Snakes have different types of venom that act and attack the body in different ways. One major type of venom acts by attacking the nervous system and paralyzing the body. This article takes a look at 17 snakes with paralyzing venom.
Types of Snake Venom
There are 4 main types of snake venom: neurotoxic, proteolytic, hemotoxic, and cytotoxic. Snakes can have venom made of more than one toxin or venom type.
Neurotoxic Venom
Neurotoxic venom is one of the fastest venom to act. It works by attacking the nervous system and stopping the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles. This simply means that your brain will not be able to send and execute commands to your muscles. In simple terms, this leads to paralysis. Neurotoxic venom begins working from the head and makes its way down to the rest of the body. It can slowly affect the diaphragm muscles which control breathing. This will render the victim unable to breathe.
Proteolytic Venom
Proteolytic venom works by attacking the victim’s tissue. It contains proteolytic enzymes which are made up of bacteria, fungi, as well as plants and animals. Proteolytic enzymes naturally break down protein in the body. The presence of these enzymes leads to damage to tissues. Snakes with this venom usually use it to aid digestion and not necessarily to kill or weaken.
Hemotoxic Venom
Hemotoxic venom attacks the circulatory system and causes respiratory problems. Victims may find breathing impossible. Hemotoxic venom also attacks the muscle tissue. This can result in hemorrhaging; the rupturing of blood vessels which leads to bleeding. It also causes swelling and necrosis – the death of cells in the affected areas. Hemotoxic venom can also affect (hinder or cause) blood clotting.
Cytotoxic Venom
Cytotoxic venom works by destroying the affected tissue’s cell membrane which will lead to the entire destruction of the tissue.
17 Snakes with Neurotoxic or Paralyzing Venom
Snakes in the Elapidae snake family have venom that are mostly made of neurotoxins. However, some other snakes have minor amounts of neurotoxins that also result in paralysis. Elapidae (cobras, coral snakes, mambas, kraits, sea snakes), Viperidae (vipers, rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, adders), Colubridae (mangrove snakes, vine snakes, boomslangs, tree snakes, twig snakes), and Atractaspidae(stiletto snakes, mole vipers) are snakes with neurotoxic or paralyzing venom.
Elapidae Family
Cobras, coral snakes, mambas, kraits, and sea snakes are Elapidaes with primarily neurotoxic venom that can lead to paralysis.
Cobras
Cobras venom are primarily neurotoxic. Some species of cobras spit their venom into the eyes of their victims while some bite. Their bites often result in paralysis depending on how much was injected.
Coral snakes
Coral snakes have the second-strongest venom of all snake species. Their venom is primarily neurotoxic and causes paralysis of the body.
Mambas
Mambas have complex venom. Their venom contains neurotoxic compounds including dendrotoxins, muscarinic toxins, and fasciculins. Their venom is known to be deadly.
Kraits
According to an article published in the 2016 Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, kraits are a leading cause of snakebite mortality in South Asia. Their venom contains presynaptic neurotoxins.
Sea snakes
Sea snakes have deadly venom that contains neurotoxins and myotoxins which result in paralysis, swelling in various body parts such as the tongue and joints, blurry vision, and many others.
Viperidae Family
Rattlesnakes, copperhead, cottonmouths, and adders are Viperidae snakes with paralyzing venom. Their venom is primarily hemotoxic with significant quantities of neurotoxins.
Vipers
Most vipers have hemotoxic venom but some of them have significant amounts of venom that cause paralysis. Vipers are some of the deadliest snakes.
Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes are known for their incredibly toxic venom. Some species have venom which is strong enough to kill multiple people. Many rattlesnakes have neurotoxins and hemotoxins in their venom.
Copperheads
Copperheads venom mostly contains hemotoxins that damage tissues temporarily. However, they also contain significant amounts of neurotoxins that can cause paralysis, depending on how much is injected. Luckily, most copperhead bites do not result in deaths.
Cottonmouths
Cottonmouth snakes venom contains hemotoxins that break down blood cells and stop blood from clotting. Their venom also contains neurotoxins. A cottonmouth’s maximum venom yield is 237 mg, which is strong enough to kill two humans.
Adders
Adders have venom that is primarily hemotoxic. However, it contains enough neurotoxins, and this can result in paralysis. These snakes hardly bite but when they do, it is often deadly.
Colubridae Family
Mangrove snakes, vine snakes, boomslangs, tree snakes, and twigs snakes are Colubridae snakes with traces of neurotoxins in their venom.
Mangrove snakes
Mangrove snakes have venom made primarily of denmotoxins. However, they contain some quantities of neurotoxins. These snakes’ bites cannot result in paralysis because their fangs are rear-ended and injecting enough venom is very hard. However, if they were able to, their bites would likely lead to paralysis.
Vine snakes
Vine snakes have venom that contains large amounts of hemotoxins and small amounts of neurotoxins. Some species of vine snakes are harmless but others aren’t. There is no antivenom for vine snakes.
Boomslangs
Boomslangs are highly venomous and dangerous snakes. Their venom contains high levels of hemotoxins but also contains neurotoxins that can cause paralysis.
Tree snakes
Some tree snakes have venom with mild traces of neurotoxins. They are not potent to humans but are known to result in paralysis. A study showed that the venom of brown tree snakes causes paralysis in chickens.
Twig snake
Twig snakes are highly venomous snakes with hemotoxic venom. Their venom also contains neurotoxins which may lead to paralysis.
Atractaspidae Family
Stiletto snakes and mole vipers are from the Atractaspidae Family. Due to the traces of neurotoxins in their venom, they are known to cause paralysis.
Stiletto snakes
Stiletto snakes have venom that contains potent levels of cytotoxins as well as noticeable traces of neurotoxins that can cause paralysis.
Mole vipers
Mole vipers venom are primarily hemotoxic and result in necrosis. However, they also contain neurotoxins that result in paralysis.
What To Do If You Get Bitten By A Snake
Most reported snakebite deaths occur because there was a delay in seeking medical help. If you are bitten by a snake, seek medical help immediately. Here are some of the major don’ts if you get bitten by a snake.
Do not delay in seeking medical attention.Do not attempt to suck out the venom. You could transmit it to your mouth and endanger yourself even more.Do not chop off the bitten part. Snake bites can be treated with anti-venom. Cutting off a part of your body will cause you to lose blood among a host of other problems that could kill you faster than the bite.Do not move around. If venom has been injected into you, moving around will only help it circulate faster. Sit still and wait for professional help.
