The World’s Deadliest Snakes: Life Savers, or Killers
The most deadly snakes in the world may turn out to be life savers according to medical research.
Snakes are greatly feared by many people but the truth is that most snakes rarely bite and much prefer to disappear and hide. After all there is no benefit in attacking something as big as a human.
Science is constantly discovering new benefits in the treatment of human diseases by analysing snake venoms. Coagulants, muscle relaxants and toxins that regulate heartbeat are already being examined for use in the treatment of heart and muscular problems.
Inland Taipan, Or Fierce Snake
The Inland Taipan,found only in Australia, is the most toxic snake in the world. One bite releases about 100 mgs of poison which is enough to kill one hundred men. This snake is rare and cases of snake bite from the Inland Taipan are very rare indeed. Although this is the most toxic of all snakes it is not the most aggressive.
Australian Brown Snake
The Australian Brown Snake is responsible for the largest number of snake bite deaths in Australia. It is an aggressive snake . An adult snake can grow up to two metres in length and moves very fast. It lives in a variety of habitats including brush, bush and grassland and lives mainly on a diet of rodents. Even though it is quite aggressive this snake will go under cover instead of striking if given the chance.
Malayan Krait
This temperamental snake grows to around one metre long. It strikes without hissing, so there is no warning of an attack. The chemical structure of the poison from the Malayan Krait is different to that of other snakes. Its toxin can be used in the treatment of some muscular diseases like muscular dystrophy and Friedrick’s Ataxia.
Taipan
This Australian snake is a pale cream colour on its head with a coppery colored body. It is a different variety to the Inland Taipan. It has excellent eyesight and a keen sense of smell which makes it an efficient hunter. They are commonly found around the Queensland cane field where there is a plentiful supply of rats and prey is easy to find. These snakes tend to disappear long before they are seen so bites are rare.
Tiger Snake
The fifth most poisonous snake in the world is the Australian Tiger Snake. The stripes that give this venomous snake its name are not seen at all times. In Southern Australia a totally black variety of this snake has been found. The venom of these snakes has a coagulant and muscle paralysis effect and is fatal in forty five percent of snake bite cases.
Beaked Sea Snake
This toxic snake is found in Asian seas from the Arabian Sea all the way across to the Coral Sea.
It grows to a length of around 1.25 metres and eats fish. It attacks with little provocation and has been known to attack scuba divers. It is responsible for more than ninety percent of sea snake bites and is particularly dangerous because the bites are often not felt and the toxin takes effect unexpectedly.
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14 Responses to “The World’s Deadliest Snakes: Life Savers, or Killers”
On January 2, 2008 at 8:23 am
Great article, Louie. I’m glad not living near any of these snakes, although they are fascinating.
On January 2, 2008 at 8:56 am
Ah… snakes, I’m generally okay with them apart from these ones of course.
On January 2, 2008 at 3:28 pm
As long as their eating rats, we’re fine. lol
On January 2, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Thank you Louie, I’ve learned so much from you.
On January 3, 2008 at 4:47 am
These are a bit scary!
On February 22, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Then — there’s the proverbial “tastes like chicken” rattlesnake. Yum!
On February 25, 2008 at 8:17 am
Wow! I really enjoyed this article. I never heard of the Beaked Sea Snake or the Australian Brown Snake before and have learned a lot.
I love it when I learn something new and I sure learned a lot here.
Thank you for sharing.
On March 14, 2008 at 7:08 pm
hate snakes…glad these arent in the u.s.a.
On October 13, 2008 at 7:57 am
I belive that your information is unfounded and that the Black Momba is actually the worlds deadliest snake.
On October 13, 2008 at 10:56 am
There is no such thing as a Black Momba Snake. Please check your own facts!
On November 8, 2008 at 8:23 am
yes, there is actzcly ….did you listen in school…and the black mamba is the deadliest snake in the world…how could you not no this and i’m only 12
On November 8, 2008 at 10:43 am
Rachael: If you read this properly you would see that this is not a full list of deadly snakes, only a selection.
Johny is wrong because he calls a black mamba a ‘black momba snake’ and there’s no such thing! (By the way, ‘actually’ is not spelled that way! Didn’t you listen in school?)
On December 4, 2008 at 9:59 am
lol those snake are so scary and i am doing a report on them eppp
On March 26, 2009 at 6:09 am
im doing a science report on the 3 most deadliest snakes and the top 3 are soooooo scary!
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