Venomous Snakes: Fatalities, Attacks, Teeth, and Fangs

Each year, 8,000 bites from venomous snake species are reported in the USA. On average, only five of these bites lead to death (Gold et al., 2002)¹. The total number of snake bites is close to 45,000 (Litovitz et al., 1997)², which means that around 18 percent of all bites in the U.S. are from venomous species.

According to statistics, the copperhead snake is responsible for most venomous snake bites.

Worldwide, India is the country most affected by venomous snake bites, with around 35,000 to 50,000 yearly fatalities due to snake bites, and Pakistan comes second with approximately 8,200 fatalities (Alirol et al., 2010)³.

See larger drawings further down

Swallowing Prey

Snakes can consume prey significantly wider than their own diameter. The phenomenon that allows them to do so is commonly referred to as jaw-walking.

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Surviving a Bite

The biggest concern from snake bites, including the non-venomous ones, is 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 its 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. There are only a few venomous snakes that will actually be able to kill an animal as large as a dog: 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 a 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 is when they put into the bag. The cobra must be released without giving it the chance to bite.

Snake Fangs

The different species of snakes have their fangs curving in three dissimilar but typical patterns. Ducts inside the fangs 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 they help to pull the animal farther into the mouth. The image shows a jaw from a diamondback rattlesnake, and it is taken from an exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History. Larger snakes have longer teeth as they often have to penetrate feathers to kill prey their own size. The diamondback rattlesnake on the photo from the museum has rather short teeth.

Diamondback Rattlesnake

This story is a good illustration on why you have to be careful even when just taking a photo of a venomous snake. This guy took photo of a diamondback rattlesnake and tries 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. Twenty 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.

Jackie Bibby beat his old world record by holding 13 rattlesnakes in his mouth at the same time without being bitten. Mr. Bibby already has the world record in sleeping with most rattlesnakes at the same time in a sleeping back (109) and being in a bathtub with most rattlesnakes at the same time (195). Congratulations.