Let’s be honest: lots of people are afraid of snakes. While there are actually plenty of species that aren’t really harmful to people, there are quite a few that are absolutely lethal.
Below, you can find 8 of the most dangerous snakes in the world!
Black Mamba
If you don’t live in or aren’t planning to visit Africa anytime soon then the chance of encountering the Black mamba is almost zero.
This highly venomous snake gets its name from the black interior of its mouth while the outside is commonly dark brown or gray which sports a coffin shaped head.
Growing up to 14 feet, top speed over 9 miles per hour, striking in quick succession, and delivering enough venom to kill most people who can’t get the anti-venom in time makes the mamba one snake to stay as far away from as possible.
The Common Death Adder
The Death Adder grows to be between 2-3 feet in length and usually sports a thick body and a thinner tail which it uses while under the cover of bushes to lure in prey before striking.
The adder is found in Australia and though its not super aggressive towards humans it does pose a sizeable threat to unaware hikers passing by bushes and thickets.
If you end up finding yourself being unlucky enough to be bit by the death adder you have about a 50% chance of making it through and it only takes about 6 hours in some cases before your respiratory system is compromised and you die.
Barba Amarilla
The Barba Amarilla is sometimes referred to as the “yellow chin” due to the off white-color around the snake’s jaw. The snake is most commonly found in South America.
This pit viper contains large amounts of venom and grows to be around 4 to 5 feet long at maturity. Though the snake tends to hunt small prey such as rodents, spiders and lizards, humans are not exempt from being bit by the overly aggressive Amarilla.
You can expect nausea, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, high blood pressure and in some cases even death after being struck.
Eastern Brown Snake
It’s no surprise that the Eastern Brown Snake, like some others on this list are found, is found in Australia and New Guinea. These snakes range from 5-7 feet in length.
It is known to have some of the most potent venom in the world. The Eastern Brown Snake’s venom is second only to that of the Inland Taipan snake.
A single bite from the Eastern Brown Snake is able to kill a human in less than a half hour.
Inland Taipan
The Inland Taipan is one of the most deadly snakes in the world based upon the lethality of its venom. In various parts of the world, it is also known as the “fierce snake” or the Western Taipan.
The Taipan can grow between 5-8 feet and it’s diet consists primarily of rodents. While attacking, it can strike up to 8 times with precise accuracy.
Luckily, there is an anti-venom but you would have to act fast as this snake bite can kill a grown adult in about 45 minutes.
Western Diamondback
The western diamondback can be found in South America and parts of southern North America.
This extremely aggressive rattlesnake usually grows to be around 4 feet in length by adulthood. When confronted, the diamondback will coil up and rattle to get the attention of its potential attacker.
If that does not repel the threat, the western diamondback will strike with its massive fangs. Needless to say, you do not want to be on the receiving end of that bite.
People who have been bit by the western diamondback most likely will have a little more time to seek treatment than if they were bitten by some of the other species on this list. However, they still need to seek treatment immediately.
King Cobra
Though the king cobra isn’t naturally aggressive towards humans, it happens to be the longest venomous snake in the world. It can grow to an absolutely wild 18 feet!
The king cobra sense its prey over 300 feet away while hunting and feeds on lizards and multiple different species of other snakes.
If not treated immediately after a bite, the cobra venom can kill a grown adult in approximately 30 minutes.
Fortunately (for many readers), the king cobra isn’t lurking around North America. The species is mostly found in India, China, the Philippines, and the Malay Peninsula.
If you’re a fan of the Karate Kid/Cobra Kai series, there’s a reason this animal is so feared!
Dubois’ Sea Snake
The Dubois’ can be found around Australia and the Indian Ocean.
Though this snake is not the largest on the list but it happens to pack quite a punch if someone were unfortunate enough to come face to face with this sea dweller. After being bit you can expect extreme vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, convulsions, organ failure and cardiac arrest.
So, who wants to go to Australia for a swim off the coast?