<Tr> <Td> Saw - scaled viper (E. carinatus) </Td> <Td> 0.151 mg / kg </Td> <Td> 72 mg </Td> <Td> 23,841 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> </Tr> <P> Mortality (often determined by measured toxicity on mice) is a commonly used indicator to determine the danger of any given venomous snake, but important too are its efficiency of venom delivery, its venom yield and its behavior when it encounters humans . Many snake experts have cited the black mamba and the coastal taipan as the world's most dangerous, albeit not the most venomous snakes . Both species are elapids, and in several aspects of morphology, ecology and behaviour, the coastal taipan is strongly convergent with the black mamba . Black mamba and coastal taipan bites require very rapid and vigorous antivenom therapy as without such intervention they are almost always fatal . The venoms of both species are exceptionally quick acting . </P> <P> The African Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a large and highly venomous snake species native to much of Sub-Saharan Africa . It is the second longest venomous snake species in the world and is the fastest moving land snake, capable of moving at 4.32 to 5.4 metres per second (16--20 km / h, 10--12 mph). It is the most feared and most dangerous snake species in Africa and it has a reputation as a fierce and territorial snake . When cornered or threatened, the black mamba can put up a fearsome display of defense and aggression . A black mamba will often mimic a cobra by spreading a neck - flap, exposing its black mouth, raising its body off the ground, and hissing . It can rear up around one - third of its body from the ground, which can put it at about four feet high . When warding off a threat, the black mamba delivers multiple strikes, injecting large amounts of virulently toxic venom with each strike, often landing bites on the body or head, unlike other snakes . Their strikes are very quick and extremely accurate and effective . If the attempt to scare away the threat fails, it will strike repeatedly . This species of snake often shows an incredible amount of tenacity, fearlessness, and aggression when cornered or threatened, during breeding season, or when defending its territory . They are also known to have a 100% rate of envenomation . The probability of dry bites (no venom injected) in black mamba strikes is almost non-existent . The venom of the black mamba is a protein of low molecular weight and as a result is able to spread rapidly within the bitten tissue . The venom of this species is the most rapid - acting venom of any snake species and consists mainly of highly potent neurotoxins; it also contains cardiotoxins, fasciculins, and calciseptine . </P> <P> Based on the Median lethal dose (LD) values in mice, the black mamba LD from all published sources is as follows: </P>

10 most poisonous & dangerous snakes in the world