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Types of Deadly Snakes

Snakes are almost universally feared in every country on Earth. Whether the fear comes through myths, their odd appearance or through personal experience, there is good reason to be frightened of some snakes. Snakes can be deadly through the injection of venom into their victims or through constriction of the victim. In America, most snakes are nonvenomous; it's that small percentage of those that are that drives fear into the hearts of people.

Hemotoxic Venom
- The diamondback rattlesnake has hemotoxic venom.
  
  Hemotoxic venom affects the blood and organs, which causes a breakdown or inflammation in the victim. The toxin also prevents clotting, which can lead to internal hemorrhaging. Victims of a hemotoxic venom bite experience intense pain as the organs begin to swell, efforts to breathe become painful and their very tissue begins to die. Snakes with hemotoxic venom include the following: The Russell's viper found in Asia, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake in the United States and the yellow-jawed tommygoff found in South and Central America.
Neurotoxic Venom
- The king cobra has neurotoxic venom.
  
  Neurotoxic venom affects the nervous system and interferes with the ability of the nerves to function. Neurotoxic bites are considered to be the most deadly, as one can shut down a person's respiratory system in a matter of minutes. Snakes with neurotoxic venom include the inland taipan, considered to be the world's most venomous land snake. Death follows within a few hours after a bite from this snake. The king cobra, the iconic symbol of poisonous snakes, has predominantly neurotoxic venom. The black mamba has venom so potent, its bite is 100 percent fatal if anti-venom is not administered quickly.
Miotoxic Venom
- Miotoxic venom is a mixture between hemotoxic and neurotoxic venom. Most venomous snakes are either predominantly one or the other; those with this combination prove to be among those with the most deadly bites. One example is the hydrophis belcheri sea snake, which is considered the snake with the deadliest venom in the world, surpassing all other land snakes, even the inland taipan in potency. The fact that the hydrophis belcheri is a sea snake means interaction between them and humans is rare. So even though the belcheri is more venomous, the inland taipan bites and kills more people every year.
Cytotoxic Venom
- Side-winder rattlers have a type of cytotoxic venom.
  
  Cytotoxic venom destroys both tissue and blood cells and is often mistaken for hemotoxic venom. It causes intense pain, swelling and loss of consciousness. Some rattlesnakes, vipers and adders have this type of venom.
Constrictors
- An anaconda's bite is harmless; it's the crushing "hug" he gives that isn't.
  
  Constrictors are not venomous snakes, but they are nonetheless just as dangerous and deadly as their poisonous cousins. A constrictor kills its prey by grabbing it and wrapping its body around the victim's torso. With each breath the victim exhales, the constricting grows tighter, preventing it from breathing. Eventually the victim suffocates. Constrictors include the reticulated python and the anaconda. Of the two, the anaconda is the largest and can grow to be close to 28 feet long.

Animals & Science