Section 2: Venom
Venomous Snakes
Sea Snake
Hydrophis belcheri
The common sea snake of northwest coast of Australia has the most toxic venom of any living snake. No human fatalities have been recorded. The snake is not prone to bit and the venom yield is very low. The venom is specialized to kill sea eels.
Inland Taipan (Fierce snake)
Oxyuranus microlepidotus
This is the most venomous land species. It is native to Australia and not known to be aggressive. The venomous yield is sufficient to kill humans, but no fatalities have been reported in over a decade. Protective shoes and anti-venom have greatly reduced the risk of death from this snake.
Eastern Coral Snake
Micrurus fulvius fulvius
by far the most venomous snake of north America. This snakes produces a powerful neurotoxin venom, as where most other US snakes produce hemotoxic. Fortunately, the venom yield is low, and the snake has such a small mouth, human envenomations are very rare.
Saw Scale Viper
Echis ocellatus
This relatively small snake, with a low LD 50, killed more humans per year then all other snake species combined before it was broken into several sub-species.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
This snake is native to AZ and parts of CA. It is the most venomous rattlesnake in the world and only rattler with neurotoxin venom. Many early deaths charged to the Western Diamond back, were most likely Mojaves .
Eastern Diamondback
Crotalus adamanteus
This rattler has the highest venom yield in the US and is responsible for most north American human deaths. This monster exceeds 8' and is not shy about occupying the same area as people.
LIZARDS
Gila Monster
Heloderma suspectum
The Gila is considered the most venomous lizard in the world. It is native to the southwest United States. According to Dr. Mark Seward, the Gila has an LD-50 of .05. No human fatalities have been reported, but they are possible.
Beaded Lizard
Heloderma horridum
The Beaded is closely related to the Gila and while this lizard is larger in size, most scientists only give the Beaded an LD-50 of 1.0. Along with the Gila, they are only two venomous species of lizard in existence today.
**Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis
While not born with natural venom, the Komodo develops a very toxic bacteria in mouth from the food it eats. Many bites from this massive lizard prove to be fatal, more so from the bacteria then the bite itself.
Venomous FROGS
Golden Dart Frog
Phyllobates terribilis
The venom of its skin is the most toxic naturally occurring substance. An adult frog is only 2", but produces enough venom to kill 100 humans. 2/10 of a microgram will kill an adult.
Marine (Cane) Toad
Bufo marinus
While not dangerous to humans, this toad's skin does produce a poison that can be lethal to small predators.
Green & Black Dart Frog
Dendrobates auratus
The most popular of the pet species. In the wild secretes a toxic poison from the skin, CB and long term captives lose all toxic properties.
Section 2: Age
Oldest Snake
Boa constrictor constrictor
A common boa held at the Philadelphia Zoo was credited with an age of 40 years and 3 months.
Oldest Tortoise
Astrochelys radiata
A specimen of the Madagascar tortoise is believed to have lived at least 188 years. It was a gift to the Tonga royal family in 1773 and remained with the family until its death in 1965.
Oldest Crocodile
Alligator mississippiensis
The Guinness book credits an American Alligator held at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. The specimen was 66 years old, arriving 1914 and remaining there until her death in 1978.
Oldest Turtle
Macroclemys temminckii
Another specimen of John Richards. In 1998, John claimed this specimen was over 150 years old. If John's estimate is accurate, this turtle was occupying southern lakes during the Civil War.
Oldest Spider
Brachypelma smithi
Guinness credits this species with an age of 28 years. Historically this has been the most widely kept species of tarantula, its longevity being one of the reasons why. I kept a specimen in my personal collection that lived to be over 20 years old.
Oldest Lizard
Anguis fragilis
A specimen of the slow worm was kept in a zoo in Denmark for over 54 years. (1892 - 1946)
Tuatara
The Tuatara is a very interesting "lizard like" reptile native to New Zealand. They are not considered to be lizard on the taxonomy table. Males may live over 100 years.
Chelonoidis nigra
The Galapagos tortoise regularly exceeds 150 years of age. This means the large specimens still on the islands today, were there when Charles Darwin toured the islands.
Crocodylus acutus
Gatorland credits an American Crocodile with an age of 77 years. They have specimens on display now that exceed 50 years of age.
