Just Curious (Venom)

[snakegal12345]

inland taipan has the most potent venom

[Dr. Bryan Fry]

The inland taipan has numero uno while the eastern brown snake comes in second. While the coastal taipan has less toxic venom than either one, it delivers such massive amounts that I would rate it as the 'hardest hitting' of any snake bite. While the black mamba is also devastating, it is neurotoxic blocking only while the taipans all destroy the blood clotting ability, break down muscle fibre, physically destroy the nerves (in addition to blocking them). SO, if you are lucky enough to survive a bite you may have permanent paralysis or other fun effects such as (as happened to a mate of mine) persistent urinary incontinence for almost a year!!!!!

Cheers
B

[jaybox_reptiles]

well the most dangerous snake is indeed the taipan but the brown snake is more venoumusit just dose not deliver near as much venom in a bit as the taipan so that is y they classify the taipan first and the brown second hope this helps

Jay

[Mustangrde1]

Dr Fry. when your decribing the hardest hitting. I have never seen a Oxyuranus scutellatus hit but have seen plenty of Bitis and Crotalus hits. How does the Oxyuranus compare to them?

After seeing that mpg of your see snake I certainly wouldnt want him comming after me that was great.

Thanks
Scott

[maiden_canada]

i heard steve irwin say the common brown in australia is the most venemous snake in the world, i think when i was at his zoo he had the top 3 most venemous (not dangerous) and the common brown was also #1 there too

[Dr. Bryan Fry]

Another one that you really really don't want to get hit by is the Burmese population of the Russell's viper (Daboia russelli). This particular venom, in addition to the usual massive disruption of blood chemistry, also causes uncontrollable hemorrhage of the pituitary gland resulting in its ultimate destruction. I've had case reports come across my desk showing 40 year old men who are have lost all facial, secondary and pubic hair and are now permanently sterile and impotent. Basically physiologically eight year old boys. A pretty evil fountain of youth!

As for the LD50s, here are the actual rankings. http://www.venomdoc.com/old/LD50/LD50men.html

At the end of the day though, this is all academic, dead is dead. Plenty of snakes are capable of truly devastating envenomations (and I would certainly include any large Bitis in this group and also bites by big Crotalus)

Cheers
B

[shaggybill]

Dr. Bryan, I know that neurotoxic venom causes respiratory failure by destroying the nerves that cause the lungs to breath, but how does it cause cardiac arrest?(when it does so) Am I right by assuming that the venom interferes with the electric pulses that cause the heart to beat?

[Dr. Bryan Fry]

Some venoms do. The black mamba venom includes a toxin that deliberately targets the vagus nerve of the heart (which is the hearts 'pacemaker').

Cheers
B

[shaggybill]

I have to say, I am fascinated by venom and the research of it. If I ever visit Australia, I'll have to come visit you and watch you work.

(Dont worry, the chances of me visiting Australia are quite slim indeed)

[Dr. Bryan Fry]

No worries.

All the best
B