The Deadliest Snake?

[Texas Star]

In your opinion, which is the deadliest snake, to humans?

One standard is the number of people who die from it's bite. Or, you can choose on the basis of liklihood of being bitten, or which is the fastest and most aggressive.

One poll of herpetologists chose the king cobra (Ohiophagus hannah) as the one that the scientists would least like to be trapped with in a phone booth. (Yes, that was their criteria. )

Make one choice for absolute deadliest, and one for North America.

T-Star

 

[YogiBear]

I'd be hanging from the ceiling upside down by my toenails and finger nails.

This Hawaii boy votes NONE

 

[Evil Dog]

Since I live in the So Cal desert, I'd have to vote for the Mojave Green being most likely to experience the wrong end of a 12 gauge if I see one.

 

[Texas Star]

Since I live in the So Cal desert, I'd have to vote for the Mojave Green being most likely to experience the wrong end of a 12 gauge if I see one.

Ohhh, good choice, and probably mine, for N. America. We have them in west Texas, too.

T-Star

 

[Centenniel]

The Gaboon viper bites and kills many people in Africa each year.

 

[tom turner]

The deadliest snake to humans?

Probably the Colt Python!

 

[DCWilson]

Who am I to argue with snake specialists? The King Cobra is all right with me. (But based on tales I remember from childhood, I would probably run faster if I saw a krait on the terrace in front of me, and swim faster if I saw a banded sea krait.)

In North America there are only four venomous snake families -- rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, coral snakes and copperheads. The deadliest one is the one in greatest abundance wherever you live. For me that would have to be western rattlesnakes, which I see at least a couple of times a year in my neighborhood and sometimes in my yard. Not always lethal, but guaranteed to make you spectacularly miserable while you don't die.

All other snakes are extremely interesting, and I will watch them and follow them as long as they let me.

 

[Duke426]

I would vote for the Black Mamba as most deadliest and the Coral snake gets the vote in the United States.
Bob

I think the Black Mamba based not only on the potency of the venom but the ferocity of the species.

There are some real bad boys in Australia too but the names escape me at the moment. I think they are black or brown snakes (referred to such informally) but don't recall the formal names of these serpents.

 

[DWinter]

I do know sea snakes have very potent venom but many don't have the capacity to bite through much of anything like wetsuits or clothing. As colors and markings go, they sure are somthing to see. It was very common to see them getting the morning sun on the surface of the Arabian Gulf. Many times you could count hundreds as we cruised along slowly in the mirror smooth morning water. It was quite a sight.

 

[DeathGrip]

How about a python?If a big one bites you and your alone it could mean trouble from that point on,Its not venom but still quite deadly.If you all recall the story about the baby getting choked out by the family pet.And the stories about them being loose in Florida.And breeding.
The stories are real,I've had the pleasure of running into (and over) a few.

DG

 

[Capt Steve]

That would be the one that you don't see. If you get bit by a snake you did see you are probably an idiot. One study found that 70% of all venomous snake bite victims (in the US), were males between the age of 17 - 29 who had been drinking...but I digress. Here in Arizona the diamondback is the most prevalent coming in a number of varieties all of which can be lethal. Their venom is enzyme based and dissolves tissue about as fast as battery acid eats your new jeans. Google "Snakebites" for some gruesome examples.

 

[Faulkner]

I'm convinced it's the black chicken snake. A couple of weeks ago I pulled out the grease gun and was squeezing a shot of grease in each of the lube points on my brush hog behind my tractor getting ready for some mowing. As I reached for the PTO joint a harmless black chicken snake slithered out from under the brush hog right by my feet. I ripped most of the skin off the back of my right hand as I yanked it out from the PTO joint, skinned both shins as I jumped over one arm of the 3-point hitch and cut a gash in my left hip on the fender of the tractor. I then twisted my ankle as I tripped over my open tool box and hurt my left wrist as I fell flat on my face. It's a wonder I survived the attack.

Those darn black chicken snakes are wicked.

 

[Crazy K38]

the deadliest in the world is called the 'Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan' (Oxyuranus microlepidotus ), Australia. The most toxic venom of any snake. Maximum yield recorded (for one bite) is 110mg. That would porbably be enough to kill over 100 people or 250,000 mice. With an LD50 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 Fierce Snake is native to the arid regions of central Australia, extending from the southeast part of the Northern Territory, and into west Queensland. The Fierce Snake can also be found north of Lake Eyre and to the west of the split of the Murray River, Darling River and Murrumbidgee River. Fierce Snakes are known to live in holes, and feed on small rodents such as mice and rats. Despite its name, Fierce Snakes are not known to be particularly aggressive, but docile. They will strike if provoked, however, injecting their incomparably toxic venom.No fatalities have been attributed to this species, and all known bites have been to people who keep them in captivity or actively seek them out in the wild.

 

[cass]

Of the Old world snakes, drop for drop, I'd vote for the Banded Sea snake, but for just meanness, the Mambas, both green and black, come to mind. In my younger years, I worked as a herpetologist at the Ft Worth Zoo. We had two King Cobras on display. On the back of their cage (out of the public's view) was a fireman's ax, with a sign that read "King Cobra Snake Bite Kit". It was no joke ,because there was no anti-venom for the King, and several others. For the New World species, I'd rather not be in a phone booth with the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox).

 

[straightshooter1]

I'm surprised none of the Florida members mentioned the Water Moccasin.

They are very aggressive, and will actually come at you (not really chase you, but come towards you till you have the sense to run away or use your shotgun on the thing).

They sometimes fall into boats on the lakes, but I think this is a matter of brushing the limb and knocking them off rather than them trying to attack. Of course, if that happens, leaving the boat is a pretty good idea. Shooting a hole through the snake and boat will work, too. Oars are acceptable as well.

Also, the old Cotton Mouth will bite more than once. Did I mention that they are very aggressive?

I don't want to be in a phone booth with any of them. Of course, that's unlikely. When's the last time you saw a phone booth?

Bob

 

[venomballistics]

someone HAS to say it .... any of the snakes indigenous to Washington DC.
They seem to bite EVERYONE

 

[pharmer]

I'm convinced it's the black chicken snake. A couple of weeks ago I pulled out the grease gun and was squeezing a shot of grease in each of the lube points on my brush hog behind my tractor getting ready for some mowing. As I reached for the PTO joint a harmless black chicken snake slithered out from under the brush hog right by my feet. I ripped most of the skin off the back of my right hand as I yanked it out from the PTO joint, skinned both shins as I jumped over one arm of the 3-point hitch and cut a gash in my left hip on the fender of the tractor. I then twisted my ankle as I tripped over my open tool box and hurt my left wrist as I fell flat on my face. It's a wonder I survived the attack.

Those darn black chicken snakes are wicked.

That is the funniest thing I've seen all day. Thanks for the picture. Joe

 

[Frailer]

I'm convinced it's the black chicken snake...

I literally laughed out loud; thanks for sharing that!

 

[DeathGrip]

That is the funniest thing I've seen all day. Thanks for the picture. Joe

Made me laugh too.

DG

 

[Skeeziks]

The Saw Scaled Viper and the Russell's Viper of India are two snakes the I don't ever want to get close to.
And let's not forget about the Bushmaster. It is the largest pit viper in the world. It is extremely aggressive and will deliver multiple bites with its extremely long fangs.

The Inland Taipan has the most toxic venom but it's very shy and if you don't muck with it you'll be ok.