The most poisonous snake in the world. The most dangerous snakes in the world The most dangerous snakes in the world and bites

Snakes leave no one indifferent, causing either delight or panic. They inhabit the entire Earth, excluding only Antarctica, Ireland, and 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, the enhydrina, can be found near Madagascar, Seychelles, as well as 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.

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 within 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 quite small (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 is surprising that the 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.

The venom of a tiger snake is so strong that it kills a small animal in a few seconds, and it takes about an hour for an adult man, 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 the color of its mouth. It looks really scary, and is used by the mamba for precisely this purpose: to scare away large enemies.

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 they? 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 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 system 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. 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 eat frogs small mammals, fish and even . Cannibalism occurs in this family.

A person should avoid meeting the Black Tiger Snake as it is very dangerous. In a split second, she pounces on her victim and pierces with her sharpest fangs. Severe pain and burning appears at the site of the bite, 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, South part 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 among the most long 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 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, gray. The body length of adult individuals ranges from 1 to 2 meters.

Predators live on east coast Australia, 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 a 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. The length of an 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.

There are many different species of snakes in the world. Some of them pose a danger to human life. Snake venom enters the human body through touch or bite, and sometimes you can become poisoned by eating snake meat.

It’s impossible to talk about all poisonous snakes at once; let’s focus on the most famous of them. So, I present to you ten most poisonous snakes in the world.

Top 10 most poisonous snakes in the world

The Belcher's sea snake is the most venomous snake in the world. The snake got its name from explorer Edward Belcher and is also sometimes called the striped snake. sea ​​snake. A snake rarely attacks a person; in order to provoke it to bite, you need to try very hard, so cases of a Belcher sea snake bite are extremely rare. You can meet her in the waters of South-East Asia and Northern Australia.

The victims of bites most often were sailors who caught the snake in nets along with fish. However, it is known that only a quarter of the bitten sailors died, since the snake rarely injects its venom completely. One milligram of Belcher's snake venom can kill 1,000 people - it is the most toxic snake venom in the world.

The inland taipan or fierce snake today ranks second in our ranking of the most poisonous snakes in the world. The taipan lives in Australia and is distinguished by its ability to change color depending on the time of year. It can be difficult to see the snake, as it prefers soil breaks and cracks.

The taipan is the most venomous land snake in the world. The maximum recorded yield of poison is 110 milligrams, which is enough to kill 100 people or, for example, 250,000 mice. This snake is fifty times more poisonous than a cobra. Fortunately, the inland taipan is not too aggressive, and it can be seen extremely rarely. There have been no recorded cases of human deaths from a taipan bite, although it can kill an adult in 45 minutes.

In third place is the eastern brown snake, living in Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea. The venom of this snake can cause bleeding, muscle paralysis, kidney failure, and cardiac arrest. There are cases where a person died instantly after being bitten by a snake.

Unfortunately, the eastern brown snake prefers to live near settlements, so cases of bites are common. The snake moves quickly and can be aggressive: it chases its prey and attacks repeatedly. The venom contains neurotoxins and blood coagulants. The eastern brown snake reacts to movement, so when encountering one, you should remain calm and, if possible, not move.

The Malayan Blue Krait is certainly worthy of our rating. It lives in Southeast Asia and Indonesia. The color of the snake resembles a zebra or a traffic cop's baton - a dark background with bright white stripes. More than half of blue krait bites ended fatal, despite the antidote. The krait is a nocturnal predator, which is why it is more active at night.

The venom of the Malayan blue krait is a neurotoxin 16 times more potent than that of the cobra. When it enters the human body, it causes convulsions and paralysis, which lead to death. Before receiving the antidote, the mortality rate from bites was 85%, however, the antidote does not guarantee survival. death usually occurs 6-12 hours after a krait bite.

The most dangerous black mamba lives in many parts of the African continent. As you know, the snake is very aggressive and usually its throw is extremely accurate. The black mamba is the fastest land snake in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour. This terrible snake is capable of 12 bites in a row.

