Top 10 World’s Most Dangerous Snakes

News: According to the World Health Organization, venomous snakes bite approximately 5.4 million people annually, resulting in 81,000 to 138,000 fatalities.They hiss, they slither, and unfortunately, for both humans and unsuspecting prey, they possess a potent bite.

Their primary weapon is venom, a toxic substance produced in a modified salivary gland and injected into prey through fangs. Venom first emerged around 60 million years ago, following the divergence of large constrictors like boa constrictors and pythons from other snakes, as explained by Agneesh Barua, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

The venom of a single snake may consist of various compounds, each with its own lethal effects. Here are ten snakes whose venom can be deadly to humans.

10. BLACK MAMBA

Black mambas, despite their brownish color, are among the most frightening snakes globally, causing an estimated 20,000 deaths annually. Africa’s deadliest snake, the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), can fatally harm a person with just two drops of venom, containing three-finger toxins that disrupt nerve cell function.

9. FER-DE-LANCE

The fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper), found in Central and South America, causes tissue necrosis and internal bleeding, as its venom belongs to a class of proteins called metalloproteases.

8. BOOMSLANG

The boomslang (Dispholidus typus) in Africa, once underestimated for its venom potency, has hemotoxic venom causing internal and external bleeding, leading to fatalities.

7. EASTERN TIGER SNAKE

Native to southeast Australia, the eastern tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) possesses venom that can induce poisoning in humans within 15 minutes, causing an average of one death per year.

6. RUSSELL’S VIPER

Responsible for a significant portion of snakebite mortalities in India, the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) is considered one of the most deadly true vipers.

5. SAW-SCALED VIPER

One of the “Big Four” in India, the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) contributes to an estimated 58,000 deaths annually, along with other vipers like the Russell’s viper and the pit viper.

4. BANDED KRAIT

The banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) is a slow-moving snake with venom that can paralyze muscles, inhibiting the diaphragm and causing suffocation.

3. KING COBRA

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake, capable of spotting a moving person from 330 feet away, and its venom can be lethal.

2. COASTAL TAIPAN

The coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is known for its speed and venomous bite, with neurotoxins preventing nerve transmission.

1. INLAND TAIPAN

The inland taipan, residing in remote locations in Australia, is one of the most venomous snakes, with venom containing the hyaluronidase enzyme, enhancing toxin absorption throughout the victim’s body.