VenomousReptiles.org Survey

Survey Question	Current Survey Question Should hobbyists ever free handle venomous reptiles with their hands? Recent Surveys Most venomous/toxic Naja species in the world? I have read that the Philippine cobra is the most venomous (mice, 0.2 mg/kg SC with the lowest reported value being 0.14 mg/kg SC) (Brown, 1973). I have recently, come across something in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (Vol. 30, (issue 12), pages: 1158-1162, 1992) which stated that the LD50 for Naja oxiana was the most toxic/venomous (mice, 0.18 mg/kg SC and lowest reported value was 0.10 mg/kg). Along with that, the mortality rate for untreated Naja oxiana bites are the highest among all Naja species (70-80%). N.oxiana also produced the lowest known lethal dose (LCLo) of 0.005 mg/kg, the lowest among all cobra species ever recorded, derived from an individual case of poisoning by intracerebroventricular injection. Following N. oxiana and N. philippinensis are N. melanoleuca at 0.225 mg/kg SC and then N. samarensis at 0.23 mg/kg. The water cobras (N. annulata and N. christyi also have very toxic venoms, but no SC values are listed. Only intraperitoneal (IP) values of 0.143 mg/kg for N. annulata and 0.12 mg/kg for N. christyi. IP values tend to be generally lower (more toxic than subcutaneous values, so it would be unfair to compare their IP results to the subcutaneous (SC) results of other Naja species. Then I have heard that (without solid evidence) that Naja nivea is the most venomous, although their murine SC LD50 range anywhere from 0.4 mg/kg (Toxicon, Vol. 5, issue 1, page 47, 1967) to 0.72 mg/kg (Australian venoms and toxins Databse). So which is the most venomous? To me it seems obvious that it is the Caspian or Oxus cobra (Naja oxiana), followed by the Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis). What do you think or know? I've noticed that the Australian venom and toxin Database seems to have higher LD50 values for all snakes across the board. For example, for the black mamba IP value of 0.01 mg/kg is listed (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004101018890219X) and Ernst and Zug et al 1996, list a SC value of 0.05 mg/kg for the black mamba. While the Australian venom and toxin Database listed much less toxic LD50's. So there seems to be a lot of variation. 2014-01-23 What's Your Favorite Venomous Snake? 2013-11-13 Deadliest Bite? 2013-09-16 IF the science of self-immunization for a snake envenomation was proven/perfected what is the least benefit(percentage) you would accept before practicing it on yourself? 2013-06-06 how did you learn to keep venomous reptiles? 2013-03-02 View All Survey Questions Have a good idea for a VenomousReptiles.org Survey question? Enter your idea!
Deadliest Bite?   Posted: Sep 16, 2013   (34 votes, 9 comments) by Georgiaman1986   Urutu/Half Moon Viper   Fer De Lance   Saw Scaled Viper   Puff Adder   Bush Master   Stilleto Snake   Other...Name It     (34 votes, 9 comments)
Survey Results
Urutu/Half Moon Viper 0% (0) Fer De Lance 15% (5) Saw Scaled Viper 9% (3) Puff Adder 6% (2) Bush Master 38% (13) Stilleto Snake 3% (1) Other...Name It 29% (10)
Survey Comments
Mambas, taipans, kraits, tiger snakes, Hands down, Dendroaspis polylepis (Black mamba). Not only because of the toxicity of the venom, but the rapid onset and synergistic effect of the venom, so though I've seen venom LD50 for black mamba range from 0.05 mg/kg (Subcutis) to 0.33 mg/kg (SC). Posted by oxus3 on June 21, 2022 Echis do inflict a very nasty bite, and cause a fair lot of deadly encounters in the country's they call home Posted by VenomHunterEurope on July 12, 2015 inland taipan Oxyuranus microlepidotus Posted by Structural on May 5, 2015 Dendroaspis polylepis (Black mamba), followed by Oxyuranus scutellatus (Coastal and Papuan taipan) Posted by Mamba84 on December 19, 2013 Oxyuranus Posted by SOLENOGLYPH on November 6, 2013 Which fer-de-lance? asper, atrox, lanceolatus?.... Posted by toddg on October 16, 2013 Deadliest Bite? Pseudohaje Goldii This is my newest and difficult snake. Posted by aspis40 on September 29, 2013 Mr. Gaboon Posted by pahothand on September 22, 2013 Daboia sp Posted by Crotalusssp on September 17, 2013 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!