It’s no secret that some snakes have a license to kill. And honestly, who’s going to mess around with a crocodile if they’ve got a choice? While it may be obvious that some reptiles are a no-go, there are some that may shock you. Let’s have a look at 11 different reptiles that you should avoid at all costs. No seriously, don’t even think about it!
1. Inland Taipan
Of all the dangerous reptiles you should avoid, the Inland Taipan is the most dangerous. In fact, not only does it feature in this list, but it’s also the most venomous snake in the world. This guy’s venom is really, really potent and a single bite can paralyze and kill a couple of humans within just 45 minutes. But unless you go hiking in the most arid remote area of Australia, you probably won’t encounter one real soon. Oh, and unless you lift up rocks and look for trouble. Plus, they’re introverted and shy, so they’ll only strike at you the moment you provoke or threaten them.
2. Black Mamba
This black snake’s venom is both neurotoxic and cardiotoxic. That means it not only affects your nerves, but also your heart. Untreated, a single bite from a black mamba has a 100% fatality rate and it can kill you within 7 to 15 hours. But how would you know if it’s a black mamba that made those two holes on your ankle? Symptoms include paralysis, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting, as well as difficulty focusing. Overall, it sounds like a pretty uncomfortable experience to me.
You have a slight chance of survival if you get immediate treatment. But there’s a chance that you may be allergic to the antivenom. Fortunately, black mambas, which live in southern and eastern Africa, are mostly shy but they won’t hesitate when cornered.
3. Saltwater Crocodile
These spiky saltwater reptiles are scary enough as it is. I mean, they’re living descendants of dinosaurs! But when you find out what crocodiles really eat, it takes a turn for the worst. It turns out that they’ve got a taste for deer (pretty normal), orangutans (OK, what?), and even humans (RUN!).
That’s right, the 2 crocodiles in this list of the deadliest reptiles on Earth have earned their spot. And to top it all off, saltwater crocs are the largest and most dangerous of all crocodile species. They’ve got one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom, with a force of 3,700 psi, and 66 teeth to make sure the job gets done. Unlike Komodo dragons, saltwater crocodiles are very aggressive and they actually do attack humans because they feel like it. You’ll find them in Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Southeast Asia, but I’m sure you don’t want to.
4. Gila Monster
Of all the dangerous and most unique lizards, this is the one that screams venomous when you look at it. Remember, in most cases it’s true that the more colorful the reptile, the more dangerous the venom. The Gila monster is the most dangerous lizard in the world, yet their bite is rarely life-threatening. When one of these monsters clamps you down with their strong grip and chews on your arm, you’ll know it.
The venom passing through your blood comes with indescribable burning, swelling, dizziness, low blood pressure, vomiting, and a rapid heart rate. More serious cases can lead to anaphylaxis. Fortunately, they’re shy so they’ll try to avoid you as far as possible. They also don’t like to use their venom on prey. They’d rather save it to fight off predators.
5. King Cobra
The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, which makes it extra deadly. Their venom is so potent that it can kill you in just 30 minutes by affecting the respiratory centers in your brain. The same venom from just one bite can kill 20 people and an entire elephant in a couple of hours. Despite the fact that they live in India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, the only antivenom for king cobra bites is produced only in Thailand.
They typically live in rain forests and plains, but you can also find them in bamboo thickets, high-altitude grasslands, rivers, and mangrove swamps. They’re the only snakes that build actual nests for their eggs and they’re exceptionally aggressive when they feel threatened. Note to self: don’t step on a king cobra.
6. Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragons may not be prone to attacking humans for no reason, but they’re still apex predators, which makes them very dangerous. They’ve got some intimidatingly sharp teeth and claws, so it’s no surprise that their bites can rip through multiple layers of skin and tissue. Not to mention the venom gland in their lower jaw that can stop your blood from clotting and cause blood loss and shock. In addition to the venom, their saliva is also riddled with bacteria that causes sepsis, and they can run at speeds of up to 12.4 mph.
Like I said, these scaly animals unique to Asia don’t attack for no reason and humans aren’t really part of a Komodo dragon’s diet. But they’ve been responsible for many human deaths in the past. And those that were lucky enough to get out alive are left with serious wounds to remind them of the attack.
7. Alligator Snapping Turtle
A turtle in a list of deadly reptiles? Indeed. Alligator snapping turtles aren’t aggressive by nature, but man can they bite. They’ve got a bite force of 1000 psi, which means they can bite right through bone. Losing a finger or two isn’t enough to kill you, but the complications that may arise definitely can. Luckily, they have a much bigger taste for fish, small mammals, other turtles, and frogs than for human fingers.
8. Nile Crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles may be the most dangerous of the lot, but it’s Nile crocodiles that are responsible for the most human deaths. In fact, they kill more people annually than all of the other crocodiles combined. They can be up to 20 feet long and they can bite as hard as a T-Rex. That’s enough to keep me out of the waters of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Yet, they’ll even attack people that come too close to the water’s edge and small children are especially at risk.
9. Reticulated Python
But isn’t a reticulated python one of the best pet reptiles for kids? That’s a big fat no and definitely not a ball python: the smaller and more docile brother. Reticulated pythons are non-venomous, which is a huge plus on the deadly front, but they’re the world’s longest snake and more than capable of killing. They constrict their prey and swallow them whole, and that prey includes humans.
10. Saw-Scaled Viper
The saw-scaled viper is one of the creatures with the deadliest venom, along with the inland taipan. So, it should come as no surprise that it kills more humans than any other snake species. Not only does this viper have lethal venom, but it mostly lives in areas with little to no medical facilities, like regions in Africa and the Middle East. A single bite from the saw-scaled viper can cause bleeding complications that leads to internal bleeding and tissue damage. Furthermore, it’s venom causes kidney failure and of course, death.
11. Black Caiman
Obviously, all of these reptiles hate being handled and the black caiman is no exception. They’re apex predators that live in the Amazon and northern South America. While they’re strictly carnivorous, they mainly prey on mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. But don’t let your guard down just yet…
These reptiles have very strong bites (6000 psi) and they love attacking humans. They use their incredible bite force to take their prey down to the river bottom, where they keep them in their mouths until they decompose. It’s not exactly the same process for humans but a caiman attack can definitely be fatal. Their bites are similar to shark bites in terms of the large wounds, blood loss, and secondary bacterial infections.
