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Posted by Ronald Cole on February 07, 1998 at 17:52:18:
In Reply to: Re: Most venemous snakes posted by Greg Matty on January 24, 1998 at 20:31:52:
Craig
If you mean which snake drop for drop is the most venomous, or if you mean which snake delivers the most venom or which snake is the deadliest, or which snake is the most dangerous, you will find that there is considerable amounts of range and theories. For instance the Fierce Snake delivers the most potent venom drop for drop, being roughly roughly 50 times hotter than the Indian Cobra (Naja naja). However the Common Taipan (Or Coastal Taipan) is the most dangerous snake. The Black Mamba and King Cobra rate very close as the most dangerous for several reasons also even though their venom is not nearly as toxic as the Common Taipan, and this has to do with the amount of venom delivered. Its sort of like getting hit by a Ford dump truck or a GMC dump truck the effect is the same.
I would recommend that you try and get a couple of books by Peter Mirtschin the first of which is called "Dangerous Snakes of Australia" by Peter Mirtschin and Richard Davis 1986 by Rigby Publishers and another book called "Snakes of Australia Dangerous and Harmless" by the same authors 1992 published by Hill of Content. In these books the deadliest (not the most dangerous)snakes are rated on a par with Naja naja with that Indian Cobra being scored as point 1.
The Inland Taipan or Fierce Snake rates 50 times more toxic. Few Sea Snakes are rated, but all fall under this snake. However many have still been untested. The Common Brown Snake (Pseudonaja Textilis)is 12 times more potent. The Common Taipan is 7.8 times more deadly, and of the Tiger Snakes The Reevesby Island tiger snake is 5 times more deadly, with the Western Tiger Snake 4 times deadlier, and the Eastern or Common Tiger Snake 4.3 times. Several of the other Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja) rank between 1 and 2 times deadlier. The Death Adder (Aconthophis)is about 1.5 times deadlier.The Australian Copperhead is of about the same potency. The Black Snakes (Including the Kingbrown) rate as about 1/3 as potent as the Indian Cobra.
But, even though these snakes are more potent than most, few rate real high on the dangerous scale, the queensland museum made a ranking of the most dangerous snakes in Australia, and it takes into consideration venom toxicity, venom yields, fang length, temprament, and frequency of bite. That painted a fairly different picture, and put the Fierce Snake 6th from the top. The Taipan came in 1st as the Austalian most dangerous snake, followed by the King Brown, then the Death Adder, the Common Brown, the Tiger Snake, the Fierce Snake, Collets Snake, Western Brown, Copperhead, and on down the line.
I would much rather come across a "Fierce Snake than his cousin the Common Taipan, a Black Mamba, or a King Cobra. They are just so much more dangerous. The very very deadly Brown Snake gives very little venom in a bite. The lowly death Adder ranks so high, because he wont move, and gets stepped on or molested. He bites more frequently than most of the others who split at the first sign of trouble. So, its back to my comparison of dump trucks. The few people bitten by Fierce Snakes have all survived because of the Anti venom. A bite by the lesser Toxic Mambas, Taipans, or King Cobras in some cases can cause death before treatment is effective depending on the severity of the bite. I hope this helps.
Regards Ron Cole
