Example:
Dendroaspis polylepis (Black Mamba) has a LD50 (subcutaneous) of 0.32 mg/kg
and a yield of 50.0 - 120.0 mg of venom. This means that it takes 0.32mg of
venom to kill 500 grammes, of mice (remember it only kills half of those
it is administered to). We use a standard 20g mouse, thus there are 50 mice
to a kilogramme or 25 mice to 500 grammes. 1 mg of venom is enough to
kill 78.125 mice. That is 1 divided by 0.32 and the result multiplied
by 25. The snake yields up to 120 mg of venom so we multiply our result
by 120 and arrive at a figure of 9375 mice. Or, by extrapolation, 187.5 kg
of human(s). We do know from reliable records that this snake has killed
11 adult humans in a single attack. Thus the mouse LD50 obviously does not
tell the whole story! It is however a baseline comparison that has some
merits.
Mice are not humans. The testing has been done in various places where standards differ from laboratory to laboratory. Some data comes from snakes that were not - or cannot - be reconciled with an actual species.
The only figure of real interest is the subcutaneous LD50 as few snakes can ever achieve anything other than that. Some of the larger adders may penetrate deep enough to inject their venom intramuscularly and in a very unlucky few cases an intravenous injection may occur. Intraperitoneal envenomation is highly unlikely outside of the laboratory.
Venom yields are an average range for a "standard" snake of the species.
Snake venoms vary within species and can be influenced by age of snake, size and locality. Some are more effective against actual prey species than others. Lethality is really a function of the potency of the venom and the amount injected during a bite. The yields given here were achieved by actual milking and there is no indication that the snake will inject all the venom in a single bite.
Acknowledgements:
Data was obtained from a number of sources - most notably the
Australian
Venom and Toxin database and Dangerous Snakes of Africa by
Stephen Spawls and Bill Branch.
| Species | Common name |
Sub- cutaneous mg/kg |
Intra- muscular mg/kg |
Intra- venous mg/kg |
Intra- peritoneal mg/kg |
Venom Yield mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acalyptophis peroni | sea snake species | 0.079 | ||||
| Acanthophis antarcticus | Common death adder | 0.5 | 0.25 | 70.0-236.0 | ||
| Agkistrodon bilineatus taylori | Ornate cantil | 2.4 | 2.3 | |||
| Agkistrodon bilineatus | Cantil | 2.4 | 1.155 | 50.0-95.0 | ||
| Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix | Southern copperhead | 25.6 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 40.0-75.0 | |
| Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus | Broad-banded copperhead | 20 | ||||
| Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen | Northern copperhead | 2.7 | 4.222 | |||
| Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma | Western cottonmouth | 2.044 | 4.844 | |||
| Agkistrodon piscovorus | Cottomouth/ Water moccasin | 25.8 | 4 | 5.1 | 80.0-170.0 | |
| Aipysurus duboisi | Dubois's sea snake | 0.044 | 0.07 | |||
| Aipysurus eydouxi | Spine-tailed sea snake | 4 | ||||
| Aipysurus laevis | Olive sea snake | 0.264 | 0.09 | 10.0-33.0 | ||
| Atractaspis dahomeyensis | Mole viper | 2.24 | 1.3-7.6 | |||
| Atractaspis engaddensis | Mole viper | 0.25 | ||||
| Atropoides nummifer | Jumping viper | 2.4 | ||||
