Taipan interior

Considered the world’s most venomous snake, Australia’s rare and reclusive inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) mounts rigorous self-defense when provoked, striking with one or more bites. What makes the inland taipan particularly deadly isn’t just its high toxicity, but an enzyme that helps accelerate the venom’s absorption into the victim’s body.2

Luckily, the inland taipan is rarely encountered by people and not particularly aggressive—except, of course, toward its prey, which consists primarily of small and medium-sized mammals, especially the long-haired rat.

Black Mamba

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) inhabits vast areas of savannah, hill country, and forests in southern and eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. Its name comes not from its color, which is brownish or grayish-green, but from the black interior of its mouth.

The snake is not confrontational, but will aggressively defend itself when threatened by raising its head, opening its mouth, and issuing a warning hiss before striking repeatedly in rapid succession. It’s fast, traveling at speeds up to 12 miles per hour and climbing trees with ease. Encounters with humans can frequently occur when the snake takes refuge in populated areas, and the black mamba’s venom is extremely dangerous.3

Boomslang

The reclusive boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is native to central and southern Africa and generally blends with the browns and greens of trees and shrubs. It hunts by reaching its body outward from a tree, disguising itself as a branch until it’s ready to strike. The bloomslang’s rear fangs give it the appearance of “chewing” its victims when it strikes, then fold back into its mouth when not in use.

Blue Malayan Coral Snake

The blue Malayan coral snake (Calliophis bivirgatus) has a pair of dazzling light blue stripes running the length of its blue-black body and a red-orange head and tail. Just don’t get too close—its venom gland extends through one-quarter of its body and produces a neurotoxin that triggers a paralysis in which the victim’s muscles tighten in uncontrollable spasms.4

This snake hides in leaf litter in lowland forests of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and western Indonesia, preying on other snakes as well as lizards, birds, and frogs. Its powerful venom makes it one of Southeast Asia’s most dangerous snakes, although it is not aggressive and human fatalities are rare.

Saw-Scaled Viper

With subspecies present across northern Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan, most of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, the aggressive saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) typically hunts at night, preferring lizards and toads and sometimes baby birds. Its defensive posture is a looping figure-8, and it strikes with great power and speed. While it is rarely lethal to humans, it is one of the world’s most dangerous snakes because it produces a highly toxic venom, is often found in cultivated areas, and has an extremely aggressive temperament.5

Russell’s Viper

In India, the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) is the species responsible for the majority of deadly snake bites—tens of thousands each year.6 It’s one of the most deadly vipers in the world, with the majority of its victims dying from kidney failure.78 These nocturnal rodent-eaters bask in the sun during the day but often hide in rice paddies and croplands, posing a danger to farmers. The snakes can be yellow, tan, white, or brown, with dark brown ovals outlined in black and cream-colored rings. They move fast when threatened, coiling into an s-shape and emitting a loud hiss before striking.

Banded Krait

The banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) is a relative of the cobra that inhabits South and Southeast Asia and southern China. It has a distinctive raised ridge and alternating bands of black and white or creamy yellow. Most active at night, the banded krait feeds on other snakes and their eggs, and may also eat fish, frogs, and skinks. Its venom causes muscular paralysis, and the big danger occurs when this paralysis affects the diaphragm, interfering with breathing.9

Fer-de-Lance

In Spanish, the fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper) is known as barba amarilla, or yellow chin. Otherwise, this gray-brown viper with diamond patterns is referred to by its French name, which means spearhead. Found in lowland tropical forests and farmlands of Central and South America, its venom causes severe swelling and tissue necrosis, making it one of the most deadly snakes in the region if the victim doesn’t receive swift medical treatment.10 It feeds on lizards, opossums, frogs, as well as crop pests like rats and rabbits, making it beneficial to farmers.

Olive Sea Snake

Named for its greenish hue, the olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis) lives along the northern coast of Australia, along with New Guinea and nearby islands. It inhabits shallow coral reefs, hunting fish, prawns, and crabs. Though surfacing every 30 minutes to two hours to breathe, this sea snake spends its entire life in water, hunting at night.11

The greatest risk to humans comes when fishermen inadvertently catch them in their nets, prompting an aggressive response. But underwater, these sea snakes approach divers with curiosity. A recent study concluded that the snakes sometimes mistake divers for sexual partners and coil around them in a misguided courtship ritual.12 The diver is then left with the challenging task of remaining calm so as not to provoke the snake into delivering its potent neurotoxic venom.13

Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)

The cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) gets its name from the white interior of its mouth, which it opens wide when threatened. Also known as a water moccasin, it’s a semi-aquatic pit viper found in the southeastern U.S. It preys on turtles, fish, and small mammals. While its venom is powerful, the cottonmouth isn’t especially aggressive. However, it will strike humans in self-defense. Identifying cottonmouths can be tricky as their pattern of lighter and darker body bands often resemble that of harmless water snakes.

Eastern Coral Snake

The eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) is the most venomous coral snake in the United States, though it might not seem so at first because its bite doesn’t cause much pain or swelling. However, the venom contains a powerful neurotoxin that affects a person’s speech and vision.14 Luckily most bites to humans aren’t fatal. They are shy, burrowing creatures that inhabit woodlands and marshy wetlands, feeding on lizards, frogs, and other small snakes.

