Types of Poisonous Snakes

 What Are the Different Types of Venomous Snakes

Basically, on land there are four known families of venomous snakes - Elapidae, Viperidae, Colubridae, and Atractaspididae. And Hydrophiidae is the family of venomous snakes found in water.

Elapidae (Elapids)
This family encompasses some of the most notoriously venomous snakes known to man. These creatures are characterized by their short, front fangs that remain in a fixed position. They have slender bodies, and there is hardly any distinction between the head and the neck. These crawlers populate the tropical and subtropical regions of the word. Their fangs are hollow, and able to inject venom in their potential preys or in defense against predators. The nature of the venom is what makes these TYPES OF SNAKES the most venomous. The venom is neurotoxic, and directly attacks the nervous system once inside the body. Common examples may include:

• Indian cobra
• Kraits
• Inland taipan
• Spitting cobra
• The North American coral snake
• Australian copperheads
• King cobras

Viperidae (Viperids)
Next in the list of the different types of poisonous snakes in the world is the family known as Viperidae. These snakes are also equipped with front hollow fangs that inject venom that contains what is known as proteases. These are protein-degrading enzymes that cause gruelingly painful symptoms, but are not necessarily fatal. The fangs, unlike those of the Elapids, can be folded back against the roof of the mouth when not in use. Except in Antarctica and Australia, these snakes can be found in all other places on Earth. Examples may include:

• Copperheads
• Rattlesnakes
• Pit vipers
• Bushmaster
• Fer-de-lance
• Russell’s viper
• Fea's viper
• Saw-scaled viper
• Temple viper
• Death adder
• Gaboon viper
• Rhinoceros vipers

Colubridae (colubrids)
Snakes that are classified under this category can be venomous and non-venomous too. Also, their venom is considered less potent to the one of elapids and viperids. Despite this, their bite needs immediate medical attention. Except Antarctica, all other continents are populated with these types of snakes. The fangs of these snakes are elongated and grooved, and located in the back of the upper jaw. Common members of this family are:

• African twig snake
• The boomslang
• Racers
• The hognose snake
• Queen snake
• Buff-striped keelback
• The common keelback
• King snake
• Brown vine snake
• Barnes' cat snake

Atractaspididae
Africa and Middle East are the places where these species of venomous snakes are found. This family is however, surrounded with controversies, and does not have a properly defined place. This is because, many snakes in this group were earlier a member of different families. The venom secreted by these snakes are too weak to cause severe harm, but in some cases, it does. Some examples of this group include:

• Glossy snakes
• Jan's snake
• Snake eaters
• Quill-snouted snakes

Hydrophiidae
Hydrophiidae was regarded as a separate family of sea snakes at one time. However, more in-depth study about these creatures revealed their close resemblance with those which are classified in the family of elapids. And so sea snakes are regarded as venomous elapid snakes that inhabit the marine ecosystem. It has been reported that the venom of these snakes can be more potent than those found on land. Neurotoxins and mytotoxins both, are the components of their venom. Examples are:

• Turtlehead sea snakes
• Beaked sea snakes
• Jerdon's sea snake
• Sea kraits
• Yellow bellied sea snake
• Hediger's snake