| Atropoides picadoi | Central American pitviper species | 1.6 | ||||
| Austrelaps superbus | Lowland copperhead | 0.5 | 0.28 | |||
| Bitis arietans | Puff adder | 2 | 1.32 | 100.0-350.0 | ||
| Bitis caudalis | Horned adder | 1.2 | 85 | |||
| Bitis gabonica | Gaboon viper | 12.5 | 5.2 | 6.722 | 1.589 | 450.0-600.0 |
| Bitis nasicornis | Rhinoceros viper | 8.6 | 1.1 | 200 | ||
| Bothriechis schlegeli | Eyelash viper | 33.2 | 1.6 | 10.0-20.0 | ||
| Bothrops alternatus | Urutu | 15.8 | 1.96 | 60.0-100.0 | ||
| Bothrops asper | Terciopelo | 1.244 | 2.844 | 100.0.-310.0 | ||
| Bothrops atrox | Barba amarilla | 22 | 2.835 | 3.8 | 100.0-200.0 | |
| Bothrops colombiensis | South American pitviper species | 2.3 | ||||
| Bothrops jararaca | Jararaca | 7 | 1.1 | 40.0-70.0 | ||
| Bothrops jararacussu | Jararacussu | 13 | 0.46 | 200.0-321.0 | ||
| Bothrops neuwiedi | Jararaca pintada | 14.2 | 2.3 | |||
| Boulengeria annulata | Banded water cobra | 0.143 | ||||
| Boulengeria christyi | Congo water cobra | 0.12 | ||||
| Bungarus caeruleus | Indian krait | 0.365 | 0.169 | 0.089 | 8.0-20.0 | |
| Bungarus fasciata | Banded krait | 3.6 | 1.289 | 1.55 | 20.0-114.0 | |
| Bungarus multicinctus | Many banded krait | 0.108 | 0.113 | 0.08 | ||
| Calloselasma rhodostoma | Malayan pit viper | 23.4 | 5.2 | 4.9885 | 40.0-60.0 | |
| Causus rhombeatus | Night adder | 15 | 8.75 | 300.0 | ||
| Cerastes cerastes | Sahara horned viper | 15 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 20.0-70.0 | |
| Cerastes cornutus | Desert horned viper | 5.05 | ||||
| Cerastes vipera | Sahara sand viper | 0.64 | 0.25 | |||
| Crotalus adamanteus | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake | 14.6 | 1.65 | 2.295 | 200.0-850.0 | |
| Crotalus atrox | Western diamondback rattlesnake | 18.5 | 20 | 2.72 | 5.588 | 175.0-600.0 |
| Crotalus basiliscus | Mexican west-coast rattlesnake | 2.8 | ||||
| Crotalus catalinensis | rattlesnake species | 10.9 | 4.1 | |||
| Crotalus cerastes | Sidewinder | 4 | 18.0-50.0 | |||
| Crotalus durissus durissus | Neotropical rattlesnake | 1.244 | 0.667 | 20.0-100.0 | ||
| Crotalus durissus terrificus | Cascabel | 0.262 | 0.216 | |||
| Crotalus durissus totonacus | rattlesnake species | 2.5 | ||||
| Crotalus enyo enyo | Orange rattlesnake | 4.6 | ||||
| Crotalus exul | rattlesnake species | 9.92 | 9.2 | 2.17 | 3.9 | |
| Crotalus horridus horridus | Timber rattlesnake | 3.1 | 2.107 | 2.272 | 75.0-210.0 | |
| Crotalus intermedius | rattlesnake species | 1.58 | ||||
| Crotalus lepidus klauberi | Rock rattlesnake | 23.95 | 9 | 129.0 | ||
| Crotalus mitchelli mitchelli | Desert speckled rattlesnake | 0.3 | 0.18 | |||
| Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus | Southwestern speckled rattlesnake | 9.6 | 2.7 | |||
| Crotalus polystictus | Mexican blotched rattlesnake | 13.3 | 3.37 | |||
| Crotalus pricei pricei | Twin-spotted rattlesnake | 11.5 | 3.07 | 4.0-8.0 | ||
| Crotalus scutulatus salvini | Huamantlan rattlesnake | 0.24 | ||||
| Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus | Mojave green rattlesnake | 0.189 | 0.159 | 50.0-150 | ||
| Crotalus tigris | Tiger rattlesnake | 0.21 | 0.056 | 6.0-11.0 | ||
| Crotalus viridis caliginsis | rattlesnake species | 2.26 | ||||
| Crotalus viridis concolor | Midget faded rattlesnake | 0.0825 | 0.2 | |||
| Crotalus viridis helleri | Southern Pacific rattlesnake | 1.135 | 2.44 | |||
