9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Rafferty, John P." data-authors-initial="Rafferty, J.P." data-title="9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes" data-published-date="14 Mar. 2013" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-snakes" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-snakes" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-snakes">https://www.britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-snakes</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing font-14"> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/John-P-Rafferty/6747" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">John P. Rafferty</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to...</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> John P. Rafferty</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div> </div> <article class="topic-content content"><div class="topic-paragraph font-serif md-list-intro pt-15 pb-20"><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/92719-050-9BCF72B7/Mozambique-spitting-cobra-species-one-snakes-country.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*92130"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/92719-050-9BCF72B7/Mozambique-spitting-cobra-species-one-snakes-country.jpg?w=1000" alt="Mozambique spitting cobra" data-width="1600" data-height="1079" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/92719-050-9BCF72B7/Mozambique-spitting-cobra-species-one-snakes-country.jpg" data-href="*92130">Mozambique spitting cobra</a><span>The Mozambique spitting cobra, one of several species of snakes found in that country.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Digital Vision/Getty Images</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Few animals strike as much fear into people as venomous <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/snake" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">snakes</a>. Although the chances of running into a venomous snake, much less being bitten and dying from the toxin injected into one’s body, are miniscule compared to dying from cancer, heart disease, or an automobile accident, this seemingly unreasonable fear remains very real for many people. The snakes described here live primarily in tropical regions, but some might be living in research centers and zoos near you.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><ul class="md-list-order-reverse md-mendel-list" style="counter-reset: item 10"><li><h2>A dangerous African snake named for its black mouth</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/163218-050-6EA2A868/Black-mamba.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*182842"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/163218-050-6EA2A868/Black-mamba.jpg?w=1000" alt="Mamba. Black mamba snake. The best known Mamba is the black mamba, D. polylepis (Dendroaspis polylepis). Among deadliest of the world's snakes." data-width="1600" data-height="1069" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/163218-050-6EA2A868/Black-mamba.jpg" data-href="*182842">black mamba</a><span>Black mamba (<em>Dendroaspis polylepis</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The “black,” or black-mouthed, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/mamba" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mamba</a> (Dendroaspis polylepis) inhabits rocky savanna and can often be encountered on the ground, where it seems to be fond of termite mounds. Ranging in color from gray to dark brown, its name derives from the blackened inside of its mouth. The black mamba is feared because it is large and quick, and it possesses an extremely potent venom that kills most of its human victims. Despite its aggressive reputation, unprovoked attacks on humans have not been proved, and it is responsible for only a small number of deaths annually. </p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-1"></span></li><li><h2>The barba amarilla (“yellow chin”) of Latin America</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/150808-050-97F2AEFC/Fer-de-lance.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*159250"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/150808-050-97F2AEFC/Fer-de-lance.jpg?w=1000" alt="Fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper)" data-width="1600" data-height="1090" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/150808-050-97F2AEFC/Fer-de-lance.jpg" data-href="*159250">Fer-de-lance (<em>Bothrops asper</em>).</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Damtraveller/Fotolia</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The venom of some species, including the Okinawa habu (T. flavoviridis), an aggressive snake that often enters human dwellings in the Ryukyu Islands, is mildly dangerous. On the other hand, the venom of the terciopelo (B. asper), the fer-de-lance of Central America is necrotizing, painful, and often deadly. Other dangerous <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/fer-de-lance-snake-genus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fer-de-lances</a> include the jararaca  (B. jararca) of Brazil and the wutu (Bothrops alternatus) of Argentina.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-2"></span></li><li><h2>One of the most dangerous snakes in Africa</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/6769-004-125D226E/Boomslang.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*4597"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/6769-004-125D226E/Boomslang.jpg?w=1000" alt="Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)" data-width="450" data-height="450" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/6769-004-125D226E/Boomslang.jpg" data-href="*4597">Boomslang (<em>Dispholidus typus</em>)</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Dade Thornton—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/boomslang" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">boomslang</a> (<em>Dispholidus typus</em>) hunts by extending the forward part of its body motionless from a tree, its form mimicking a branch. A rear-fanged snake, it delivers its venom by chewing on its victim until the victim succumbs to the toxins.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-3"></span></li><li><h2>The quintessential Australian cobra</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/122911-004-272D3793/tiger-snake.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*116556"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/122911-004-272D3793/tiger-snake.jpg?w=1000" alt="Eastern tiger snake (Notechis scutatus)." data-width="550" data-height="440" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/122911-004-272D3793/tiger-snake.jpg" data-href="*116556">eastern tiger snake</a><span>Eastern tiger snake (<em>Notechis scutatus</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">JAW</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The eastern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/tiger-snake" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">tiger snake</a> (<em>Notechis scutatus</em>) is the most widely distributed type of tiger snake, which inhabits the southern fringe of Australia and the region’s nearby islands. As it prepares to strike, it flattens its head and neck in a manner similar to Asian and African cobras.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-4"></span></li><li><h2>The killer of the most people</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/26437-004-9C6C0E46/Saw-scaled-viper.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*32255"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/26437-004-9C6C0E46/Saw-scaled-viper.jpg?w=1000" alt="Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)" data-width="342" data-height="300" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/26437-004-9C6C0E46/Saw-scaled-viper.jpg" data-href="*32255">Saw-scaled viper (<em>Echis carinatus</em>).</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Anton Thau/Bavaria-Verlag</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/saw-scaled-viper" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">saw-scaled viper</a> (<em>Echis carinatus</em>) may be the deadliest of all snakes, since scientists believe it to be responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined. Its venom, however, is lethal in less than 10 percent of untreated victims, but the snake’s aggressiveness means it bites early and often.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-5"></span></li><li><h2>A dangerous snake with a triangular-shaped cross section</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/162395-050-D87B462E/Bungarus-fasciatus.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*190116"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/162395-050-D87B462E/Bungarus-fasciatus.jpg?w=1000" alt="Krait. Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus). Krait any of twelve species of medium-sized, poisonous snakes of the genus Bungarus." data-width="1600" data-height="1185" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/162395-050-D87B462E/Bungarus-fasciatus.jpg" data-href="*190116">banded krait</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">RealityImages/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/krait#ref837042" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">banded krait</a> (<em>Bungarus fasciatus</em>) is a highly venomous relative of the cobra. Its venom is essentially a neurotoxin that induces paralysis.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-6"></span></li><li><h2>The longest venomous snake in the world</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/152568-050-CC92308B/King-cobra-world-snake.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*163183"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/152568-050-CC92308B/King-cobra-world-snake.jpg?w=1000" alt="King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)" data-width="800" data-height="532" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/152568-050-CC92308B/King-cobra-world-snake.jpg" data-href="*163183">King cobra, the world's largest venomous snake.</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Heiko Kiera/Fotolia</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/king-cobra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">king cobra</a> (<em>Ophiophagus hannah</em>) is the longest venomous snake in the world. Its bite delivers a tremendous amount of paralysis-inducing neurotoxins. The snake’s venom is so strong and so voluminous that it can kill an elephant in just a few hours. Death also results in at least 50 to 60 percent of untreated human cases.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-7"></span></li><li><h2>The largest relative of the cobra in Australia</h2><div><p class="topic-paragraph">The coastal taipan (<em>Oxyuranus scutellatus</em>) produces venom that is nearly identical to that of its inland cousin. Its bite is lethal in more than 80 percent of untreated cases.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-8"></span></li><li><h2>The snake with the world’s deadliest venom</h2><div><p class="topic-paragraph">The bite of an inland or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/taipan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">western taipan</a>—<em>Oxyuranus microlepidotus</em>, also called, appropriately, the fierce snake—delivers a veritable witch’s brew of toxins. The venom consists of taipoxin, a complex mix of neurotoxins, procoagulants, and myotoxins that paralyze muscles, inhibit breathing, cause hemorraging in blood vessels and tissues, and damage muscles.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-9"></span></li></ul><span class="AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline"></span></article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="cm-rightrail d-none d-md-block ad-rail"></aside> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col"> <div class="md-loading hidden display-4 font-weight-normal"></div> <div class="text-center my-20 mb-100"> <button class="md-infinite-load-next btn btn-blue" data-value="next-page">Load More</button> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-da-320 hidden-xs"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"List","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":10,"pageId":3744,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.48"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/list-page.js?v=3.133.48' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"List","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes | Britannica