This list is based on the research conducted by the Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU). The ratings are based on the LD50 level, which is the amount of venom that a snake would need to cause death. The lower the LD50, the less venom the snake would need to kill someone. All of the snakes on this list are found in Australia.
10 – Spotted Brown Snake (LD50 = 0.360 (in bovine serum albumin))
This snake also goes by the name of Speckled Brown Snake. It is commonly found in central Queensland and the Eastern Northern Territory. The Speckled Brown Snake lives on grassy, black-soil plains. If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
9 – Gwardir (LD50 = 0.473)
Otherwise known as the Western Brown snake, this tricky species has many different colourings across the Western portion of Australia. One such variation is the Black-headed Western Brown snake, which has the top 20-30cm of the snakes body is black in colour and the rest is brown.
The Gwardir is found over most of the mainland of Australia, excluding Victoria and Tasmania. It also turns up in the North Western of New South Wales. It loves to live in dry, open forests and grassland and is most active at day time, but when the heat is right up, it can be nocturnal.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
8 – Death Adder (LD50 = 0.400)
The Death Adder is found on the Eastern coastline of New South Wales and Queensland, but is also prevalent on the Southern points of South Australia and Western Australia.
The Death Adder lives in wet and dry eucalypt forests, woodlands and coastal heaths. It is active both day and night and often hides among leaf litter on the ground, waiting to attack possible prey.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
7 – Black Tiger Snake (Chappell Island ssp.) (LD50 = 0.194 – 0.338)
Found over most of Chappell Island (A small island off the North Eastern coastline of Tasmania) is a little less deadly than its mainland cousin.
You will find it in moist, grassy plains, where there are a large amount of rocks for it to take shelter.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
6 – Beaked sea snake (LD50 = 0.164)
Usually found off the coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland, this beautiful snake has also been spotted on the North Eastern coastline of Western Australia, loving the warm ocean.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
5 – Black tiger snake (LD50 = 0.131)
This species is mainly found in moist areas; rainforests, heaths, open forests and river floodplains. It is mainly located on the Southern points of Australia (mainly South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria), but has been also spotted in Western Australia and New South Wales.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
4 – Tiger snake (LD50 = 0.118)
Like its other cousins, this species is mainly found in moist areas; rainforests, heaths, open forests and river floodplains. It is mainly located on the Southern points of Australia (mainly South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria), but has been also spotted in Western Australia and New South Wales.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
3 – Coastal Taipan (LD50 = 0.099)
Found in northern and eastern Australia. It is known from north-western Western Australia, the northern Northern Territory, across Cape York Peninsula and coastally through eastern Queensland to Grafton (New South Wales). In southern Queensland it is common near Beaudesert, Esk and Gympie.
The Coastal Taipan loves to live in open forests, dry closed forests, coastal heaths and grassy beach dunes. It also favours cultivated areas such as cane fields.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
2 – Eastern Brown Snake (LD50 = 0.053)
Found over most of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. It also occurs in southern South Australia and there are isolated populations in the Northern Territory. This species is also present in southern Papua New Guinea.
The Eastern Brown Snake loves to live in all habitats except rainforest. It has adapted well to farmed, grazed and semi-urban lands. In South-eastern Queensland, this species is particularly common around Beenleigh and Ipswich.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
1 – Inland Taipan (LD50 = 0.025)
The Inland Taipan (Or Western Taipan) is the world’s and Australia’s deadliest land snake.
It is found between Boulia and Hamilton (western Qld) and Goyder’s Lagoon (SA). There are old records from Bourke (NSW) and, possibly, the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers. An isolated population occurs near Coober Pedy (SA).
It loves to live on the ashy downs of Cooper Creek and the Diamantina and Georgina Rivers.
It is active by day and shelters in deep soil cracks, so be sure not to be sticking your hands anywhere near them.
If bitten administer first aid immediately and seek urgent medical attention. Then pray for your life because if you have a large dose of the Inland Taipan’s venom in you and you’re more than 100km away from help, you’re probably going to die.