The venom is a fast-acting neurotoxin. During one injection, the snake releases an average of 100-120 milligrams of poison. If the poison reaches a vein, then 0.25 milligrams of poison per 1 kilogram of body is enough to kill a person. Initial symptoms of a bite: pain in the bite area, tingling in the mouth and limbs, double vision, severe confusion, fever, increased salivation, ataxia (lack of muscle control). If in as soon as possible the victim does not receive medical care, symptoms quickly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and paralysis. Eventually, respiratory arrest, coma and death occur. Depending on the nature of the bite, death occurs in the range from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Without an antidote, the mortality rate is 100% - this is the most high level mortality rate among all venomous snakes.

The tiger snake lives in southeastern Australia. Its disposition is quite peaceful - the snake attacks only if it is disturbed, but in the event of an attack it strikes with unerring accuracy.

Snake venom is a powerful neurotoxin that causes internal and external bleeding and muscle paralysis. Most often, the death of the victim occurs precisely because of heavy bleeding. Before the creation of an antidote, the mortality rate from a tiger snake bite was 60-70%. Death from the bite can occur within 30 minutes, but usually occurs within 6 to 24 hours.

The Philippine cobra, as the name suggests, lives in the Philippine Islands, mainly in fields and jungles. This is a relatively small brown snake that can reach 1 meter in length.

The Philippine cobra is the most poisonous among cobras. It differs in that it is capable of throwing poison at a distance of up to 3 meters. The poison is a neurotoxin that leads to disruption of cardiac and respiratory functions. Human death can occur within 30 minutes after the bite. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness and seizures.

Many of our readers have probably heard about the viper. This snake is found throughout most of the world. Prefers damp places, forest edges, river banks, swamps, lakes, and climbs mountains. Mainly leads night look life, most active after rains. The viper is a very fast snake.

The initial symptoms of viper poisoning are pain at the site of the bite and swelling of the affected part. Symptoms such as bleeding (especially from the gums), falling blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate. Superficial necrosis of the affected area often occurs; in a third of cases, vomiting and facial swelling are observed. If there is no antidote within 1 to 14 days, death occurs from blood poisoning, respiratory or heart failure.

The viper-like death snake lives mainly in New Guinea and Australia, preferring rocks and dry places. The snake, both in appearance and in behavioral factors, is very similar to a viper, hence its name. A deadly snake can lie in ambush without moving for up to several days, waiting for its prey. It feeds on rodents, small birds, and can attack other snakes. The snake's head has the shape of a triangle with a sharp neck, its body is short and thick.

At one time, the viper-like death snake typically injects 40-100 milligrams of neurotoxic venom. Untreated bites are among the most dangerous in the world. The greatest danger to life occurs 24-48 hours after the bite, so due to the slow progression of symptoms, antivenom can be quite effective.

On last place our rating most poisonous snakes in the world A rattlesnake that is easily identified by the special rattles or rattles on its tail. The rattlesnake is very poisonous and neither clothing nor shoes can protect you from its bite. The snake lives mainly in North America, prefers dry and rocky areas, burrows of rodents and birds. By nature, the snake is lazy, although it can crawl quickly. It announces itself with a characteristic rustling noise created by a rattle.

Young rattlesnakes are most venomous due to their inability to control the amount of venom injected. Rattlesnake venom is a powerful coagulant and causes difficulty breathing, paralysis, and severe bleeding. A snake bite is always dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. However, antivenom is usually very effective and reduces mortality by up to 4%.

Some of the most dangerous creatures on the planet are poisonous snakes, which most people have an overwhelming dislike for, just like spiders or rats. Snakes live on almost all continents, excluding Antarctica and several large northern islands, such as New Zealand and Ireland.

Most species of these reptiles are not poisonous, but there are also special specimens whose poison can easily kill an adult. In many reptiles, the venom is so complex that scientists still cannot create an effective antidote.
In this rating we will tell you about the most poisonous snakes in the world, an encounter with which can result in a painful and very painful death.

1. Malay krait

This outwardly beautiful snake is colored alternately with black and yellow rings and looks quite harmless. But don't be fooled, because behind the attractive coloration hides one of the most terrible killers, killing more people than all the elephants, leopards and tigers in Asia combined.

