Most Poisonous Snakes in the World: All snakes can be scary and dangerous, but there’s something about the image of a venom-spitting cobra that makes poisonous snakes even eerier. The way they can launch an attack with lightning-fast speed and precise accuracy makes them a lethal adversary, and one best avoided.
There’s also the horrifying images we’ve seen of some snakes engulfing entire animals inside them for digestion, after paralyzing the creature and leaving it prone and helpless. Several videos have been captured of large snakes ingesting animals like full-sized dogs, and they’re truly astounding and even terrifying.
Yet one thing about snakes is that they actually are mostly non-confrontational, and don’t go out of their way to attack humans. The primary reason venomous snakes attack is out of fear. If you stumble upon a snake in the wild, the safest thing to do is simply back away from it and continue on your way (in a different direction).
A lot of these snakes are able to live in water and all different types of climates, and we recently ran a list of some of these large bodies of water, The 15 Largest Bodies of Water in the World, that surely contain some of the snakes on this list. Moreover, don’t be fooled by the colors of different snakes as if they pertain to their potential deadliness; even the most mundane looking snakes can be incredibly deadly.
Now then, lets take a look at the top seven most poisonous snakes in the world.
7. Common Krait
This snake is found mostly in India and South Asia. The snake is typically a glossy black with white stripes and it eats all types of small mammals. Moreover, the Common Krait actually attacks its prey in its sleep, and its bite is almost painless. This snake is responsible for the majority of all snakebites in South Asia, and it’s one of the most poisonous snakes in the world.
6. Philippine Cobra
While Cobras are often associated with venom because of their iconic spit and look, most are actually not all that poisonous. However, the Philippine Cobra is extremely deadly and can shoot its venom from a distance of up to three meters. This snake is so poisonous that if bitten by it, one can be paralyzed within an hour.
Two deadly snakes down, five to go, on our countdown of the most poisonous snakes in the world, continuing on the next page.
5. Tiger Snake
The Tiger Snake gets its name because of its look, as it has stripes similar to those of tigers. They are most commonly found in Australia and if bitten by one, someone may be paralyzed or even die within the next five hours. Tiger Snakes are actually an endangered species in Australia, and any attempt to injure them or kill them comes with a hefty fine and potential prison sentence.
4. Sea Snake
The Sea Snake is generally a silvery blue, with black stripes up and down its whole body. Its venom is so strong that it’s apparently eight times stronger than the most deadly of any Cobra bite. The snake is most commonly found in the Indian Ocean, Thailand, and Australia. The venom of this snake is so potent that one bite from it can kill up to three elephants or fifty adult men. The strength of its venom easily makes the Sea snake one of the most poisonous snakes in the world.
3. Black Mamba
The Black Mamba is probably the most famous snake on this list, and it can be found mostly throughout Africa. Unlike many snakes on this list, the Black Mamba is incredibly aggressive, and will attack without being provoked. Moreover, they move at incredible speeds and their venom can kill someone within fifteen minutes of them being bit. They can reach up to 4.5 meters in length and, moreover, their venom is the fastest acting venom of any snake species in the world.
2. Eastern Brown Snake
The name of this snake may make it seem normal and harmless but it is in fact extraordinarily dangerous. Its venom is so strong that 1/14,000 of an ounce of it is enough to kill an adult human. It, like others on this list, is most commonly found in Australia. While its not a confrontational snake by any means, when attacked it can be extremely aggressive and is known to chase its attackers down and continue to bite them over and over again.
1. Inland Taipan
The Inland Taipan is a dark brown color and can grow up to 2.5 meters. It’s known for having the most toxic venom of any snake in the entire world, making it number one on our list. It’s so strong that one bite can kill up to 100 adult men. It can be found in Australia and Indonesia, and it generally eats rodents and other small mammals. Luckily, these snakes are generally reclusive, and there have been no recorded incidents of human interaction resulting in a bite. As its venom is the deadliest of any on this list, and can kill 250,000 mice with one bite, its our number one most poisonous snake in the world.
