The Most Dangerous Snake

[Texas Star]

What, in your opinion, is the most dangerous snake in the world, to humans? Please tell why you made that choice. I hope we can keep this on a serious level, with no wags disrupting the topic.

Keep in mind that toxicity alone isn't the answer, as some snakes with technically less potent venom still have more than enough to kill several people, and are more aggressive than some with higher toxicity. Proximity to human populations is also a factor.

Our Aussie members and our South African members live where some of the worst are found. (I'm counting Peter as a South African, although he's technically English. I guess living in a country for 30 years makes him functionally a South African, and Frikkie certainly is. A snake wouldn't know the difference. )

 

[BearBio]

Worldwide: Russell's viper or common cobra:
1) Both live in close proximity to humans (drawn by rodents),
2) Population there is largely barefoot,
3) Largely neurotoxic venom,
4) Poor medical facilities,
5) Antivenin is largely unavailable in rural areas (Needs refrigeration)
6) Widely distributed species.
7) Nocturnal feeders (primarily)

North America: Mohave (note new spelling on the name) Rattler
1) Very neurotoxic-low LD50
2) wide range in SW
3) Large dose per bite
4) Aggressive (Every one I have handled has NOT rattled and was VERY pugnacious)
5) Desert recreation is increasing

Of course, our Afrikaans partners would say any mamba (black, Jameson's or green), Boomslang,or riverjack. The Aussies would likely say brown, taipan or tiger. I guess it will be colored by what you are familiar with. I grew up in SoCal, so I know the desert snakes.

 

[Damn Yankee]

I'LL Guess the

saw-scaled or carpet viper

 

[glenncal1]

The one you don't see.

 

[ditrina]

Just waiting for the "WAGS"

Coastal Taipan
The venom delivered in a single Taipan bite is enough to kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs. This is the largest venomous snake in Australia. Before antivenom was available 100% of bites were fatal.
or

Papuan Taipan

Venomous snakebite deaths are 100 times higher in New Guinea than in Australia due to quality and availability of treatment. They are similar to Australian coastal Taipans.

 

[sbeatty1983]

The dreaded Copper headed water rattler

 

[S&W_aussie]

I think every country wants to claim the title for deadliest snake

As the previous poster said...I think our Taipan is right up there venom wise but there are very few bites each year

Snakes that live very close to large populations of humans (especially in developing countries) probably bite and kill a lot more poeple and therfore are more "dangerous" (ie they represent a greater threat than a very venomous snake that is rarely seen - like the Tiapan)...snakes like the African Puff Adder and common Cobras

Mike

 

[Straightshooter2]

Any poisonous one that you find a couple of feet from your leg while tracking the deer you just shot. BearBio is right in that all rattlesnakes don't rattle. Let's put it this way, my blood pressure went so high that I could literally hear a thumping in my ears that was my heartbeat. If I had anything wrong with me, I would have either blown an aneurism or stroked out. Thirty minutes later when I walked in the door of my cousins house, my wife took one look at my face and asked what was wrong.

CW

 

[mc5aw]

I nominate the Gaboon Viper. Never seen any here in PA, but I seen a few on tee-vee.

 

[JcMack]

My TV told me Sea Snakes are the deadliest. Caj's suggestion is the opposite.

 

[DeathGrip]

WARNING

Keep away from the Silver Tongued Wag snake.

 

[jlrhiner]

Remember the jlrhiner patented snake id'ing method. Shoot until it stops moving, return tomorrow with long stick and binoculars, Id snake.
(this also works with other critters as well)

 

[sipowicz]

Yes. Let's keep this serious. Reptilian humor has its place but not here and now. You won't see any of it from this wag. Carry on.

 

[Dashriprock]

Colt Anaconda.

 

[fat tom]

5) Antivenin

This question won't be answered here. I just wanted to say thanks for using the correct spelling of this word. One guy out of a thousand even knows it.
f.t.

 

[cass]

There's so many variables in determining the most deadly - size, toxicity (drop per drop), medical availability, etc. I clearly remember that when I worked at the Herpetarium in Ft. Worth, there were several snakes in the collection that we didn't have anti-venom for (and we were a anti-venom distribution point for the Western US). On the wall behind each one of those cages was a sharp fireman's axe , with very clear instructions that if bitten, the only recourse was to remove the limb above the bite - that's no BS. Also adjacent to the axe was a wall switch that, when turned on, set off alarms all over the Zoo. As I recall, the King Cobra, Death Adder, Mamba, Gaboon and Puffs, Sea Snake all had the axes. Very sobering sight.

 

[therevjay]

My TV told me Sea Snakes are the deadliest. Caj's suggestion is the opposite.

Thats also what I heard on TV nature show, Sea snake is deadliest. But not normaly very agressive.

 

[ladder13]

Most dangerous snake

Mr. Scratch

 

[Gun-runner]

The ambitious one that you work with......

 

[BearBio]

Thats also what I heard on TV nature show, Sea snake is deadliest. But not normaly very agressive.

Sea snakes are pretty much only aggressive during breeding season. Fishermen pick them up and throw them out of the nets with regularity. By the way, sea snake venom affects the body differently from other snakes. Vipers, esp pit vipers, have a venom that pretty much starts digestion (I KNOW=all venoms are mixes-last I heard, rattlesnake venom had 238 identified proteins and still counting). Cobras and their allies have a paralyzing toxin (neurotoxin). Sea snaked prevent transmission of impulses between the nerves and the muscles.

Saw scales, if I remember my herp class from grad school, aren't very toxic. They do have that weird venom that affects the clotting mechanism and fatal hemorrhages can occur days later.