Black Mamba
There are roughly 725 species of venomous snakes worldwide with Australia having the highest number and 250 of these are able to kill a human with one bite. Snakes do not normally prey on humans and in the main will not attack unless startled or injured. But when they do, if not treated quickly with antivenin, may result in the need for amputation of a limb, or even death, and as little as 5 mg of venom in some snakes can prove fatal to humans. We introduce some of the deadliest venomous species of snake we hope you never get on the wrong side of, and a few pictures of one person’s experience of being bitten by a Northern Pacific rattlesnake, which are definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Scientific name: Dendroaspis polylepis Size: 2.5 – 4.5 metres Location: Africa Habitat: Grasslands, bushes and small trees Food: Small birds and rodents Breeding: Between 10 and 25 eggs Venom amount: 100-120 mg average up to 400 mg and can kill a human in 20 minutes. Without treatment the mortality rate is 100%, the highest among snakes.