| Crotalus viridis lutosus | Great basin rattlesnake | 2.2 | ||||
| Crotalus viridis viridis | Prarie rattlesnake | 1.01 | 2 | 35.0-250.0 | ||
| Crotalus willardi willardi | Ridge-nosed rattlesnake | 1.61 | ||||
| Cryptophis nigrescens | Small eyed snake | 2.67 | ||||
| Daboia russelii formosensis | Russel's viper subspecies | 1.37 | 0.4 | 0.489 | ||
| Daboia russelli russelli | Russell's viper species | 0.75 | 0.133 | 0.4 | ||
| Daboia russelli siamensis | Russell' viper subspecies | 2.11 | ||||
| Deinagkistrodon acutus | Sharp-nosed pit viper | 9.2 | 0.38 | |||
| Demansia olivacea | Olive whip snake | 714.2 | ||||
| Dendroaspis angusticeps | Eastern green mamba | 3.05 | 1.3 | 0.117 | 60.0-95.0 | |
| Dendroaspis jamesoni | Jameson's mamba | 1 | 0.72 | 0.414 | ||
| Dendroaspis polylepis | Black mamba | 0.32 | 0.25 | 0.941 | 50.0-120.0 | |
| Dendroaspis viridis | Western green mamba | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.33 | 100 | |
| Dispholidus typus | Boomslang | 0.72 | 1.6-8.0 | |||
| Echis carinatus multisquamatus (Iran) | Saw-scaled viper | 3.26 | ||||
| Echis carinatus sochureki(Pakistan) | Saw-scaled viper | 2.98 | ||||
| Echis carinatus | Saw-scaled viper | 0.151 | 2.15 | 5.0-48.0 | ||
| Echis coloratus | Carpet viper | 0.575 | 0.263 | |||
| Echis ocellatus (Nigeria) | Saw-scaled viper | 2.71 | ||||
| Echis pyramidium (Egypt) | Saw-scaled viper | 0.65 | ||||
| Echis pyramidium (Kenya) | Saw-scaled viper | 0.94 | ||||
| Echis pyramidium (Saudi Arabian) | Saw-scaled viper | 1.67 | ||||
| Emydocephalus annulatus | Turtle-headed sea snake | 25 | ||||
| Enhydrina schistosa | Beaked sea snake | 0.1125 | 0.26 | 0.107 | 7.7-9.0 | |
| Eristicophis macmohoni | Asian sand viper | 7.5 | ||||
| Gloydius blomhoffi | Mamushi | 20 | ||||
| Gloydius halys | Pallas' viper | 9.75 | ||||
| Hemachatus haemachatus | Rinkhals | 2.65 | 1.5 | 80.0-120.0 | ||
| Hoplocephalus stephensi | Stephen's banded snake | 1.36 | ||||
| Hydrophis belcheri | sea snake species | 0.155 | ||||
| Hydrophis cyanocinctus | Annulated sea snake | 0.464 | 0.456 | 0.24 | 5.0-8.0 | |
| Hydrophis elegans | Elegant sea snake | 0.26 | 0.21 | 9.0-24.0 | ||
| Hydrophis fasciatus | Banded small headed sea snake | 0.175 | ||||
| Hydrophis klossi | sea snake species | 0.365 | ||||
| Hydrophis major | Olive-headed sea snake | 0.193 | ||||
| Hydrophis melanosoma | Black banded sea snake | 0.111 | 0.082 | 0.4 | ||
| Hydrophis nigrocinctus | Duadin's sea snake | 0.343 | ||||
| Hydrophis ornatus | Reef sea snake | 0.12 | 2.2 | |||
| Hydrophis spiralis | Yellow sea snake | 0.315 | ||||
| Hydrophis stricticollis | sea snake species | 0.164 | ||||
| Kerilia jerdoni | Jerdon's sea snake | 0.53 | ||||
| Lachesis muta | Bushmaster | 36.9 | 4.51 | 6.17 | 200.0-500.0 | |
| Lapemis hardwicki | Hardwicke's sea snake | 0.541 | 0.8 | 0.26 | ||
| Laticauda colubrina | Banded sea krait | 0.435 | 0.4 | |||
| Laticauda laticauda | Banded sea krait | 0.163 | ||||
| Laticauda semifasciata | Broad banded sea krait | 0.273 | 0.34 | 2.0-14.0 | ||
| Macrovipera lebetina | Levantine viper | 16 | 0.8 | |||
| Micrurus alleni | coral snake species | 0.74 | 0.705 | |||
| Micrurus annulatus hertwigi | coral snake species | 1.76 | 0.951 | |||
| Micrurus dumarillii | coral snake species | 1.02 | 0.96 | |||
| Micrurus frontalis frontalis | Southern coral snake | 0.592 | 20.0-30.0 | |||
