Venomous snakes are characterized by the structure of their fangs. For example, the African boomslang has fangs at the back of the mouth, each bearing a groove down which venom flows. The cobra has fangs at the front of the mouth, again grooved; and rattlesnakes and vipers have the most sophisticated biting apparatus: their fangs are hinged, and when they are not in use, fold back along the roof of the mouth. The toxicity of snake venom varies from species to species.
The world’s most venomous snake is the sea snake, which has venom one hundred times as powerful as that of the king cobra — which, in its turn, has a poison that can kill an adult in minutes if it strikes at the face. The amount of venom injected by a particular snake during an attack is also important. Thus cobra venom is five times more powerful than viper venom, but vipers have a much more efficient injection apparatus than cobras — notwithstanding the latter’s awesome and well-deserved reputation. In addition, a lot depends on the habits of the snake and the vulnerability of its victim: for example, the cobra is very alert and is found in areas where many people go about barefoot, making the snake doubly dangerous.
Vipers, on the other hand, are sluggish and thus easily trodden on — so the majority of attacks are the result of carelessness on the part of the walker. The prospect of being attacked by a venomous snake will send shivers down the bravest spine. However, anti venoms have been developed to counteract the bite of even the most poisonous species. The western diamondback rattlesnake, found in the United States from Texas to California, is extremely dangerous — not only because of the toxicity of its venom, but also because of its aggressiveness and speed. Fortunately, thanks to improved methods of treatment and effective anti venoms, fatalities are now rare.
