The world champion is the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), a snake that can practically only be found in Australia. It is so dangerous that a single sting contains enough venom to kill over 100 people or 250,000 mice! In our country, the ranking of venomous is led by the true coral (Micrurus sp.), a distant relative of the taipan. “Both belong to the Elapidae family, which has 240 highly poisonous species all over the planet, except in Europe”, says biologist Otávio Marques, from the Butantan Institute, in São Paulo. It is estimated that, every year, there are between one and two million accidents involving humans and snakes (venomous and non-venomous), of which about 50,000 result in death. Poisonous snakes are divided into three categories, according to the action of their venom.
“The first group is the snakes whose venom acts on the peripheral nervous system, causing respiratory arrest – this is the case of the taipan and the coral. Vipers, on the other hand, inoculate toxic substances that cause disturbances in blood clotting, hemorrhages and local necrosis. Finally, sea snakes release a type of venom called myotoxin, which causes destruction of muscle fibers and acute kidney failure,” says Fátima Viveiros, also a biologist at the Butantan Institute.
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death squad National and international venom championsIN BRAZIL
1. True coral (Micrurus sp.)
Although it is the most venomous, it is responsible for only 1% of accidents with snakes in the country.
2. Rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)
About 30% of its victims die if they don’t receive antivenom in time
3. jackfruit jackfruit (Lachesis muta)
With more than 3 meters, it is the largest venomous snake in Latin America. The bite causes edema and hemorrhage.
IN THE WORLD
1. Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)
Australian. Its bite can cause respiratory paralysis, leading the victim to death within minutes.
2. Brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis)
Also Australian. A single drop of its venom is enough to kill a person.
3. Malaysian Krait (Bungarus candidus)
Lives in Southeast Asia. It is so dangerous that 50% of victims die even taking antivenom.