Venomous Reptiles -- World's 5 Deadliest Snakes

Venomous Reptiles -- World's 5 Deadliest Snakes
By Mae Lynn Paulino

Snakes are both infamous and revered due to their perplexing way of living and characteristics that vastly differs from other animals. Add to that the fact that they have this unmistakable aura that commands fear among other species in the animal kingdom which is not unfounded. Snakes are very famous for having very potent venom with the most lethal of all able to kill a number of fully grown human adults.

Ironically, the world’s most venomous snakes can be found in only one continent and that is, unlike popular beliefs, the Australian deserts, plains and rainforests. Here are the countdown of the world’s deadliest snakes and how potent their venoms are.

1. Inland Taipan Or Fierce Snake - Oxyuranus Microlepidotus

The Inland Taipan is the world’s most venomous snake with an lethal dose of 0.01 mg/kg, it is about 10 times as venomous as a Mojave rattlesnake and 750 times as venomous as a common cobra. The venom of the Inland Taipan is capable of killing 250,000 mice or the equivalent of 100 adult men. Although the Taipan is the world’s most lethal snake, it has yet to take a victim, several bites have been recorded and successfully treated by taipan antivenom which is produced and manufactured by the Australian Reptile Park and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in Melbourne. Its main diet is mainly small mammals, particularly native rats, which at times, reach plague proportions. This snake is found on black soil plains of the 'channel country' of the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and North South Wales.

2. King Brown Snake - Pseudechis Australis

In comparison with the Inland Taipan, King Brown Snakes’ venom is not that lethal, however it produces its venom in very large quantities. The average Tiger Snake produces around 10-20mg when milked. In comparison, a good sized King Brown may deliver over 150mg in one bite. Unlike the Inland Taipan, the King Brown Snake has the record of the most killings in Australia. One reason for this is because of its common sightings all around Australia as well as the use of the wrong anti-venom. The King Brown Snake, is not really of the Brown Snake genus but actually belongs to the Black Snake genus. For this reason, many people died because Brown Snake Anti-Venom was used instead of Black Snake Anti-Venom.

3. Papuan Taipan - Oxyuranus Scutellatus

The Papuan Taipan, as its name suggests can be found in the Papua New Guinea, it is a close relative of the Australian Inland and Coastal Taipans. Its venom is just slightly more potent than that of the Coastal Taipans however due to poor facilities and lack of anti-venom supplies, a Papuan Taipan bite is still a very serious medical emergency with almost 50% of its victims requiring mechanical ventilation. Like the Australian Taipans, Papuan Taipan’s diet is mostly small mammals, thus they live closely to human habitations.

4&5. MainLand & Eastern Tiger Snake

Mainland and Eastern Tiger Snakes occupy both the 4ht and 5th places because of the strength of its venom and the large quantity in which it is being administered to the snakes’ victims. Its venom is mainly neurotoxic, affecting the central nervous system, but also causes muscle damage and affects blood clotting. They can typically be found through Western and South Australia and Tasmania.

It is very easy to judge someone or something just because of the harm that it poses on you, but we have to remember that no one would kill someone else unless it is provoked. We want our autonomy so it is little to no wonder why some species would want the same as well.

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