Top 10 Most Dangerous Snakes in the World

on 01 May, 2012  · 1 comments

Snakes are one of the most terrifying reptiles on Earth. Closely related to lizards, the species are harmful even without arms, legs and even limbs. However, a majority of them are harmless and forms a inevitable part of the nature’s cycle. It is very surprising to see how they have adapted to different environments and hoe many different species have evolved over the period of time. Here is a list of 10 most dangerous snakes in the world.

1- Naja ashei / Giant Spitting Cobra

Cobras are definitely one of the most dreaded snakes. They are known for their venom and some of them are even capable of spitting the deadly poison from several feet. They generally aim for the eyes and the venom is poisonous enough to cause blindness. Naja ashei are found in Kenya and measure up to nine feet in length. They are the most poisonous spitting cobras.

2- Crotalus cerastes

The species of the snake is found in deserts. It is known as sidewinder because they move sideways instead of moving forwards for movement. This reduces their contact with the sand and requires less energy apart from better griping.

3- Erpeton Tentaculatum

The snake species bears two tentacles, as their name suggests, which help them detect threat or more importantly food around. Their diet includes fishes. Their hunting method is also quite unique as they jiggle their tail to direct the fishes towards their mouth.

4- Elapidae

The species of the snake belong to the same family as the cobras. Their beauty does not bring down their deadliness and spend their lives under the sea. Some of them cannot survive on land at all. They extract oxygen with the help of its skin through water itself.

5- Rhabdophis tigrinus

The species is known for its deadly poison. The Rhabdophis tigrinus ssecretes the deadly and toxic substance from the glands situated at the back of its neck. The diet of the snake comprises of poisonous toads that adds to the venom of the snake.

6- Atractaspis

The atractaspis is also known as the mole viper. The snake spends most of its time underground but still marks its presence in the list of the most poisonous snake around. It hardly uses its jaws. It also possesses fangs that help in striking down its prey.

7- Eunectes Murinus / Green Anaconda

Anaconda, the snake species that sends a chill across your spine, with just a thought in your mind. It is one of the largest and heaviest snakes on the planet. The largest snake reported till now lengths up to 16 feet. However, there are stories that have been flying around for years of spotting snakes with length of more than 30 feet. They do not give their prey a chance to escape. They wrap themselves around the prey until they die of suffocation. Finally they swallow them as a whole.

8- Pareas iwasakii

The species is found in Japan and is small in size but with an exceptional large head. They are known for their asymmetrical jaws and have the oddest diet amongst all species. They live only on snails and that too only with clockwise shell. Their jaws make them incapable to live on snails with counterclockwise shells.

9- Scolecophidians

These snakes are also found underground only. Known as blindsnakes, they do not possess poison at all. Their eyes are covered by thin scales and have a tubular body, making them suitable to live a life of a burrower. Their diet comprises of insects like termites and ants.

10- Chrysopelea

This is one of the most different species among all. They are known for their ability to fly. They are capable to flatten their body and can easily glide for a few hundred meters. They can even surpass many of their flying enemies in the sky.

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OneTwentySix said...
September 14, 2012 at 2:33 AM

Did you just pick ten snakes at random here? Some of the snakes you listed are harmless, more aren't medically significant or frequent causes of death, and "Scolecophidians" is an entirely infra-order of harmless snakes (and the picture isn't a Scolecophidian).

Elapidae don't belong to the same family as cobras, Elapidae IS the family of cobras (-dae is a suffix for families). The Elapidae and Viperidae are the two primary families for deadly species, and though there are a few outside those two groups, all of the most deadly are vipers or elapids.

Atractaspis spp. are venomous, but they're not usually lethal. They're also un-coincidentally not elapids or vipers. Likewise, Rhabdophis tigrinus isn't really known for its deathcount.

Really, when it comes down to it, the only snake that could possibly make a top 50 most dangerous list would be the spitting cobra. Sidewinders are dangerous, but bites generally aren't fatal due to their habitat, range, availability of medical care, etc.

If you wanted a "most interesting snakes," your list might be valid, but it's completely wrong as far as dangerous snakes.





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