12 Most Venomous Snakes in the World That Terrify Us
Snakes are unique and impressive creatures, but for most of us, they’re also the stuff of nightmares. Slithering their way silently through shrubbery and footpaths, some snake species possess extremely strong venom. They can paralyze and even kill in seconds.
The absence of some household names here might surprise you, but this list reveals the twelve most venomous snakes in the world.
To find these snakes, we’ve followed the subcutaneous injection LD50 rating, which is the venom lethality metric used by researchers who injected venom into rabbits and mice. The LD50 metric effectively determines how much venom is required to reach 50% of the death of a mouse or rabbit.
Ready to gain a new fear?
Inland Taipan
Australia’s inland Taipan snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is widely considered to be the most venomous snake in the world.
Thankfully, this snake is relatively shy and calm but will defend itself if provoked. First, you’d see it rise into an S-shaped curve, with its head facing straight toward you. Then it would pounce either with a brutal single bite or several quick stabs. The venom then accelerates into the body via an enzyme.
Then, you’d be likely to die following paralysis, kidney failure, cerebral hemorrhage, severe allergic reactions, or cardiac complications.
LD50 Venom: 0.025 mg/kg
Indian Cobra
The Indian Cobra is considered one of “the big four” snakes that make the most snake bites on humans in India. Revered in Hindu culture, they can be found in nearly every warm Indian habitat.
The venom of an Indian Cobra is fast-acting. Despite landing small bites, between 15-20% of people die from their bites.
If you were bitten by one you’d need rapid treatment, as you’d suffer neurological and neuromuscular symptoms, followed by paralysis, respiratory failure, and, potentially, death.
L50 Venom: 0.56 mg/kg
Eastern Brown Snake
The Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is another of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia’s most venomous snakes.
Growing up to 7ft long, it’s found in a variety of habitats except dense forests. People often spot them on farms and in outer suburban areas.
While it only hunts small mice, you don’t want to provoke it. If you do, prepare for an S-shape warning before it strikes and then (terrifyingly) coils around you. Its potent neurotoxin venom will then cause paralysis, hemorrhaging, and cardiac arrest. No thanks.
L50 Venom: 0.053 mg/kg
Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
The Yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus) looks terrifying, with its unique yellow underside and shiny black upper side.
Moving very swiftly and smoothly, it’s found in coastal shallow zones and along seashores, lagoons, river mouths, and coral reefs in tropical waters (except for the Atlantic Ocean).
Most people should survive without any serious consequences, but you will need to treat bites fast to avoid paralysis, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest.
L50 Venom: 0.067 mg/kg
Coastal Taipan Snake
The extremely nervous Coastal Taipan snake (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is a ferocious serpent, native to the coasts of northern and eastern Australia, and New Guinea.
Found at lengths of up to 9.5 feet, it will pounce without hesitation if you get too close. It will pose with its head and body raised, inflating and compressing its body before striking without warning. With the ability to reach far and wide, it makes multiple fast bites before most victims even realize what’s happened.
Its 12mm long fangs will cause significant pain as it injects a large quantity of highly toxic venom into the victim. Venom can limit blood from clotting and cause internal bleeding, kidney damage, and paralysis. Immediate medical attention is critical.
L50 Venom: 0.099 mg/kg
Common Krait
The Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is the most dangerous snake in India, with a venom that causes muscle paralysis via rather horrible neurotoxins. Worst of all, even an antivenom cannot reverse the paralysis and around 10,000 people die in India per year.
They live in a wide range of habitats but especially love water sources, which can cause nightmare scenarios for anyone taking a swim or walking by a lake or river. At night they are particularly aggressive and when they bite, they won’t let go quickly.
LD50 Venom: 0.365 mg/kg
Many-Banded Krait Snake
The many-banded krait snake grows up to 5 feet and has an exotic striped appearance that looks scary from the outset.
Coming out only at night, they’re very calm creatures but pack a serious punch. Should you accidentally stand on one of these snakes, you’d be bitten with a venom that would take over an hour to trigger symptoms.
Most people will only suffer discomfort and weakness, but in the worst cases, one could experience a suppression of breathing that leads to death. In 2001, a man was bitten by a many-banded krait and died 29 hours later.
L50 Venom: 0.09 mg/kg
Black-Banded Sea Krait
The Black-banded sea krait (Laticauda semifasciata) is found in the shallow coastal areas of the China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean. It’s considered 10 times more dangerous than the bite of a cobra!
Regularly harvested for meat and skin, it poses a risk to fishermen and women, swimmers, and beachgoers. With a strongly neurotoxic venom, the sea snake can cause paralysis and even death, by injecting a venom that causes muscle tissue breakdown
L50 Venom: 0.111 mg/kg
Russell’s Viper
There are few snake bites considered more painful than the excruciating attack of a Russell’s Viper (Daboia russelii). Causing rapid bruising, necrosis (the death of cells), and internal bleeding, they are responsible for around 25,000 fatalities per year!
Growing up to nearly 5 feet, these brown and black horrors are generally slow-moving and shy but can attack at astonishing speeds if they feel threatened.
LD50 Venom: 0.75 mg/kg
Beaked Sea Snake
The Beaked sea snake (Hydrophis schistosus) is responsible for more than 50% of global sea snake bites. Aggressive and fast-moving, it made of nightmares.
Found in shallow tropical sea beds, rivers, and freshwater lakes around the Indian Ocean, it generally feeds on fish. Should you come into accidental contact with it, it won’t hold back on biting.
Beaked sea snake bits often go unnoticed until the symptoms arrive. Prompt treatment is required, as you could suffer excruciating pain, skeletal muscle tissue breakdown, and organ failure.
L50 Venom: 0.131 mg/kg
Tiger Snake
Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) are big, thick, brutes that can grow up to 3.2 feet long. With fangs around 3.5mm to 5mm long, they can land a painful, sharp bite with a highly venomous injection.
Known for their tiger-like stripes, they pose a genuine threat to farms and suburban residents on summer nights, when the snakes are out hunting for mice and rats.
One bite would require rapid treatment with around double the usual amount of snake antivenom. If not, you’d risk suffering paralysis, an inability for blood to clot, and severe muscle damage.
L50 Venom: 0.131 mg/kg
Black Mamba Snake
Large and extremely venomous, the Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is the second longest venomous snake in the world — growing up to 14 feet in length!
Capable of moving at 5.4 meters per second, it’s large, aggressive, and triggers rapid life-threatening symptoms.
An adult who suffers the bite of a Black Mamba can expect a fast death, following a bite from its 13.1mm fangs. Within 45 minutes a victim can collapse, suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular failure.
L50 Venom: 0.32 mg/kg