Common Death Adder

The death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) inhabits a variety of ecosystems across large swathes of Australia, including rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. It hides out under loose sand, leaves, or low shrubs, lying it wait to ambush prey. The death adder lures prey by coiling, bringing the tip of its tail near the head and wriggling it like a worm to attract frogs, lizards, birds, and small mammals. It has a grey to reddish-brown body with darker crossbands, and long fangs. Encounters with humans are rare, but as its name suggests, its bite can be fatal if not treated promptly.15

South American Bushmaster

El bushmaster ( Lachesis Muta ) habita en los bosques del noroeste de América del Sur, incluidas partes de Colombia, Venezuela, Brasil, Perú, Ecuador y Bolivia, y es la serpiente venenosa más grande del hemisferio occidental. Se sabe que la víbora paciente vigila a sus presas durante días o incluso semanas seguidas, pero al encontrar su objetivo previsto, la serpiente ataca rápidamente y libera una gran cantidad de veneno en una sola mordida. dieciséis

Serpiente marrón oriental

La serpiente marrón oriental ( Pseudonaja textilis ) es un miembro de la familia de las serpientes elápidas, con colmillos en la parte delantera de la mandíbula. Viene en varios tonos de marrón con una parte inferior cremosa y manchada y se encuentra en el este de Australia y el sur de Papúa Nueva Guinea. Su postura defensiva es levantarse en forma de “s”. Después de un golpe, se enrolla alrededor de su víctima. Su veneno es una potente neurotoxina que provoca hemorragia, parálisis, insuficiencia respiratoria y paro cardíaco. 17  Generalmente solitario, caza de día y excava en la noche.

La cobra real ( Ophiophagus hannah ) es la serpiente venenosa más grande del mundo, que se encuentra en el norte de la India y el sur de China y la península de Malaca, Indonesia y Filipinas. 18  Esta serpiente agresiva tiene colmillos fijos terriblemente largos que liberan una neurotoxina para paralizar a la presa e inhibir la respiración. 19

La cobra real habita en áreas junto a arroyos forestales y manglares, junto con áreas agrícolas y árboles. Su dieta preferida son otras serpientes y, a veces, roedores. Su silbido y gemido bajos pueden sonar como el gruñido de un perro, pero a pesar de tener una reputación formidable, en su mayoría evita a las personas a menos que se sienta amenazado.

Serpiente de cascabel de espalda de diamante del este

La serpiente de cascabel oriental ( Crotalus adamanteus ) es una de las 32 especies de serpientes de cascabel y la más venenosa de América del Norte. 20  Habita las tierras bajas costeras desde las Carolinas hasta los cayos de Florida y al oeste hasta Luisiana. La serpiente acecha para emboscar conejos, pájaros, ardillas y pequeños roedores, proporcionando un importante servicio ecosistémico al controlar las poblaciones de roedores. Cuando se siente amenazado, se enrolla en advertencia. Puede atacar hasta dos tercios de la longitud de su cuerpo, inyectando una hemotoxina que mata los glóbulos rojos y daña los tejidos. 21

La cabeza de cobre ( Agkistrodon contortrix ) es una gran víbora de pozo que se encuentra en el este y sur de los Estados Unidos. Sus cinco subespecies tienen hábitats variados que van desde bosques hasta humedales, pero también vive en áreas habitadas por humanos más densos, incluidos los desarrollos suburbanos, lo que eleva el riesgo de que las personas sean mordidas, aunque las mordeduras de cabeza de cobre rara vez son fatales para los humanos. 22

La víbora sube a los arbustos o árboles para acechar roedores, pájaros pequeños, lagartijas y ranas. También puede nadar. Las cabezas de cobre hibernan durante el invierno, pero emergen en los días más cálidos para tomar el sol.

Serpiente de mar picuda

La agresiva serpiente marina picuda ( Hydrophis Schistosus ), llamada así por su nariz en forma de pico, libera un veneno varias veces más poderoso que el de una cobra y es responsable de la mayoría de las mordeduras de serpientes marinas, aunque rara vez ataca a los humanos. Se sumerge hasta 100 metros en aguas costeras, manglares, estuarios y ríos para cazar bagres y camarones utilizando su sentido del olfato y el tacto. Si bien se sabe que es agresiva, esta serpiente marina no suele atacar a los humanos. Se encuentra principalmente en las aguas costeras del sur de Asia, el sudeste de Asia, Australia y Madagascar. 23

Serpiente estilete

The little stiletto snake (Atractaspis bibronii) is a burrowing dark brown snake with a white underbelly that ranges across grasslands and forests of southern and eastern Africa. It has very long fangs on the side of its head to stab its prey sideways, dagger-like. This serves the snake well since its prey include small mammals and lizards that inhabit old termite mounds.

Mainland Tiger Snake

La serpiente tigre ( Notechis scutatus ), llamada así por sus rayas parecidas a las de un tigre, habita en arroyos, ríos y humedales en el sur de Australia y las islas cercanas. Se alimenta de peces, ranas y renacuajos, lagartijas, aves y pequeños mamíferos y también consume carroña. Esta serpiente que habita en el suelo también es una gran escaladora. Aunque prefiere escapar en lugar de luchar, las maniobras defensivas de la serpiente tigre son impresionantes: se levanta, silba ruidosamente e infla y desinfla su cuerpo a modo de advertencia. Si se siente más amenazado, atacará y liberará una peligrosa neurotoxina. 24