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Venomous snakes’ secret weapons: Do you know how deadly their venom is?
There are currently 3,971 known species of snakes in the world, 600 of which are venomous, and about 200 species that can cause death. These snake species pose significant health risks to humans in different regions, mainly through snake bites or other physical injuries. In Africa, the most dangerous snake species include black mambas, cottonmouths, and carpet vipers; in the Middle East, carpet vipers and cobras are of greatest concern; in Central and South America, bothrops lizards (such as terciopelo or brown Two-headed snakes) and Crotalus lizards (rattlesnakes) are the most common. In South Asia, the Indian cobra, common krait, Russell's snake and carpet viper are considered the most dangerous species; however, other snake species can also cause major problems in the region.
Any of these venomous snakes, if left unhandled, is capable of causing fatal injury, regardless of venom potency or behavioral tendencies.
The most venomous snake species
The median lethal dose (LD50) of a venom is the dose necessary to kill half of the members of a test population after a specific testing time. The lower the number, the higher the toxicity. There are four measurement methods for the LD50 test, including subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular and intraperitoneal injection. The most common testing methods are subcutaneous and intravenous injections, as subcutaneous injections work best for actual bites. Traditionally, the lethality of snake venoms has been based on LD50 studies in mice; however, these studies are being replaced by in vitro studies for ethical reasons.
Medically important snake species
Mortality (usually measured as toxicity to mice) is a common metric used to assess the danger of any venomous snake, but so are the snake's venom delivery efficiency, venom production, and behavior when faced with humans key. Many snake experts consider the black mamba and coastal taipan to be the most dangerous snakes in the world, although they are not the most venomous.
Black mamba snake
The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a huge venomous snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second longest venomous snake in the world and the fastest terrestrial snake, with a speed of 4.32 to 5.4 meters per second. move at a speed. This snake is considered the most feared snake in Africa due to its size, aggressiveness, toxicity in its venom and the rapid onset of symptoms of envenomation. The black mamba snake has a 100% venom injection rate, and dry bites (without venom injection) are almost non-existent.
The venom of the black mamba snake is mainly composed of highly pathological neurotoxins, which is why severe neurotoxicity will appear quickly once bitten.
Coastal Taipan Snake
The coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is a large, highly venomous Australian snake found along the northern east coast of Australia. This snake will assume a defensive posture when threatened and bite quickly and accurately.
Big Four Snakes
In South Asia (mainly India), the Big Four are the four venomous snakes that cause the most snake bite cases, including the Indian cobra (Naja naja), the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), the Russell's snake (Daboia russelii) and the saw Scaled snake (Echis carinatus). These groups of snake species are more common in areas with high human population densities, resulting in a high number of snake bites each year.
Indian Cobra
The Indian cobra is a moderately venomous snake whose venom acts very quickly. Responsible for many bites, however with appropriate medical attention and anti-toxin treatment, the mortality rate is relatively low. There are an estimated 15,000 deaths caused by this species each year.
Common krait
The common krait is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous snakes in India, with its venom consisting of potent neurotoxins that can cause muscle paralysis. It causes about 10,000 deaths every year, and without effective treatment, the mortality rate can be as high as 70% to 80%.
Russell's Snake
The Russell snake's bite is the most painful and causes internal bleeding, and it is one of the venomous snakes responsible for the most deaths in India. About 25,000 people die from bites from this snake every year.
Saw-scaled snake
The saw-scaled snake may be small in size, but its unpredictable aggression and deadly venom make it very dangerous. It is one of the deadliest snakes in South Asia, estimated to be responsible for about 5,000 deaths annually in India.
After understanding the characteristics of these venomous snakes, will you have a more awe-inspiring attitude towards them?
