Notes on the Poison of Venomous Snakes

"Which snakes are the most venomous?" This is one of the most frequently asked questions and the hardest to answer. "Most venomous", depends on the type and amount of venom injected and who is injected. As with most things, there are always those who are more sensitive to venoms than others. Also there is a risk of allergic reactions to the venom (or antivenom) . This allergic reaction can sometimes be more life threatening than the venom's toxicity itself. The toxicity of venom depends on the amount and strength of poison it produces. Most toxicity studies are preformed in mice or other laboratory animals, so may be of limited relevance to humans. For a detailed explanation on toxicity testing of venoms, and more tables of venom toxicity, go to Bryan Fry's International Venom and Toxin Database.

In Australia, around half of all deaths from snakebite involve brown snakes. However, this does not necessarily mean that brown snakes are the "most venomous". In fact, on a world scale, deaths from brown snake are negligible compared to deaths from cobras, kraits or vipers (see Published Sources: Cheng & Winkel, 2001). A large number of deaths associated with a specific species of venomous snake is often related to the snake's population size, its habitat and its nature. Those species found in large numbers in highly populated areas are more likely to cause envenomation because of the greater number of possible victims. Also a species which is aggressive and does not move away when approached is more likely to bite than a species which is shy and not aggressive.