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Which Snakes Have the Deadliest Venom?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Determining the deadliest venom in snakes is not simply a matter of putting up a list of snakes and pointing to the top ten or twenty. There are a lot of different factors to take into consideration. For instance, snakes release different amounts of venom when and if they bite. A baby rattlesnake is much more deadly than an adult rattlesnake since it doesn’t have control on venom release and tends to inject huge amounts of venom. This suggests the same snake may be more or less deadly depending upon age.

Another potential issue is the definition of "deadliest" venom means. Does this mean deadliest to people, animals, birds, etc? Most venom tests are conducted on mice, and obviously not on people. In fact scientists have long relied on the Lethal Dose 50% (LD50) test, which injects mice with various venoms to determine how quickly they’ll die. These results may be extrapolated to humans, but the numbers don’t add up. Those snakes with the deadliest venom as determined by LD50 tests tend to be involved in fewer human deaths; many of them are shy and less aggressive. Other scientists are concerned with the administration of the LD50 test in any case. Where and how you inject the mice (intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly) might have an effect on how quickly a mouse dies from an injection of venom, and obviously the amount of venom injected may differ significantly from the amount a snake would inject.

The forest cobra has deadly venom.
The forest cobra has deadly venom.

With that being said, it’s definitely difficult to determine exactly which snakes have the deadliest venom, and whether this means they are the most deadly snakes. "Most poisonous venom" doesn’t translate to "most dangerous" to humans, although it’s certainly not a good idea to pick up any snake that could potentially give you a fatal bite. In fact, we’d argue that avoiding any snake, even if a bite wouldn’t prove immediately fatal, is a good plan of action.

Some people may have to undergo dialysis following a snake bite, and that may not even be enough to save them.
Some people may have to undergo dialysis following a snake bite, and that may not even be enough to save them.

According to various LD50 tests, the inland taipan found in Australia, and the Russell’s viper found in Southeast Asia likely are nearly tied for land snakes with the deadliest venom. The Russell’s viper is indicated in many more human attacks, since it can live near human habitations and is aggressive. In Myanmar, where the snake frequently comes into contact with humans, a bite causes a 9% chance of fatality, but it also can cause numerous medical problems including kidney failure and failure for the body to properly coagulate blood. Dialysis is often needed in order to help the kidneys and even when kidney dialysis is used, people may still die.

In contrast, the inland taipan in Australia is more potentially lethal to humans. The snake may have one of the deadliest venom counts in the world, but little is known about its action on humans because it rarely bites them and is very shy. The top deadliest venom in the world comes from the hook-nosed sea snake, according to LD50 tests. These snakes are seldom if ever aggressive and few bites from them have ever been reported.

Other snakes with deadly venom include the black mamba, the Indian krait, the tiger rattlesnake, the puff adder, and the forest cobra. The contention that the snakes with the deadliest venom all come from Australia is not true, and you are much more at risk from an aggressive snake that lives near humans than you are from relatively shy snakes, even if they’re more poisonous on the LD50 scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What snake has the most potent venom?

The Inland Taipan, native to Australia, possesses the most toxic venom of any snake. Its venom is estimated to be 50 times more toxic than that of the Indian Cobra. A single bite can contain enough venom to kill at least 100 adult humans, according to research from the University of Adelaide.

How quickly can the venom of the deadliest snakes kill a human?

The venom of the Inland Taipan can kill a human in as little as 30 to 45 minutes without antivenom. However, the Black Mamba is also feared for its rapid-acting venom, which can cause death in just 20 minutes, though typically it takes several hours, as per the African Snakebite Institute.

Are the snakes with the deadliest venom also the most aggressive?

Not necessarily. The Inland Taipan, despite having the deadliest venom, is relatively shy and reclusive. In contrast, the Black Mamba is known for its aggression when cornered. Snake behavior varies widely, and venom potency does not directly correlate with aggression levels.

Which continent is home to the most venomous snakes?

Australia is home to a significant number of the world's most venomous snakes, including the Inland Taipan, Eastern Brown Snake, and Coastal Taipan. According to the Australian Museum, Australia has 21 of the 25 most venomous snakes in the world.

Can antivenom effectively treat bites from the deadliest snakes?

Yes, antivenom can be highly effective in treating bites from venomous snakes if administered promptly and correctly. For example, the Australian government has developed specific antivenoms for native species like the Inland Taipan, which have been crucial in preventing fatalities.

How does snake venom affect the human body?

Snake venom can have various effects, including neurotoxicity, which affects the nervous system, hemotoxicity, which disrupts blood clotting and causes tissue damage, and cardiotoxicity, which can lead to heart failure. The specific symptoms depend on the snake species and the composition of its venom.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent AllThingsNature contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent AllThingsNature contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Scrbblchick

I'd put the black mamba near the top of the list for "most likely too..." I've read that, while they will run if they can, if cornered, a black mamba will stand its ground and will absolutely bite. Their venom is potent and can kill easily. I'm not sure what the mortality rate is for untreated bites, but it's in the 90 percentile range. That puts them on the list for most deadly snake for me, for sure.

Rotergirl

A college friend told me about his dad, who was an airplane mechanic in Vietnam. His dad said the locals called the Russell's Viper the "two step" because if one bit you, you took two steps and died. He actually had one crawl into a plane he was working on and it was dangling under the panel. He actually thought it was a wire and grabbed it by the tail. The tail moved, my friend's dad exploded out of the cockpit, and one of the guys on the base headed in with his sidearm and killed it.

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    • The forest cobra has deadly venom.
      By: Matthew Cole
      The forest cobra has deadly venom.
    • Some people may have to undergo dialysis following a snake bite, and that may not even be enough to save them.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Some people may have to undergo dialysis following a snake bite, and that may not even be enough to save them.