| Micrurus fulvius | coral snake sp. | 1.3 | 0.3 | 3.0-5.0 | ||
| Micrurus micrurus anomalus | coral snake species | 0.118 | ||||
| Micrurus nigrocinctus | Black banded coral snake | 0.394 | 0.701 | 5.0-8.0 | ||
| Micrurus spixi obscurus | Amazonian coral snake subspecies | 1.16 | ||||
| Naja atra | Chinese cobra | 0.29 | 0.345 | |||
| Naja haje | Egyptian cobra | 1.15 | 0.96 | 0.185 | 175.0-300.0 | |
| Naja kaouthia | Monocled cobra | 0.373 | 0.225 | |||
| Naja melanoleuca | Forest cobra | 0.6 | 0.324 | 500 | ||
| Naja naja | Spectacled cobra | 0.45 | 0.35 | 0.315 | ||
| Naja nigricollis | Black necked spitting cobra | 0.44 | 1.15 | 0.4 | 200.0-350.0 | |
| Naja nivea | Cape cobra | 0.72 | 0.57 | 0.4 | ||
| Naja oxiana | Central Asian cobra | 0.96 | ||||
| Naja pallida | Red spitting cobra | 2 | ||||
| Notechis a. niger | Peninsula tiger snake | 0.131 | ||||
| Notechis a. occidentalis | Western tiger snake | 0.194 | ||||
| Notechis a. serventyi | Chapel island tiger snake | 0.338 | ||||
| Notechis scutulatus | Mainland tiger snake | 0.214 | 0.04 | 35.0-189.0 | ||
| Ophiophagus hannah | King cobra | 1.7 | 1.31 | 1.644 | 350.0-500.0 | |
| Oxyuranus microlepidotus | Inland taipan | 0.025 | 44.0-110.0 | |||
| Oxyuranus scutellatus | Coastal taipan | 0.106 | 0.013 | 0.009 | 120.0-400.0 | |
| Pelamis platurus | Yellow bellied sea snake | 0.067 | 0.22 | 1.0-4.0 | ||
| Porthidium nasuta | Hognosed viper | 4.6 | 12.0-25.0 | |||
| Praescutata viperina | Viperine sea snake | 4.5 | ||||
| Pseudechis australis | Mulga snake | 1.94 | 0.3 | |||
| Pseudechis colletti | Collett's snake | 2.38 | 0.84 | |||
| Pseudechis guttatus | Spotted black snake | 2.13 | ||||
| Pseudechis papuanus | Papuan black snake | 1.09 | ||||
| Pseudechis porphyriacus | Red-bellied black snake | 2 | 0.54 | 30.0-50.0 | ||
| Pseudocerastes fieldi | Field's horned viper | 0.275 | 0.02 | |||
| Pseudocerastes persicus | Persian horned viper | 15.26 | 1.0 | |||
| Pseudonaja affinis | Dugite | 0.66 | ||||
| Pseudonaja nuchalis | Gwardar/Western brown snake | 0.473 | ||||
| Pseudonaja textilis | Eastern brown snake | 0.0365 | 0.01 | |||
| Rhabdophis subminiatus | Red-necked keeled snake | 1.29 | ||||
| Sistrurus miliarius barbouri | Red pygmy rattlesnake | 24.3 | 12.59 | 6.822 | 12.0-35.0 | |
| Thelotornis kirtlandi | Vine or Twig snake | 1.01 | ||||
| Trimeresurus albolabris | White lipped tree viper | 12.75 | 0.37 | 8.0-15.0 | ||
| Trimeresurus elegans | Sakishima habu | 5.225 | ||||
| Trimeresurus flavoviridis | Okinawa habu | 3.689 | 5.07 | |||
| Trimeresurus gramineus | Indian green tree viper | 8.6 | ||||
| Trimeresurus macrosquamatus | Chinese habu | 5.225 | ||||
| Trimeresurus okinavensis | Himehabu | 3 | 15 | |||
| Trimeresurus stejnegeri | Chinese green tree viper | 5.225 | ||||
| Tropidolaemus wagleri | Wagler's viper | 6.19 | 0.7833 | 3.58 | 65.0-90.0 | |
| Vipera ammodytes | Long-nosed viper | 6.59 | 0.8 | 0.415 | ||
| Vipera aspis | Asp viper | 4.7 | 1 | 9.0-10.0 | ||
| Vipera berus | Adder | 6.45 | 0.55 | 10.0-18.0 | ||
| Vipera bornmuelleri | True viper species | 6.25 | 0.605 | 1.92 | ||
| Vipera latifi | True viper species | 4.61 | 0.348 | 2.07 | ||
| Vipera palaestinae | Palestine viper | 9.4 | 0.3 | 1.9 | ||
| Vipera xanthina | Near east viper | 6.7 | 8.0-18.0 | |||
| Walterinnesia aegyptia | Desert cobra | 0.4 | 0.48 | 0.133 |