The most venomous snake in the world.

Did you know that if there was a competition to win the title "The most venomous snake in the world", then at least several hundred species from different families of terrible creatures, about which people even speak with caution, would apply for it?

It is probably difficult to find a creature more frightening than a snake. It is no coincidence that in myths and legends, fairy tales and parables, this image becomes the embodiment of evil, deceit, dark forces and even the Devil himself. Cold and merciless, snakes can attack instantly, inflicting a deadly bite, and disappear just as quickly. Every year thousands of people around the world are killed by snake venom. And although today the most valuable medicines with rare properties are obtained from it, people still do not like snakes.

Poisonous sea snakes

Sea snakes are amazing creatures. They are similar in appearance to land congeners, but have a smaller flat head that helps them to hunt marine life in the crevices of underwater caves, as well as a "flattened" tail end, adapted for fast and maneuverable movement in the depths of the sea. By the way, sea snakes can dive to a depth of about 180 meters.

They prey on shellfish and small fish. Since their prey is cold-blooded, the poison must have a high concentration of a poisonous substance in order to paralyze the victim. That is why the venom of sea snakes is very dangerous, although the most venomous sea snake in the world - Dubois snake - takes only the third place in the ranking of the most venomous.

This snake with a mystical sandy-gray pattern on the skin lives in the South China Sea, in the waters of the Malay Archipelago and off the coast of Australia.

Fortunately, a creature with a fatal bite rarely attacks humans. Representatives of this species are curious and swim up to divers, but do not show aggression at the same time, allow themselves to be photographed. When the Dubois snake approaches, experts recommend staying calm and not trying to touch it. Having found such a snake on the beach, do not try to transport it to the sea on your own. Better to contact the coastal services.

Sea snakes are the closest relatives of land snakes and belong to the family of asps.

Who is the most venomous of the land snakes?

The rating of poisonous snakes is headed by the family of land snakes. It is to him that such famous representatives as the cobra, mamba and Australian deadly snakes, similar to vipers, belong, whose name speaks for itself. In general, the family consists of 347 species, the smallest representatives of which reach a length of 40 cm (Arizona snake), and the largest, such as mamba (pictured) and king cobra, - from 4 to 5.5 m.

As with other species of snakes, the venom glands in all asps are located behind the eyes. They are modified salivary glands associated with poisonous teeth. By the way, when bitten, the poison is released only through one tooth, and the second is a "substitute" in case of loss of the first.

Most often you can meet the asp in Africa and Australia, America and Asia. Various species inhabit deserts, tropical rainforests, dry steppes. All snakes are united by the fact that they are very dangerous. Their poison has a nerve effect. There is no redness or swelling at the site of the bite: just after a few minutes, breathing stops. A similar effect is observed when poisoning with the plant alkaloid curare.

On the second line of the ranking of the most venomous brown, or western brown, snake. It has a pleasant chocolate color, thanks to which it becomes almost invisible among the plants of Australia. It has a very aggressive disposition and often attacks first. The list of her victims includes more than 20 people. The teeth of the brown snake are small compared to other species, but a single portion of the poison contained in the venom glands is enough to cause death.

And, finally, the most venomous snake in the world from the asp family. This is a desert taipan, which is also called "cruel snake". Lives in Australia. The main feature of this reptile is the change in skin color depending on the season. Its poison is 180 times more deadly than that of a cobra. But, despite such formidable "records", the desert taipan attacks people extremely rarely: only with careless handling on their part.

The rating of poisonous snakes shows that the most terrible of its representatives do not live in Russia. However, experts not in vain say that "the most poisonous snake is the one that bit you." For example, some time ago, information appeared on the Internet about an attack on a woman in the Leningrad region by an Australian banana snake, which is prophetically called a "five-minute snake": it is after so much time that death occurs from her bite.

A cute yellow snake arrived in Russia in a box with bananas. The woman chose fruits and disturbed the intruder, who was in a daze. She attacked, and death came almost instantly.

Vipers are common in the swampy places of our country. They do not attack people first and try to crawl away, but either through ignorance, or by confusing a poisonous viper with a harmless snake, some tourists become victims of the fast-acting poison of these, by the way, rather slow snakes. Unlike the poison of asps, it affects the blood of the victim and leads to swelling of the internal organs. So it is best not to take an intense interest in snakes in any of their habitats.

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