Venomous snakes

In USA, an average of five fatalities from snake envenomations are reported each year (Gold et al., 2002)¹. These deaths are a consequence of approximately 8000 recorded bites from venomous species.

The real number of bites is closer to 45000 according to (Litovitz et al., 1997)², which estimates unreported cases too.

Also, according to statistics, 18 percent of all bites are from venomous species, and the Copperhead Snake is the snake responsible for most envenomations.

Worldwide, India is the country most affected by venomous snake bites with around 35000 to 50000 yearly fatalities due to snake bites, and Pakistan comes second with approximately 8200 fatalities (Alirol et al. 2010)³.

Snake fangs

The different species of snakes have their fangs curving in three dissimilar but typical patterns. Ducts inside the fang connect the fangs to the venom glands, the red areas on the photos, where the production of venom takes place.

Skull from an Elapid snake.
E.g. Cobra and Sea Snake

Skull from a Viperid snake.
These are pit-vipers.

Skull from a Rear-fanged snake.
Often not very venomous.

Snakes teeth

Swallowing animals would be difficult without teeth. Snakes teeth are curved and their help to pull the animal further into the mouth. The image shows a jaw from a Diamondback rattlesnake, and it is taken from an exhinition at the American Museum of Natural History. Larger snakes have longer teeth as they often have to penetrate feathers to kill prey at their own size. The Diamondback Rattlesnake on the photo from the museum has rather short teeth.

Surviving a bite

The biggest concern from snake bites, including the non-venomous ones, are infections at the site of the bite. That is also the case with any pets that might have been bitten without you knowing it. You just observe that one of it limbs seem sore. If you take a pet to the Veterinarian, because of a bite, they will probably only treat it with antibiotics and painkillers. It is only a few venomous snakes that will actually be to kill e.g. a Labrador. That would be snakes such as the Timber Rattlesnakes or the Diamondback Rattlesnakes. Not Copperhead snakes.

Growling Cobra snake

As the camera crew repeatedly annoys the Cobra, the Cobra begins to growl. The Cobra was found in some paddy field in India. The Cobra snake is large, and the camera men are taking an enormous risk trying to relocate it. The main risk when they put into the bag. The Cobra must be released without giving it the chance to buy.

Diamondback Rattlesnake

This story is a good illustration on why you have to be careful even when just taking a photo of a venomous snakes. This guy took photo of a Diamondback rattlesnake and try to pin its head with a stick that is too short. It lashes out and bites him. To begin with the pain is nothing, but soon the venom is about to paralyze him. 20 minutes later, he is barely able to get out of his kayak. He manages to get into his car, and eventually he reaches a Hospital where he gets 26 doses of antivenom.

Lightning kills more people than venomous snakes

Injuries caused by venomous snakes are rare. When compared to the number of people killed by lightning, which in 1959-1994 was 0.42 people per million (Curran et al., 1994)⁴, snake envenomations suddenly seem insignificant.

Australia's venomous snakes

Sutherland (1992)⁵ studied Australian snake bite fatalities over a 10 year period. Only 18 snake bites had a deadly outcome in that period. The author acknowledges that all fatalities may not be included in the available set of data.

Africa's venomous snakes

Puff Adders, as one reader noted, are the snakes responsible for most fatalities in Africa. This site also describes the Boomslang (a very Afrikaans word), the Gaboon Viper, the Black Mamba, and the Death Adder among the venomous snakes of Africa.

South and Central America and their venomous snakes

In South and Central America, bites from venomous snakes are more common than in the US. In Costa Rica, the annual number of hospital admissions due to snake envenomations is 22.4 per 100000 inhabitants (Rojas et al., 1997)⁶.