Malaysian krait is the most aggressive poisonous snake in the world. And unlike other reptiles, which bite their prey once and immediately try to escape, the little krait attacks several times to make sure its enemy is poisoned. Most of the dead were people from rural areas, because the krait likes to make nests for itself near human habitation. The snake is “armed” with neurotoxic venom, chemical composition which is similar to the venom of a cobra, only the krait has a much more powerful venom.

After the bite, paralysis occurs, and then the victim dies within a few minutes to 2-3 hours after the attack, depending on the amount of poison injected. An effective antidote has not yet been found against the bites of this snake. Even with modern treatment, more than 50% of bites are fatal.

2. Death Snake (Acanthopis antarcticus)

Despite its scientific name, the Australian death snake has no connection with Antarctica. But it has a very bad reputation, and locals call it “snake death with a scythe.”

From the outside, this short and thick snake resembles a poisonous sausage. It grows up to 1.7 meters in length, has a dark brown or gray color with colored stripes on the sides. The head is thick and short, triangular in shape.

One of the most venomous snakes in the world lives in the arid regions of Australia, where it preys on small vertebrates, lizards and frogs. Acanthopis antarcticus is a very cunning predator that hides among leaves and grass, waiting for its prey. As a rule, the snake hunts at night, and after the breeding season, the female crawls into a hole, where 20 “cute little snakes”, already deadly poisonous, await her.

To kill an adult, only 10 mg of the poison of a deadly snake is enough, but usually the reptile, along with saliva, injects at least 180 mg of poison into the victim in one bite. In less than 6 hours, respiratory paralysis occurs, followed by inevitable death.

3. Coral adder

The coral adder is native to the North American continent and is one of the most poisonous snakes on the planet. In general, there are 48 subspecies of coral snakes and the most terrible of them is the harlequin coral snake. Many scientists believe that these snakes are among the most beautiful on the planet. Their scales are alternately colored bright yellow, red and black.

Coral snakes reach a length of 1.5 m, do not really like sunny color and hide in the shade of tree leaves. These reptiles are nocturnal, but are often very active in the evening and at dawn. The female lays 5-7 eggs, from which offspring hatch within 60 days. The venom of these snakes is very strong, but fortunately for humans, snakes have very narrow mouth openings and small teeth, so the snake can rarely inject enough venom to kill its prey.

However, every year in the United States alone, 15-25 asp bites are recorded, of which 5-7 are fatal.

4. Beaked Sea Snake

The beaked sea snake lives in sea ​​waters and feeds mainly on fish. Unlike its mythical counterparts - sea serpents, this reptile is small in size and rarely reaches a length of more than 1.2 m.

But this reptile is rightfully considered one of the most terrible killers on the planet, annually sending several thousand people “to the next world”!

The snake's glands constantly contain enough poison to kill 50 people, which is twice as much as king cobra or a deadly viper. Contrary to its gloomy and dark reputation, the snake's coloration is vibrant. The snake's skin is decorated with shades of green, yellow and gray mixed with black.

The beaked sea snake is an extremely aggressive reptile., which is usually found in warm waters Quiet and Indian Oceans. It has a pair of very sharp and large fangs that can easily bite through the thick skin of large animals. This snake is responsible for the majority of deaths of divers and ordinary swimmers in the ocean, while 90% of victims who are bitten do not live to see the next day.

5. Tiger snake

The South Australian tiger snake is small in size and rarely reaches a length of more than 2 meters. The snake leads a sedentary lifestyle and hunts small animals, mainly rodents and frogs. The reptile's coloring is very bright, black or dark brown with stripes. yellow color, which is why she was nicknamed tiger.

The tiger snake is recognized as one of the most venomous snakes in the world. large quantity the poison contained in its glands, which would be enough to kill hundreds of people. During a bite, the reptile injects a huge dose of neurotoxin, which in a matter of seconds affects nervous system, and if the victim is not immediately given an antidote, he is doomed to a quick death within a few minutes.

But it is worth recognizing that the tiger snake is not aggressive and will never be the first to attack a person. In all tragic cases, people either set up tents in the habitat of these reptiles; there were cases when snakes attacked children who threw stones and sticks at them and bit careless daredevils who wanted to catch them with their bare hands.

