet , you need to go as far as possible. 
The snake's venom is highly neurotoxic, and begins to act as soon as even one drop hits open skin. Instantly, the victim begins to feel dizzy, the rhythm of the heart and lungs become difficult, and later a severe headache, diarrhea and cramps begin. A fatal outcome, if immediate medical attention is not provided, occurs within 15-20 minutes. 0.15 mg of venom from cobras is capable of killing an adult.
7th place – Malayan region
Another name for this snake is blue krait. It was first discovered in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The snake is quite small, not even 1 m in length. It has a beautiful appearance - blue scales with evenly distributed black zigzag stripes. It prefers to hunt at night, is not particularly hot-tempered and avoids humans, but cases of bite and fatal outcome do occur. 
Krayt venom is very dangerous; it causes uncontrollable spasms of the limbs, which over time turn into complete paralysis of the entire body. Scientists have calculated that the neurotoxin in cobra venom is 15 times weaker than the venom of the Malayan krait. Moreover, the situation is aggravated by the fact that in 45% of cases the antidote is absolutely useless for this snake bite. Death occurs within 5-10 hours.
6th place – Australian Spinetail
Based on the name of this snake, you can understand where exactly it lives. But its range is not limited only to the mainland, but also includes New Guinea. The length of the snake reaches about 60-70 cm. The coloring is somewhat reminiscent of the abdomen of a wasp - yellow lines alternate with black ones. The spiketail is distinguished by its bloodthirstiness, as it is not averse to feasting on other snakes, while not refusing mice or small amphibians. It rarely attacks people, but if you wander into its territory, it becomes quite aggressive.
The name reptiles received as a result of the fact that it has a horny spike in the tail. If the antidote is not administered within 5 hours, the bite can be fatal. 
5th place – Blue coral snake
This snake demonstrates with all its appearance: “don’t touch me.” The blue snake is easily identified by the purple coloring of its head and bluish zigzags throughout the body. Habitat – Southeast Asia. Scientists note that the snake is not aggressive, and when it sees a person it prefers to hide rather than attack, however, there have been accidents when a tourist stepped on a coral snake, and the snake bit it in self-defense.
The venom of this representative of the snakes has unique properties, and when hitting circulatory system can cause complete and partial dysfunction of all physiological systems of the body. Most often, the bitten person immediately falls into catatonia, that is, virtually immobilized. After this, uncontrollable convulsions begin. In many ways, naturalists explain this effect of the poison by the fact that the blue snake often hunts other poisonous snakes, and for this it is necessary to have impressive qualities of its own poison. The gland that secretes the neurotoxin occupies about a quarter of the snake's body. 
Only deadly spiders and scorpions, as well as some deep-sea gastropods, can boast of poisons of such toxicity. No matter how strange it may sound, the toxins secreted by the blue snake are actively used in pharmaceuticals, and effective painkillers are developed on their basis.
4th place – Indian cobra
This snake is known to many from the cartoon “Riki-tiki-tavi”, where the brave mongoose fights with it, protecting its owners. Sometimes this cobra is also called a spectacled snake, due to the fact that at the moment of danger it inflates its hood menacingly, on which there appear to be two eyes. Habitat includes India, the Philippine Islands, southern China and Central Asia. The Indian cobra is dangerous for humans because it is not particularly picky about its place of residence, so it can be found both in gardens and orchards, as well as in ordinary parks or orchards. 
Many deaths from the venom of this cobra are due to the fact that it is not averse to settling in close proximity to humans. So in Indian villages there are frequent cases of bites right in chicken coops, where the snake crawls to feast on fresh eggs. Its poison is extremely toxic, and begins to act immediately after entering the body. The bitten area swells and after a while becomes paralyzed. The next stage is complete paralysis, frequent heartbeats, and breathing problems. The victim is unable to sit or stand without assistance, sometimes uncontrolled salivation begins, and the body temperature rises significantly. The occurrence of death largely depends on the timeliness of medical care, as well as the person’s build and the amount of poison that got inside. On average, death occurs within 5-10 hours, less often within 24 hours.
3rd place – Black Mamba
One of the most poisonous and deadly snakes on the entire planet is the black mamba, which is found exclusively in Africa. Black adjacent scales completely cover the body of this reptile, so it is quite easy for it to hide in the shadows of the jungle to wait for its prey. The character of this snake is warlike and aggressive; it attacks without hesitation the disturber of its peace, trying to bite him as many times as possible (10 consecutive bites are possible), and one dose of poison is enough to kill about 20 people at a time. It is difficult to escape from her, as she crawls at a speed of 18 km per hour. Seeing its prey, the mamba begins to chase it with all its might. the main objective– destroy or eat. Few people can boast of meeting this snake, because few people left alive after such a meeting. The aggressiveness of the snake is played out in cinema and literature, where it has become a symbol of senseless and causeless aggression combined with absolute mercilessness and lethality. 
The poison of the black mamba, which is the strongest in the world and causes irreversible destruction only when it gets on the skin of the victim, deserves special mention. Then the victim gets even worse: aching bones and joints, foam at the mouth, perspiration, dizziness. After a short period of time, this is accompanied by vomiting, breathing problems and convulsions. At the last stage - interruptions in the functioning of the heart and lungs, catatonia and the end. If you do not immediately administer an antidote to the bite victim, death occurs in 20-30 minutes.
2nd place – Australian Taipan
Among the local population, the taipan received the “speaking” name of “cruel snake.” It lives mainly in the central part of Australia. The Australian taipan looks majestic, its scales are light brown, so in the conditions of the Australian prairies it is easy to miss. Scientists have recognized the toxin it produces as one of the most poisonous in the world. However, there is good news, firstly, the “cruel snake” avoids the company of people, and secondly, it is extremely difficult to meet him, since he prefers to settle in places where no human has ever set foot. In such quiet and secluded parts of Australia, he calmly breeds his offspring and hunts small rodents and birds. 
An interesting fact is that according to official data, not a single person has yet died from the poison of this land reptile. However, the neurotoxin in the deadly substance released by the taipan is quite enough to kill about 90 people. Its venom is 45 times stronger than that of a cobra and 8 times more powerful than that of a rattlesnake. If tourists are “lucky enough” to encounter this reptile, it is better to tactfully leave so as not to play with their own death.
1st place - Belcher's Sea Serpent
The first place among the most dangerous and poisonous snakes on our planet is deservedly taken by sea serpent Belcher, which is named after its discoverer E. Belcher. The reptile lives exclusively at great depths in Indian Ocean. The sea serpent is very beautiful; its scales are formed by alternating black and soft blue stripes. However, there is no need to be deceived attractive looking, since the toxicity of its poison is so great that one portion can kill about 900 people. Oddly enough, his behavior is quite good-natured, and he never attacks people. Recorded cases of death are associated with the fact that some tourists, in their stupidity, decided to hold it in their arms, as well as in cases with fishermen who, while catching fish with nets, simply did not notice that a deadly snake also got there along with it. But even in these cases, Belcher's sea snake carries out a so-called “dry bite”, without releasing venom. Such an attack is intended to scare away, but not to kill. 
2017.08.12 by