There are 2,400 snake species all around the world of which 600 are venomous. Check out the scariest 21!
1. Black Mamba
Black Mamba got its name because of the color of its mouth. This snake is very aggressive and one bite from it can kill a person in just twenty minutes. They are usually found in different parts of Africa.
2. Rattle Snake
Rattle Snakes are usually found in North America. It got its name from the appearance of its tail along with the sound that it makes. When it senses danger, its tail creates a rattling noise. Well, that’s one signal to stay away from the area as well! They usually live in groups. Rodents and birds are their common meals.
3. Death Adder
The Death Adder is one highly venomous snake. Usually found in Australia, they are actually not active hunters. If they hunt, they have a unique way of doing it. They usually hide under leaves, sand, or soil before ambushing their prey. A Death Adder’s tail looks similar to worm and this attracts rodents.
4. Viper
Vipers have visibly hollow fangs and a mouth that can stretch up to a very huge size. They are intelligent snakes and they can actually control the venom that they want to secrete. A viper’s venomous bite can paralyze a human instantly. Their bite is so painful and usually fatal.
5. Boa Constrictor
Good news, boa constrictors are very love animals. In fact, they love to hug! Bad news, they’ll hug you to death! Worse, they can feel your heart beat and they won’t let go until there’s none.
6. Langaha Madagascariensis
Looks pretty strange and creepy, right? This bizarre-looking snake species are among the most venomous animals and brilliantly uses their pointy nasal appendage to sting and attack their prey. Fortunately though, they aren’t very aggressive to humans.
7. Inland Taipan
Another Australian native, the Inland Taipan is a highly fierce snake that has a very toxic venom. An Inland Taipan’s bite can kill a person in one hour. They can grow as long as 2.5 meters. Don’t be fooled because they are usually shy but their strike can be fatal.
8. Blue Krait
The Blue Krait can be usually in the Southeast Asian counties such as Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia. These snakes are very creepy because they usually hunt in the dark. The shocking fact is that their venom is very lethal that sometimes even after treatment, people still die from it.
9. Eastern Brown Snake
This snake is the 2nd most venomous type of snake in the world. It usually ranges from around 1.2 to 1.8 meters long. This snake’s venom can lead to cardiac arrest and paralysis that eventually leads to death. According to reports, 1/14000 of its venom’s ounce can already kill a person. They are seriously creepy snakes due to the fact that they usually live near homes. And that’s beside being highly venomous.
10. Central Ranges Taipan
This type of Taipan snake moves very fast. They are also highly venomous. They were formerly mistaken for Brown snakes until 2007. They are usually found in Asia and Australia.
11. Egyptian Cobra
This type of cobra is the second largest cobra in the world. They are like celebrity snakes for they may be seen in movies. Egyptian cobra’s venom mainly affects the nervous system. When a person is bitten, initial effects is manifested through the cessation of the nerve signals spreading to the heart and lungs, which causes respiratory failure – the primary cause of death.
12. Fer-de-lance
Sometimes it is referred to as the “ultimate pit viper”. This is considered as the most dangerous snake in Costa Rica. What is more terrifying is the fact that they do like living near human settlement, mostly in lower elevation areas. Its bite can cause death to human beings and sometimes, when the bite is not treated properly, it can cause tissues necrosis.
13. Eastern Green Mamba
Like the black mamba, this type of mamba is likewise terrifying. Its venom from a single bite can already cause death to several humans. Primary cause of death of its victims is respiratory paralysis through a fast distribution of venom in the nervous system.
14. Desert Horned Viper
The Desert Horned Viper can usually be seen in North Africa and in the Middle East. This snake moves in a weird but effective way. The horns that can be seen on its head make it also very unique. They mostly feed on rodents, usually hiding under desert sands.
15. Boomslang
The Boomslang snake got its name because it usually resides in branches of trees. They are usually found in Africa’s Sub Sahara region. Their head is smaller compared to their body. They can only secrete very little venom because of their small fangs in proportion to their heads.
16. King Cobra
King Cobra is one of the most popular snakes in the world. This snake is actually worshipped in parts of Burma and India. It is considered as the longest venomous snake in the world. They can reach lengths of up to 4 meters. Their fangs are very big and can secrete up to 500mg of venom in just a single bite.
17. Eastern Diamondback Rattle Snake
The Eastern Diamondback Rattle Snake is basically the largest of its species. They are usually seen in the southeastern parts of the U.S. Their name is derived from the diamond patterns on their backs. They are considered as the heaviest venomous snake in the world. They can reach up to 10 kg.
18. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake can be usually found in Mexico and in the United States. They are more venomous than the Eastern Diamondback.
19. Coral Snake
The Coral Snake can be seen in different parts of the United States but mostly on the southern states. They are highly venomous and very creepy because of their red, yellow and black color combination.
20. Speckled Brown Snake
The Speckled Brown Snake are usually found in different parts of Australia. They love to stay on grassy plains. Their bite is dangerous but not as lethal as with other snakes. Still, you will need immediate medical attention once you get bitten by one.
21. The Western Brown Snake
Western Brown snakes are natives of Australia and are regarded as very poisonous. They can be seen mostly in Western Australia. They are very fast but have short fangs which make their bite less fatal.
22. Indian Cobra
Although the Indian Cobra is a moderately venomous species, its venom is rapid-acting and can be fatal absent immediate medical treatment or antivenom. Indian Cobra is responsible for about 15,000 fatalities per year and about 100,000-150,000 non-fatal bites per year.
23. Russell’s Viper
Being bitten by Russell’s viper is definitely the most painful thing you’ll ever experience. Blistering, bruising and even internal bleeding is common once bitten by this dangerous animal. Russell’s viper is responsible for about 25,000 fatalities annually in India alone.
