10 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

There are plenty of snakes out there. But which ones are likely to kill you?

By Avery Hurt
May 19, 2022 6:00 PMMay 19, 2022 8:50 PM
Black mamba
(Credit: Michelle Paulo/Shutterstock)

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Earth is home to about 3,500 species of snakes, but only 600, or so, are venomous. Still, those snakes that are venomous can kill. (Although, they are not the most common causes of death, like automobile accidents and heart attacks.)

It’s tricky to rank these creatures by their level of danger, if not impossible. There are multiple ways to order them — the potency of their venom; how likely they are to strike; how often humans encounter them — and even experts can’t agree on a top-10 list. However, there are a few snakes that would make any list of dangerous reptiles. Here are 10 serpents you don’t want to mess with.

1. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

(Credit: Sibons photography/Shutterstock)
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