A king cobra can inject more venom in a single bite than 60 inland taipans combined. Yield is not the same as lethality — it can be very different.
How to Play: Guess if the snake on the right has a HIGHER or LOWER typical venom yield per bite than the one on the left.
Name A
Name B
Top 10 Highest-Yield Venom Snakes
Venom yield is the amount of venom a snake injects in a typical bite, in milligrams. Higher yield does not mean more lethal — toxicity (LD50) measures potency, while yield measures volume. The deadliest snakes combine both.
| # | Name | Venom Yield (mg/bite) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bushmaster | 410 | mg/bite |
| 2 | Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake | 410 | mg/bite |
| 3 | King Cobra | 400 | mg/bite |
| 4 | Black-necked Spitting Cobra | 400 | mg/bite |
| 5 | Gaboon Viper | 350 | mg/bite |
| 6 | Western Diamondback Rattlesnake | 280 | mg/bite |
| 7 | Russell's Viper | 250 | mg/bite |
| 8 | Egyptian Cobra | 175 | mg/bite |
| 9 | Indian Cobra | 170 | mg/bite |
| 10 | Cape Cobra | 150 | mg/bite |
Yield vs Lethality in Snake Venom
Snake venom yield is measured in milligrams per bite, typically averaged across multiple milking sessions in captive specimens. The largest yields belong to large-bodied vipers and cobras. The king cobra and bushmaster routinely deliver 400 mg or more — enough venom to kill 20+ humans by raw lethal-dose math.
Lethality (toxicity) is measured separately as LD50 — the median lethal dose per kg of body weight. The inland taipan has the most toxic land-snake venom by LD50 (about 0.025 mg/kg) but injects only 80 mg per bite. Combined, a single inland taipan bite contains enough venom to kill more than 100 humans, more than any other land snake.
In real-world fatality statistics, the saw-scaled viper kills more people than any other snake despite being small and having a low yield (~20 mg/bite). The reason is encounter rate — saw-scaled vipers live in densely-populated agricultural regions of South Asia and Africa, while inland taipans inhabit remote Australian outback rarely encountered by humans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which snake has the most lethal venom?
By LD50 toxicity, the inland taipan of Australia. By human fatality count, the saw-scaled viper of South Asia.
How much venom can a king cobra inject?
About 400 mg in a single bite — among the largest yields of any venomous snake. King cobras can deliver multiple consecutive bites.
Is venom yield more important than toxicity?
For a fatal outcome, what matters is total lethal dose: yield × toxicity. A small bite of extremely toxic venom can be deadly; a large bite of moderately toxic venom can be too.
Are venom values consistent between bites?
No. Snakes can adjust the amount of venom they inject (‘venom metering’). Defensive bites often deliver 0–30% of maximum yield. Predatory bites deliver more.
Note: Yields are average milligrams per bite from milking studies. Individual snakes and bites vary significantly.
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