The Deadliest Snake?
- Thread starter Texas Star
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scoutsdad
Member
Most nature loving folks associate the Chiricahua Mountains here in SE Arizona,with the 13 species of Hummingbirds that frequent the area. What only Herpetologist is that we also have 9 different species of venomous snakes 8 rattlers and coral snakes. In the canyon I live at the 4300 ft elevation is the top for Mojave rattles, up to 4500 for Diamondbacks and 4600 and higher for Black-tailed rattlers. At 4500 I mostly get Diamondbacks, but the higher west property gets Black-tailed. I am just blessed that the Mojaves stay lower than our place.
badguybuster
Member
Typically most of your Cobra's have very small fangs and actually have to chew them venom in. Sea snakes (although the most toxic) are more venomous but extremely docile when submerged. Bites are VERY rare. Rattlesnakes are typically very aggressive but less toxic than most South American vipers. The Gaboon viper mentioned above is so nasty not because of toxicity but due to there camoflague. When resting, they are nearly invisible, plus, their fangs have been recorded in lenghts up to 3"!!! The Black Mamba would get my vote.
P.S. Coral snakes are notoriously docile and have very soft teeth. Bites are rarely fatal. Copperheads are really only deadly to children, elderly, or people in poor health. Although, the bite will cause necrosis in the affected area.
P.S. Coral snakes are notoriously docile and have very soft teeth. Bites are rarely fatal. Copperheads are really only deadly to children, elderly, or people in poor health. Although, the bite will cause necrosis in the affected area.
According to Wikipedia a coral snake bite paralizes the breathing muscles and require artificial respiration and often large doses of antivenom to save a victim's life and most bites occur from accidental contact during activities such as gardening.
Oh and the current supply of antivenom expires this year.
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The animal channel once rated the most deadly snakes and there were several categories they used like aggressiveness, strength of venom, amount of venom injected, likeliness to be bitten, medical treatment results, etc. It seems like they voted the Austrailian Brown as the deadliest snake.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
No one mentioned the Tropical rattler (Crotalus durissus) and subspecies, from s. Mexico to well into South America. The Brazilian race is said to be perhaps the most toxic. (C.d. terrificus)
Unlike most rattlers, the venom is primarlily neurotoxic, as with most populations of the Mojave rattler.
This snake and the Bushmaster (Lachesis muta) have venom that causes the victim's neck muscles to fail, and some natives believe the strike breaks their necks.
Bushmaster venom isn't especally toxic (about like a copperhead's, I've read) , but is injected in such large amounts that a bite is usually fatal.
Someone posted that the Gaboon viper has fangs to three inches long. I've never seen a reference to more than two inches, still the longest known snake fangs. Could you provide the reference to the three-inch one?
The bottom line is, once you get past a certain level of toxicity and willingness to bite, the issue is primarily one of how well able the snake is to attack from a distance, even pursue, a victim, or how well it is camoflaged. Availability of medical care is also crucial, and is almost non-existent in many parts of the world where snakes kill over 40,000 people a year.
T-Star
P.S. I forgot to mention that an island off the Brazilian coast has developed a local race of lancehead vipers that are so toxic and so numerous that the government has prohibited people from landing there. I think it's called a golden lancehead. Some offshoot of Bothrops lanceolatus, I believe. (All scientific names and spelling are from memory, but I think I got them okay.)
Unlike most rattlers, the venom is primarlily neurotoxic, as with most populations of the Mojave rattler.
This snake and the Bushmaster (Lachesis muta) have venom that causes the victim's neck muscles to fail, and some natives believe the strike breaks their necks.
Bushmaster venom isn't especally toxic (about like a copperhead's, I've read) , but is injected in such large amounts that a bite is usually fatal.
Someone posted that the Gaboon viper has fangs to three inches long. I've never seen a reference to more than two inches, still the longest known snake fangs. Could you provide the reference to the three-inch one?
The bottom line is, once you get past a certain level of toxicity and willingness to bite, the issue is primarily one of how well able the snake is to attack from a distance, even pursue, a victim, or how well it is camoflaged. Availability of medical care is also crucial, and is almost non-existent in many parts of the world where snakes kill over 40,000 people a year.
T-Star
P.S. I forgot to mention that an island off the Brazilian coast has developed a local race of lancehead vipers that are so toxic and so numerous that the government has prohibited people from landing there. I think it's called a golden lancehead. Some offshoot of Bothrops lanceolatus, I believe. (All scientific names and spelling are from memory, but I think I got them okay.)
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Polar Boy
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Worst snakes I ever heard of are the "Sand Packers" of South East Asia. They travel in pairs - a long skinny one and a short fat stubby one. When they attack the long one wraps himself around your ankles which causes you to fall. Then the short stubby one packs sand up your butt until your brains explode.
badguybuster
Member
I cant believe no one has mentioned the deadliest snake of all....
