
A venomous snake is a snake that uses venom (poison) on prey to stop them and for self-defense.
Over 600 species are known to be venomous -- less than one fifth of all snake species.
| Family | Description |
|---|---|
| Atractaspididae (Atractaspidids) | Burrowing asp, Mole viper, Stiletto snake. |
| Colubridae (Colubrids) | Most are harmless, but others have toxic saliva and at least five species, including the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus), have caused human fatalities. |
| Elapidae (Elapids) | Cobra, Coral snake, Krait, Mamba, Sea snake, Sea krait and Australian elapid. |
| Viperidae (Viperids) | True viper and Pit viper, including Rattlesnake and Albany Adder. |