6. Taipan

The taipan is large in size and can grow up to 4 meters. Australia is considered the homeland of this poisonous snake, although taipans are also found in New Guinea and Tasmania. Reptiles are colored light green or dark brown; less commonly, taipans are completely black. They lead a daily lifestyle, wildlife They hunt marsupials, mammals, rabbits and rats. Female taipans lay up to 20 eggs.

Coastal taipans are especially dangerous; their neurotoxic venom is so strong that almost immediately after a bite it paralyzes the human nervous system. The average time after an attack on a victim until his death is no more than 90 minutes, and if the victim is not given an antidote in time, death will occur in 100% of bite cases.

The taipan is very aggressive and can attack a person himself, even if he did not bother him. Before throwing, he curls up into several rings and makes several false attacks towards the victim. Then a rapid rush occurs, the snake covers a distance of 3-4 meters in one second, practically not giving the slightest chance to escape to the unfortunate one.

7. African black mamba

The black mamba, nicknamed on the African continent “black death” and “avenging insults,” is one of the largest venomous snakes on the planet. Its length can reach 4.5 meters, and the amount of poison that the snake injects when biting is 400 mg, with a lethal dose for humans being only 15 mg.

Mamba is very aggressive and can chase its prey, as it is also considered to be the most fast snake on the continent. It can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The first symptom of poisoning is local pain at the site of the bite, the victim experiences tingling in the mouth and extremities, tunnel vision and double vision, severe confusion, fever, increased salivation (including foaming at the mouth and nose) and severe ataxia (lack of muscle control).

To save the victim from a bite black mamba, it is necessary to administer the antidote immediately after the attack, otherwise the chances of a successful outcome are not great. Death from the bite of this poisonous snake occurs within 2-3 hours.

8. Eastern brown snake

The eastern brown snake is one of the most aggressive snakes found in Australia. It reaches a length of 2 meters and hunts advantageously during the daytime. The diet of these reptiles is no different from their counterparts: rabbits, marsupials, frogs and birds.

Most brown snakes live in the province of Victoria, where greatest number victims from their bites. The brown snake is extremely vicious, fast and strong snake, so when meeting her, it is better to try to get around her as far as possible.

According to research by international expert Steve Irwin, this snake is responsible for the majority of human deaths in Australia in the wild. The brown snake has enough venom to kill 200 people, and the reptile's venom is considered the second most toxic in the world.

9. Inland Taipan

This subspecies of venomous snakes was discovered by scientists relatively recently, in 2007, and, like most other venomous species, lives in Australia. This reptile is also called a ferocious or cruel snake. It feeds mainly on mammals and lives in hot, dry plains, hiding in cracks and small breaks in the ground, making it difficult to spot.

The venom of this snake is very toxic and one bite is enough to kill an adult within a few minutes. But unlike its other taipan brothers, the ferocious snake, despite its name, is not very aggressive and, if threatened, tries to run away or hide.

10. Philippine cobra

Cobras themselves are very venomous creatures, but the Philippine cobra is especially different. Not only is its venom considered one of the most powerful in the world, but this snake is also capable of shooting its venom into the eyes of its offender at a distance of up to three meters!

The toxin affects the respiratory and cardiac functions of the victim and ultimately leads to death from respiratory paralysis. The cobra does not attack humans unless there is a direct threat to its life or the safety of its offspring.

Philippine cobras rarely grow more than 1 meter, only a few specimens reach a length of 1.5 meters, and live mainly on the islands of the Philippine archipelago: Mindoro, Masbate and Luzon.

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. For most people, only the appearance of these reptiles evokes 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. Annually from snake bites more than 2 million people suffer, 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 the human body, causing severe 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 the 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 poison other members of the family, for example, cobras. Fortunately, in the mid-50s. last century to snake venom an antidote was developed. Before this, the chances of surviving a bite were less than 10%.

Cases of attacks by inland taipans are primarily associated with careless behavior of people. Their main diet consists of small animals, and the reptiles try not to meet humans, unlike 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 coastal waters 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. Sea reptiles With anatomical point vision is very different from its 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 attacking the enemy, these snakes raise their heads vertically to a third of the front part of the body, expand the cervical ribs, forming a hood, loudly make characteristic barking sounds with the help of respiratory movements, 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 The true genus of cobra is the Philippine one, since its venom is very toxic, and 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.