Venomous Snakes
Sea Snake
Hydrophis belcheri
The common sea snake of northwest coast of Australia has the most toxic venom of any living snake. No human fatalities have been recorded. The snake is not prone to bit and the venom yield is very low. The venom is specialized to kill sea eels.
Inland Taipan (Fierce snake)
Oxyuranus microlepidotus
This is the most venomous land species. It is native to Australia and not known to be aggressive. The venomous yield is sufficient to kill humans, but no fatalities have been reported in over a decade. Protective shoes and anti-venom have greatly reduced the risk of death from this snake.
Eastern Coral Snake
Micrurus fulvius fulvius
by far the most venomous snake of north America. This snakes produces a powerful neurotoxin venom, as where most other US snakes produce hemotoxic. Fortunately, the venom yield is low, and the snake has such a small mouth, human envenomations are very rare.
Saw Scale Viper
Echis ocellatus
This relatively small snake, with a low LD 50, killed more humans per year then all other snake species combined before it was broken into several sub-species.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
This snake is native to AZ and parts of CA. It is the most venomous rattlesnake in the world and only rattler with neurotoxin venom. Many early deaths charged to the Western Diamond back, were most likely Mojaves .
Eastern Diamondback
Crotalus adamanteus
This rattler has the highest venom yield in the US and is responsible for most north American human deaths. This monster exceeds 8' and is not shy about occupying the same area as people.
LIZARDS
Gila Monster
Heloderma suspectum
The Gila is considered the most venomous lizard in the world. It is native to the southwest United States. According to Dr. Mark Seward, the Gila has an LD-50 of .05. No human fatalities have been reported, but they are possible.
Beaded Lizard
Heloderma horridum
The Beaded is closely related to the Gila and while this lizard is larger in size, most scientists only give the Beaded an LD-50 of 1.0. Along with the Gila, they are only two venomous species of lizard in existence today.
**Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis
While not born with natural venom, the Komodo develops a very toxic bacteria in mouth from the food it eats. Many bites from this massive lizard prove to be fatal, more so from the bacteria then the bite itself.
Venomous FROGS
Golden Dart Frog
Phyllobates terribilis
The venom of its skin is the most toxic naturally occurring substance. An adult frog is only 2", but produces enough venom to kill 100 humans. 2/10 of a microgram will kill an adult.
Marine (Cane) Toad
Bufo marinus
While not dangerous to humans, this toad's skin does produce a poison that can be lethal to small predators.
Green & Black Dart Frog
Dendrobates auratus
The most popular of the pet species. In the wild secretes a toxic poison from the skin, CB and long term captives lose all toxic properties.
Section 2: Age
Oldest Snake
Boa constrictor constrictor
A common boa held at the Philadelphia Zoo was credited with an age of 40 years and 3 months.
Oldest Tortoise
Astrochelys radiata
A specimen of the Madagascar tortoise is believed to have lived at least 188 years. It was a gift to the Tonga royal family in 1773 and remained with the family until its death in 1965.
Oldest Crocodile
Alligator mississippiensis
The Guinness book credits an American Alligator held at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. The specimen was 66 years old, arriving 1914 and remaining there until her death in 1978.
Oldest Turtle
Macroclemys temminckii
Another specimen of John Richards. In 1998, John claimed this specimen was over 150 years old. If John's estimate is accurate, this turtle was occupying southern lakes during the Civil War.
Oldest Spider
Brachypelma smithi
Guinness credits this species with an age of 28 years. Historically this has been the most widely kept species of tarantula, its longevity being one of the reasons why. I kept a specimen in my personal collection that lived to be over 20 years old.
Oldest Lizard
Anguis fragilis
A specimen of the slow worm was kept in a zoo in Denmark for over 54 years. (1892 - 1946)
Tuatara
The Tuatara is a very interesting "lizard like" reptile native to New Zealand. They are not considered to be lizard on the taxonomy table. Males may live over 100 years.
Chelonoidis nigra
The Galapagos tortoise regularly exceeds 150 years of age. This means the large specimens still on the islands today, were there when Charles Darwin toured the islands.
Crocodylus acutus
Gatorland credits an American Crocodile with an age of 77 years. They have specimens on display now that exceed 50 years of age.