What is the most venomous snake in the world?

The most venomouns snake in the world is found only in central east Australia – in the arid outback. It is shy, and not aggressive. It lives in holes and burrows in the ground, to keep out of the severe heat. Therefore, it rarely comes in contact with humans. The victims have been herpetologists – people who study and keep snakes – and they survived because they were treated with anti-venom. 

The Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is the most venomous snake in the world. It is in the Elapidae family of venomous snakes, which includes cobras, krafts, mambas, copperheads, sea snakes, and coral snakes.

The Inland Taipan is also known as the Western Taipan, the Small-Scale Snake, or the Fierce Snake. There are two types of Taipans in Australia: 1) Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) and 2) Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus).

The Inland Taipan is dark-tan to brownish light-green, with a rounded head and dark eyes. It has poisonous fangs. It measures about 180 centimetres (71 inches) long. 

It has poisonous fangs. It is fast and accurate when it strikes its predator, often striking multiple times. It eats mammals, such as rats, mice, and small animals.

A human can die within 30-45 minutes of being bitten by an Inland Taipan, if not treated. A single bite contains enough poison pumped from its fangs to kill 100 adult humans. 

Location of photographs: Canberra National Zoo and Aquarium, Australia

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM