This is an extremely venomous snake species, with toxicity stronger than that of cobras, krait snakes, or other venomous snakes…
Snakes are distributed across nearly all continents, perfectly adapting to their environments. Currently, there are about 3,500 different snake species worldwide, of which around 600 are venomous.
In our country, there are also many dangerous venomous snakes such as king cobras, ground cobras, Trùng Khánh green snakes, Chàm Quạp snakes, as well as kraits. The question arises: which snake is the most venomous among those living in our country?
1. Krait Snake (Scientific name: Bungarus fasciatus)
Krait Snake with black and yellow bands. Photo: Thailand Snakes.
This snake species is characterized by its distinct black and yellow bands and inhabits a diverse range of environments (from clay hills, sparse forests, grasslands, near streams, agricultural fields, to rock crevices…) and is mostly nocturnal (especially during rainy weather).
The average venom yield per bite ranges from 20 to 114 mg, and the toxicity of this snake is extremely potent, capable of killing a victim within approximately 30 minutes if not treated promptly (due to the neurotoxic properties of krait venom).
2. Malayan Krait (Scientific name: Bungarus candidus)
Malayan Krait with black and white bands. Photo: Wiki.
This snake species is known for its distinctive black and white bands and primarily inhabits lowland areas near water sources such as rice fields, rivers, and canals. Similar to the krait snake, this species is primarily nocturnal.
Despite being extremely venomous (with a mortality rate of up to 50% even when victims receive antivenom treatment; if untreated, this rate can escalate to 70%), this snake is quite timid and tends to avoid humans.
3. Siamese Cobra (Scientific name: Naja siamensis)
Siamese Cobra. Photo: Pinterest
The Siamese Cobra, also known as the Indochinese cobra, is famous for its deadly venom and is capable of delivering a lethal bite within about 30 minutes due to respiratory failure if not treated.
Additionally, their venom can also splash into the eyes or mouth of humans if spat, causing eye damage that can lead to temporary blindness, or even permanent blindness in severe cases.
4. King Cobra (Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah)
King Cobra. Photo: Tom Charlton
The King Cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, powerful enough to take down a fully grown king snake. It is even more dangerous due to its speed despite its large size (hence it is also known as the king snake).
It can inject a large amount of venom, with doses ranging from 200 to 500 mg, or even up to 7 ml, enough to kill an adult elephant or several dozen adults within just 30 minutes.
5. Peron’s Sea Snake (Scientific name: Hydrophis peronii)
Leading the list of the most venomous snakes in Vietnam is Peron’s Sea Snake, also known as the horned sea snake. They typically live in the ocean but lack gills, necessitating frequent surfacing to breathe.
They primarily inhabit the waters of our country. According to the book “Vietnamese Sea Snakes,” published in 2015 by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of Vietnam – IOC VN, Vietnam has about 26 species of sea snakes, including Peron’s sea snake.
Peron’s Sea Snake. Photo: Thành Luân
Peron’s sea snake is found in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, Bình Thuận, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, Cà Mau, and is particularly fond of coral-rich areas where they feed on small fish.
Specimens of this sea snake are preserved at the Oceanographic Institute in Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa. Like many other sea snakes, Peron’s sea snake is valuable for food and medicine, making them targets for trade.
This species is ranked fifth on the list of the most venomous snakes in the world, following the inland taipan, Dubois sea snake, eastern brown snake, and yellow-bellied sea snake (according to “World’s Most Venomous Snakes,” University of Melbourne, Australia, 2014).
Additionally, according to the list of the 11 most venomous snakes in the world, the king cobra, Siamese cobra, krait snake, and Malayan krait are not included, with most species on the list belonging to various other sea snake species.
