 after being struck. Snakes which consume many birds may have a fast acting venom, and so on.
But it is curious why all he most venomous Australian snakes have venom predominantly neurotoxic. These include the two Taipans, (on a lighter note, my spellcheck changed this to “tampons!”). The Tiger, Death Adder, Copperhead, King Brown, Red-Bellied Black Snake. (The so called “Fierce Snake” is actually the Inland Taipan, and the world’s most venomous snake. Luckily, it is rare and people are seldom bitten. as both Taipan bites are 100% fatal in most cases if the attack is not treated.)
But why are all these snakes equiped with neurotoxin, while the most dangerous snakes in Africa, including the mambas, several cobras, puff adder boomslang, gaboon viper and many more, have varying types of toxin?
The same applies in Asia, with both neurotoxin and haemotoxin found in many species.
Venom has been evolving in the organs and glands of snakes and other creatures for at least 100 million years. Many of the snakes themselves have come and gone as has their specialized prey. Their venom has two functions: predatory and defensive, the latter use the one that victimises man, usually after he has blundered onto the snake or is tormenting it in some way. Snakes are normally passive and slow moving creatures, but most can change in an instant into several feet of sinew and muscle, in a homicidal rage and bent on doing its tormentor severe harm.
Yet most are passive to the extreme. I have stroked wild rattlers in Baja with no reaction. Even one of the world’s most lethal snakes, the Gaboon Viper, with the most venom in volume and the longest fangs on the planet is so reluctant to employ its armory that experienced bushmen handle it with impunity, meanwhile marvelling at the beauty of this exquisite creature. (see pic).
On the other hand, nobody handles Black Mambas, Taipans, Eastern Diamonback Rattlesnakes and King Cobras, among several more highly exciteable reptiles. The Black Mamba is perhaps the world’s most dangerous snake as it is lightning fast, can reach head height and has an awful venom and character to go with it.
In North America, rattlesnakes reign supreme and no Hollywood shitkicker would be complete without Big John or some other bone- head jerking out his hawg’s leg and blowing the crap out of a rattlesnake. The two largest are the Western Diamondback and the Eastern Diamondback, there are several other species.
People rightly fear the copperhead and the cottonmouth, both with nasty venom and often irritable temperaments, usually after getting hit with empty beer cans, etc. Both neurotoxin and haemotoxin makes an appearance.
The internet is full of enquiries about which is the world’s most venomous and/or deadly snake, spider, scorpion et al. This is really like the old tiger/lion argument (which would win in a fight). In the case of snakes there are so many variables, that a definitive answer will change according to the chronicler and his sources. What I will say is there are several contenders:
1) Black Mamba
3) King Cobra
4) Eastern Diamondback
7) Brown Snake
8) Beaked Sea Snake
Some; like the Gaboon Viper, doesn't make this list; -if it was aggressive, it would be number one. Lots of variables like this and one expert's advice confounds another...
Well to paraphrase Hemingway, “There were a few important things to be said,” but I am afraid my nocturnal musing of exactly why some areas have snakes with one type of venom, yet another, a separate type, could not be answered for your - or my - satisfaction. I will follow up on this because there must be a reason why Oz's snakes have one kind of venom only and most are on the most deadly list, and that is the oldest, most stable continent...