The evil, sneaky, and very wily.... Obamacus Constitutionalicus Eradicus. He is so lethal that in one blink of an eye, he can wipe out everything you ever held dear. DONT FEAR THOUGH! He is easily spotted, by his enormous mouth, exceptionally large forked tongue, and HUGE scales protruding from the sides of his head that look like big ears. Known to travel in large packs of like minded reptiles.
The evil, sneaky, and very wily.... Obamacus Constitutionalicus Eradicus. He is so lethal that in one blink of an eye, he can wipe out everything you ever held dear. DONT FEAR THOUGH! He is easily spotted, by his enormous mouth, exceptionally large forked tongue, and HUGE scales protruding from the sides of his head that look like big ears. Known to travel in large packs of like minded reptiles.
ancient-one
US Veteran
One of the most dangerous is being overlooked. It is cunning, deadly without being provoked, sneaky and quick to strike and has the ability to cause problems all over the US. It's non-scientific name is nanceuspelosious.
LVSteve
Member
Around here I would say the Mojave Green is the most toxic and the rattler you are most likely to tread on. If they rattle at all, it is a very short duration buzz. The Western Rattler is the most likely to bite you with its behaviour described in my reptile book as "very excitable". Further South in Arizona they have the Coral Snake but I understand you have work hard to get bitten by one.
The folk that study snake venom in the US claim that the venom has become more potent in the SW desert species over the last 50-60 years. Probable causes are fewer prey due to a combination of climate change, man and the coyote. Therefore, if you are a snake and you do see prey, make darned sure it does not get away.
The folk that study snake venom in the US claim that the venom has become more potent in the SW desert species over the last 50-60 years. Probable causes are fewer prey due to a combination of climate change, man and the coyote. Therefore, if you are a snake and you do see prey, make darned sure it does not get away.
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OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
BTW, the coral snakes in AZ are a different genus than those elsewhere in the US. And there are tropical versions that do not hold to the "Red and black, friend of Jack; red and yellow, kill a fellow" rhyme pertaining to how the colored rings on the body touch.
red14
US Veteran
That is quite interesting. Do you have any pictures. I really enjoy your posts, quite informative.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Thanks. I appreciate that.
Alas, I have no personal pics, and saw the South American ones in a naval medical manual, "Poisonous Snakes of the World." Sherman Minton, MD was among the contributors as was Dr. Findlay Russell. Both were big names in snakes. The Govt. Printing Office Book Store sold these and they have hard blue covers, Very well printed on slick paper with some color plates and B&W photos. They were intended for Navy doctors treating snakebites all over the world.
The tropical corals tend to have colored bands in triads (groups of three) on a roseate body. But they vary. I'll try to find pics on the Net. Or, if you Search and find some, post 'em, if you can, or a link.
The AZ corals are genus Micuroides, I think, and Micrurus fulvius is the basic coral elsewhere in the US, although there are some races and subspecies variants. I've seen only one outside of a zoo, in an East Texas forest. It's a beautiful snake.
I know that one boy almost died from a coral snake bite, and was saved by a transfusion from the blood of Bill Haast, who operated the Miami Serpentarium. He had immunized himself to some snake venoms, to a considerable degree. Haast survived bites from a King Cobra and a Blue Krait. He thought he would have died, had he not gradually injected himself with small amounts of some venoms over a span of years.
BTW, I think of corals as sort of New World kraits. There are Asian corals, too, but I don't know anything about them.
T-Star
windjammer
Member
Thanks. I appreciate that.
I know that one boy almost died from a coral snake bite, and was saved by a transfusion from the blood of Bill Haast, who operated the Miami Serpentarium. He had immunized himself to some snake venoms, to a considerable degree. Haast survived bites from a King Cobra and a Blue Krait. He thought he would have died, had he not gradually injected himself with small amounts of some venoms over a span of years.
T-Star
Is mister Haast still alive? I have been there twice back in the 60's. I believe he started milking Cobras to use the venom to fight polio. At that time an ounce of Cobra venom was worth more than an ounce of gold.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Here is an Arizona coral snake. See how the red and yellow bands touch? That distinguishes North American corals from similar king snakes and milk snakes. In South America, that doesn't always hold true.
Sorry: I haven't read anything about Haast in years. I'll see what the Net says.
T-Star
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
This coral snake is from Ecuador. See how different it looks from the North American sort?
Here's one from western Mexico. See how it completely conflicts with the wisdom that corals have adjoining bands of red and yellow?
I've had difficulty learning much about these tropical corals, but what I have read suggests that they are very dangerous.
T-Star
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red14
US Veteran
Very different, looks like a King snake.
That old wives tale can get you in big trouble.
That old wives tale can get you in big trouble.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
safearm
US Veteran
I am a great believer in the saying, "The only good snake is a dead snake," therefore I don't care to be in an enclosed space with ANY snake.
chp
Member
What fun it would have been to have a .22 rifle and a bunch of ammo (and a Captain with sense of humor).