24. Saw-Scaled Viper
They may come in small sizes, but the saw-scaled vipers are extremely lethal and aggressive in nature. They strike and attack very fast and mortality rate for those bitten are very high.
25. Samar Spitting Cobra
Found in the southern islands of the Philippines, the Samar Spitting Cobra is one of the highly venomous and dangerous species of spitting cobra. Unlike other spitting cobras, the Samar Spitting Cobra is extremely aggressive and strikes even with little provocation.
26. Black-Necked Spitting Cobra
Although mortality rate associated with Black-Necked Spitting Cobras are relatively low, they are still extremely dangerous considering that their venom is a serious irritant to the skin and eyes. Most death cases related to this species is due to asphyxiation by paralysis.
27. Rhinoceros Viper
Although the Rhinoceros Viper is not as venomous as the other species on the list, they still pose grave danger considering that they are capable of striking quickly and with little provocation. Their venom usually attacks the body’s circulatory system and destroys the tissues and blood vessels.
28. Tentacled Snake
Snake with twin tentacles? Well, that’s a new one! This incredibly creepy snake is native to Southeast Asia and uses its tentacles to lure its prey, mostly tiny fishes.
29. Eastern Hognose Snake
Don’t ever dare threatening this very strange-looking snake! You can trust that they are the world’s biggest drama queens! They’ll trick you into playing dead and letting its tongue out, so don’t be fooled. Otherwise, you’ll end up as their victim.
30. Spider-Tailed Viper
No, that’s not a deformity. This viper actually has a spider-like tail which it uses to lure its victims. Next time you see a spider-like figure, make sure it’s not the spider-tailed viper!
31. Philippine Cobra
This snake is very dangerous because it can actually spit venom. Their name is based on the fact that they can be usually found in the northern parts of the Philippines. These cobras are also fond of water. They usually feed on rodents and frogs. Their venom causes hard breathing and if not immediately treated, can lead to respiratory failure.
32. Tiger Snake
The Tiger Snake is usually found in Australia and Tasmania. Its name comes from its looks, having black and yellow colored skin. Any person can die from its venomous bite in a span of thirty minutes. They can reach up to three meters long.
33. Cottonmouth
As opposed to its common name, this type of viper is not actually as gentle and soft as a cotton. It delivers venom enough to kill a person. In fact, its bite causes an excruciating pain, a real good reason to avoid this snake.
34. Belcher’s Sea Snake
This type of snake can be found in Northern Australia and South East Asia. The Belcher’s Sea Snake are very dangerous sea snakes. Their bite can kill a person in one hour. According to reports, a few milligrams of this snake’s venom can cause a thousand people to die.
35. African Puff Adder
The African Puff Adder is very widely known in Africa because it has the record for most bite fatalities in the country. It grows up to one meter long and usually loves to be in the sun. They can be usually seen on roads, footpaths, or even near homes of humans. They are sluggish snakes but still very dangerous predators.
36. The Forest Cobra
This snake is also known as the black cobra and is also considered as the biggest type of cobra in all of Africa. They love to reside in moist areas and lowlands. These snakes can reach up to 2.2. meters long. They are very fast snakes that can actually climb trees as high as ten meters.
37. Monocled Cobra
This type of cobra is endemic to South and Southeast Asia. It is considered as the most dangerous snake in Thailand due to high fatalities caused by its venom. As common to any other cobra, its toxin causes nerve paralysis affecting the respiratory system.
38. Ottoman Viper
The Ottoman Viper is among the most venomous viper species in north-eastern Greece and Turkey. It has a light color, varying from gray to white and is a fairly big viper growing up to 95 cm.
39. Nikolsky’s Adder
Also known as Forest-Steppe Adder, Nikolsky’s Adder is endemic to central Ukraine and grows up to 68 cm. This species of viper is highly venomous and is one you surely don’t want to meet.
40. Milos Viper
This Greek viper was featured in The Snakes of Europe and it was narrated that “Dr. de Bedriaga observed this much dreaded snake, the bite of which is probably as bad as that of its Indian ally, the Daboia, Vipera russelli.” It is native to the Greek islands of Milos, Kimolos, Polyaigos, and Sifnos.
41. Vipera Ammodytes
Found in Southern Europe and in some parts of the Middle East, Vipera Ammodytes is reputed to be the most venomous and dangerous viper in the area. It grows relatively large and its fangs can grow up to 13mm.
42. Vipera Berus
The Vipera Berus is a venomous snake widespread throughout Western Europe and East Asia. Fortunately though, this dangerous viper isn’t very aggressive and attacks only when disturbed.
43. Jararaca
This is the widely known venomous snake that exists in the populated areas in the country of Brazil. It is responsible for over half of the many cases of snakebites in the area. The venom of Jararaca is slightly more toxic than that of the Fer-de-lance.
44. Many-Banded Krait
Sometimes commonly referred to as Taiwanese Krait or Chinese Krait, the many-banded krait is highly venomous and is commonly found in the southern part of China and other places in the Southeast Asia. Its bite will not give swelling and pain, but serious cases can give breathing difficulties, eventually leading to death.
45. Caspian Cobra
Known to be the most venomous species of cobra all over the world, the bite of Caspian cobra can cause severe swelling as well as pain, and in the worst case, general neurotoxicity or damage to the nerves. Without treatment, symptoms will worsen rapidly and death may occur because of paralysis of the respiratory system.
46. Cape Cobra
Considered to be one of the most dangerous in Africa, its venom is actually very potent and it frequently visits houses. The venom of Cape cobra has neurotoxins and might also contain cardiotoxins, which are responsible for damaging the respiratory and nervous systems as well as the heart.
