The most venomous snakes are found world-wide and they belong to two different families of serpents; the Elapidae (elapids) and the Viperidae (vipers). The main difference lies in the type of venom they inject into the subcutaneous and muscular tissue when they bite. The elapids produce neurotoxic venom, which means it attacks the nervous system, affecting the nerve impulses, while the vipers inject cytotoxic and hemotoxic venom, which means that it destroys body tissues.
The neurotoxic venom of elapids causes paralysis, with the patient usually dying from respiratory failure as the the diaphragm and the intercostal (rib) muscles cannot be expanded and contracted. The cytotoxic venom of vipers causes necrosis and extreme fever and pain.
Most venomous snakes
1- King Cobra (Family: Elapidae. Genus: Ophiophagus). Also known as hamadryad, it is found in India and other countries of Southeast Asia. It features an extremely potent venom and the side hoods when it is provoked and feels cornered.
2- Black Mamba (Family: Elapidae. Genus: Dendroaspis). It is from Central and Southern Africa. Although its venom is not as potent as the King Cobra, it is aggressive and its fangs are located well forward in its upper jaw, enabling it to bite bigger body parts, such as the thigh, and inject larger doses of neurotoxic venom.
3- Taipan (Family: Elapidae. Genus: Oxyuranus). It is endemic to Australia. Although some snake specialists consider it to be the most venomous, it is not as aggressive as the black mamba and the cobras from Asia.
4- Bitis Gabonica (Family: Viperidae. Genus: Bitis). It is also known as Gaboon viper, its natural habitats are the African savannas of Central Africa, from Ghana to Mozambique on the eastern coast. It is considered to be among the most venomous. It has a "dry-leaves" skin pattern, which enables it to blend in perfectly in a dry vegetation background. If you get bitten, it is an almost sure death, if you do not receive urgent medical treatment.
5- Tiger Snake (Family: Viperidae. Genus: Notechis). An extremely venomous snake from Australia and the island of Tasmania.
6- Rattlesnakes (Family: Viperidae. Genus: Crotalus). They are found in North, Central, and South America, especially in the dry regions of the United States and Mexico. There are several species of rattlesnakes, such as the timber, the diamondback, and the horned rattlesnake.
Below, the King Cobra has the most potent neurotoxic venom in the world as death is certain in less than one hour after being bitten.
