VenomFiles

Top 10 Most Venomous Snakes in the World

This is a list of the most venomous snakes in the world in order by the LD50 according to subcutaneous injection which is the most common form of envenomation in humans. There are some difficulties with making a list like this, but if we just go by the LD50, this is the list you would get. However, this list does not reflect the most dangerous snakes to humans in the world, but rather simply the most toxic snake venoms in the world. To understand venom and the LD50, see our post called What is Venom?.

10) Mainland Tiger Snake – Notechis scutatus

The LD50 of this species is 0.099 mg/kg (ref) with a venom yield of 636 mg (ref). These snakes are native to Australia.

9) Olive Brown Sea Snake – Aipysurus laevis

The LD50 of this species is 0.069 mg/kg (ref) with a venom yield of 150 mg (ref). These snakes are found in the Indo-Pacific (ref)

8) Horned Sea Snake – Hydrophis peronii

The LD50 for this species is 0.062 mg/kg (ref) with a venom yield of 1 mg. This snake is native to the western tropical Pacific Ocean

7) Yellowbelly Sea Snake – Hydrophis platurus

Reported LD50 is 0.055 mg/kg (ref) with a venom yield of 4.4 mg (ref). They are actually found all over the world in the oceans.

6) Black Mamba – Dendroaspis polylepis

Species of dendroaspis are some of my dream snakes; a bucket list goal of mine is to breed them. Their LD50 is 0.055 (ref) with a venom yield of 400 mg (ref). Mambas are found in Central, Eastern, Southern and West Sub-Saharan Africa.

5) Coastal Taipan – Oxyuranus scutellatus

These snakes have a crazy venom yield of 882 mg (ref)! That is a lot! The venom LD50 is 0.05 mg/kg (ref). They are found on the coast, hence the name. Asia & Australasia : Australo-Papua (including Pacific Islands)

4) South American Rattlesnake – Crotalus durissus

These snakes are found in northern and central South America. They are recorded to have a LD50 of 0.0478 mg/kg with venom yield reported at 100 mg/kg –ref. Common Names include: Cascabel (Argentina), Cascavel, Maracabóia, Maracá (Brazil), Sak-kah-sak (Guyana), Asakamio (Fr.Guiana), Saka sneki (Suriname), Ma ára (Venezuela), Palla, Amaru (Peru).

3) The Eastern Brown Snake – Pseudonaja textilis

An extremely dangerous snake; these snakes are found in Australia and some Asian islands according to WHO. A reported LD50 of 0.041 mg/kg –ref with a venom yield of 155 mg – ref.

2) Dubois’ Sea Snake – Aipysurus duboisii

The Dubois’ Sea Snake is found in the waters of Australia and nearby regions. They are extremely toxic with an LD50 recorded at 0.032 mg/kg (- ref) with 1.7 mg which compared to other snakes, is not a lot, but it is still dangerous.

1) The Inland Taipan – Oxyuranus microlepidotus

Considered to be the most venomous snake in the world, to no surprise, the Inland Taipan is also found in Australia (what is up with Australia? Sounds like my kind of place, making this list made me want to go to Australia!). Studies show their venom’s LD50 to be 0.01 mg/kg (ref). That is extremely venomous and is extremely dangerous especially when you consider that they can inject 217 mg of venom!

Its the boring stuff that matters the most – Eric Ries

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