When one looks at what the deadliest snakes are in the world, one cannot just look at the potency of their venom; one also has to consider how quickly they can kill us as humans. With snake bites remaining a big public health problem around the world, this article aims to create awareness surrounding the species responsible for a large number of deaths by snake bite every year.
It is important to note that many snake bites end up killing individuals because they take place in areas where medical resources are scarce. Here we will rank 9 of the deadliest snakes that could potentially kill a human and highlight some key aspects of each snake.
1. Eastern Brown Snake
Scientifically known as Pseudonaja textilis, this snake could kill a human in 15 minutes. It’s usually found in regions in Australia and is infamous for a very fast, lethal strike upon feeling threatened. Because of the potent combination of neurotoxins as well as coagulants found in its venom, it is the snake that causes the most deaths in Australia. Its venom causes internal bleeding and paralysis in humans.
Bryan Fry, a snake venom expert, states that the Eastern Brown snake is the only one that kills humans in less than 15 minutes, where one feels okay for the first 13 minutes and then the venom takes rapid effect before causing sudden death. Because of the insidious time gap between bite and symptomatic indication, most seek medical aid too late.
2. Black Mamba
Scientifically known as Dendroaspis polylepis, comes from the region of Sub-Saharan Africa and could kill an adult in less than 30 minutes. It is well known for its devious, sleek black look, as well as its lightning speed it strikes with. It has a neurotoxic venom causing paralysis that spreads very quickly, also leaving the person suffering from respiratory failure.
Symptoms could be observed much quickly than with the Eastern Brown Snake, with symptoms occurring within the first 10 minutes from when the person was bitten. They are very reactive and aggressive snakes, and upon feeling threatened, they strike out, injecting their venom when they bite. Dry bites are rarer with these snakes as every bite is packed with their venom. The venom itself from a single bite is potent enough to kill 19 adults. Death could occur within 7-15 hours after the bite.
3. Coastal Taipan
Scientifically known as Oxyuranus scutellatus, and comes from the regions in Argentina as well as New Guinea. Its very toxic venom has the power to kill a human within the first 30-45 minutes after the bite occurs. Similar to the Eastern Brown Snake, its venom contains procoagulants as well as neurotoxins, which means that internal bleeding and fast-spreading paralysis are inevitable.
Fatalities have decreased because of the availability of an anti-venom for this snake. Its high venom potency still makes it a dangerous predator. Unlike the Black Mamba, it is more of a shy snake and would only bite if it feels threatened or cornered. It can bite very rapidly and more than once.
4. King Cobra
Scientifically known as Ophiophagus hannah, comes from the South and Southeast Asia region and can kill an adult in 30 minutes. Classified as the longest venomous snake in the world, as it rises to strike. What makes this snake so deadly is the large quantity of venom it delivers with its bite. Up to a quarter of an ounce in a bite is injected by its sharp fangs.
It has a neurotoxic venom which could cause respiratory failure and eventually cardiac arrest. The reputation of the king cobra precedes it as it is not only well-known for its sheer size and ominous look, but also for the fact that it preys on other snakes. Despite these fearsome facts, the snake itself is quite shy. It will avoid human contact unless it needs to defend itself or its territory.
5. Common Death Adder
Scientifically known as Acanthophis antarcticus, also found in Australia, can kill an adult anywhere between 30 minutes to 6 hours after the bite occurs. Living up to its name, it is quite common. Its strike is lightning fast when it bites, and then the snake returns to a striking position in 0.1 seconds, ready to bite once more.
Like the other snakes mentioned above, it also has a neurotoxic venom which causes paralysis and eventually death. The mortality for this snake ranges between 50-60% when anti-venom is not readily available. It is a reluctant snake, wanting to stay put, relying on ambush tactics to defend itself. It yields up to 236 mg of venom per bite. If not careful where one walks in bushy areas in the region, it is found, one could easily be bitten before one even knows the snake is there.
6. Caspian Cobra
Scientifically known as Naja oxiana is found in Central Asia. It also has other identifying names, such as the Oxus Cobra, Ladle snake, Russian or Persian cobra. It is medium in length but has the significant look of a cobra.
Its very potent venom could kill an adult within an hour. It yields 590 mg of venom per bite, which means the venom from one bite is enough to kill dozens. Respiratory failure is among the symptoms fatal to humans caused by its neurotoxic venom.
7. Russell’s Viper
Scientifically known as Daboia russelii, its region being Southeast Asia. Most snake bites in India could be attributed to the Russell’s Viper, with a staggering 43% of medically significant cases being this snake alone. Symptoms from the very potent venom of this snake include multisystem organ failure, bleeding, shock, etc. All of which occur rapidly after a bite and can kill an adult within 1-2 hours.
Death is imminent if the bite is left untreated. A single bite’s venom is enough to kill up to 22 adults, with an amount of 268 mg yielded per bite. It is a part of the Viperidae family of snakes.
8. Belcher’s Sea Snake
Scientifically known as Hydrophis belcheri are native to Coastal Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Although fatalities are rare because this snake is more docile and is unlikely to bite people, it is considered to be a very dangerous snake because of its toxicity. Its venom is almost x16 more potent than that of a cobra. If a bite from this snake does occur, the symptoms could be observed quite rapidly after the bite.
Death from its bite could occur any time between 30 minutes and several hours after the bite. An interesting fact about this snake is that not all carry venom, only 25% do. It is seen to be the most venomous snake because only a few milligrams of its toxic venom have the potency to kill thousands of people.
9. Tiger Snake
Scientifically known as Nontechis scutatus. It’s found in both Tasmania and South Australia. The venom of this snake could kill an adult any time between 30 minutes and several hours because its venom causes a rapid systemic collapse, and the neurotoxicity of its venom also causes respiratory failure along with paralysis.
It is well-known, especially in Australia, as numerous fatalities could be attributed to its bite, but because the antivenom for this snake has become more readily available, the rate of deaths occurring from the tiger snake has been on the decline. An interesting fact about this snake is that it has a banded appearance, making it easily distinguishable. In its nature, it is a snake that defends itself aggressively when feeling threatened.
Whether it is their venom, striking at the speed of light or their size that makes these 9 snakes so incredibly dangerous to humans, all of them are worth looking out for. They are beautiful killing machines and are best left alone if you do not have the necessary knowledge or skill sets to remove them from your path. Creating awareness of these snakes is necessary to save lives, and regardless of your knowledge of these snakes, always seek treatment immediately when bitten.
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