Which snake has the fastest speed on the planet?

8. Black Mamba - Africa's fastest moving snake

A single bite from a Black Mamba can inject enough venom to kill 10 adult humans.

Famous for its long, jet-black body and incredible speed, the Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) deserves to be called the "speed king" of the African continent. This venomous snake is not only a terror to small animals but also makes humans wary because of its lightning-fast attack ability and extremely strong venom.

The most outstanding feature of the Black Mamba is its extraordinary speed. They can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h on the ground, equivalent to the speed of a moving bicycle. This ability helps the Black Mamba easily pursue and take down prey, while avoiding dangerous predators.

The Black Mamba's venom is a powerful weapon, containing neurotoxins that can cause muscle paralysis and death within 20 minutes if not treated promptly. A single bite from a Black Mamba can inject enough venom to kill 10 adult humans.

7. Common Death Adder - Australia's fastest-attacking snake

This is one of the most dangerous and agile snakes in the world.

Lurking in the vast forests and grasslands of Australia, the Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) is one of the world's most dangerous and agile snakes.

Despite its diminutive size, only 60cm to 1 meter long, the Death Adder possesses extremely potent neurotoxic venom, which can inject venom and bring its jaws into an active attack position in just a tenth of a second. And more than half of their venomous attacks on humans will result in death if left untreated.

6. Southern Black Racer - The fastest non-venomous snake in the world

This snake can move at speeds of up to 20 km/hour.

The Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) is the fastest nonvenomous snake in the world, found throughout the southeastern United States. Although nonvenomous, this snake attracts the attention of nature observers for its speed and agility.

Measuring an average of 3 to 5 feet (about 0.9 to 1.5 meters) in length, the Southern Black Racer can move quickly through grass, grasslands, and forests. They usually hunt at night, eating animals such as mice, rabbits, and even other snakes.

The Southern Black Racer is worthy of the title of "sprinter" of the snake world. With the ability to move up to 20 km/h, it can easily overtake prey or escape dangerous predators. This speed is achieved thanks to the special body structure of the Black Racer, with strong muscles and a flexible spine that helps it move gracefully on any terrain.

5. Yellow-bellied sea snake - The fastest snake underwater

The skin of the yellow-bellied sea snake contains a powerful venom that can be fatal.

The yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis donaldi) is one of the most famous and unique sea snakes. Its scientific name is Pelamis, and they are widely distributed in the Pacific Ocean, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The habitat of the yellow-bellied sea snake is in warm waters, from 16 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The yellow-bellied sea snake has a slender body, up to 3 meters long, which helps it move easily through the water. Its flattened tail acts as a paddle, creating a powerful thrust that helps the snake move at incredible speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h). This swimming ability helps the yellow-bellied sea snake cover long distances with ease, moving from ocean to ocean and hunting effectively.

Another special feature of the yellow-bellied sea snake is that its skin contains a powerful venom that can be fatal. Although not as famous as other sea snakes, the yellow-bellied sea snake deserves attention and protection in the wild.

4. King Cobra - The fastest venomous snake to kill people

The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world.

Known for its enormous size and extremely potent venom, the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) deserves the title of "king of venom" in the reptile world. This snake not only possesses a huge amount of venom but also injects it extremely quickly, making it one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet.

The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, with a single bite that can inject up to 7ml of venom, enough to kill an African elephant in just a few hours and a human in just 30 minutes. Its venom contains extremely powerful neurotoxins that attack the nervous system and muscles of its prey, leading to paralysis, respiratory failure and rapid death.

Despite its large size, the king cobra moves surprisingly quickly. It can move at speeds of up to 10 mph, fast enough to chase and catch its prey. Its agility and powerful venom make the king cobra a successful predator in its habitat.

3. Cottonmouth - The fastest-strike snake in America (Strike speed: 2.97 meters per second)

The Cottonmouth Snake is a dangerous predator with lightning fast attacks.

Lurking in the swamps and ponds of the southern United States, the Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), also known as the saltwater snake , is a dangerous predator with lightning-fast attack speed. Its potent venom and perfect camouflage make it a terror to many animals and humans.

Cottonmouths are known for their ability to strike at incredible speed. When they feel threatened, they can strike in just 0.3 seconds, which is much faster than the blink of an eye. Thanks to this incredible speed, Cottonmouths can easily take down their prey before they can react.

Cottonmouth venom, while not fatal to humans, can cause serious damage, including swelling, pain, gangrene, and even loss of limbs. Its venom contains substances that destroy cells and affect the blood clotting system, making it possible for a bite to lead to dangerous complications if not treated promptly.

2. Rat Snake - Rat Snake

Rat snakes can move at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h) on the ground.

The rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta), also known as the black rat or black garter snake, is a common snake in North America. This snake is known not only for its large size and docile temperament, but also for its incredible speed, making it an effective predator in its habitat.

Rat snakes can move at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h) on the ground. This speed allows them to easily chase and catch prey, including mice, squirrels, lizards, and small birds. Rat snakes use their slender, flexible bodies and ability to twist and turn to move quickly through dense areas and climb trees skillfully.

1. Sidewinder - The fastest moving snake in the world

The secret to Sidewinder's fast movement lies in the special scale structure on its body.

The Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes), also known as the desert rattlesnake , is known for its unique ability to move across sand, making it one of the fastest snakes in the world. The Sidewinder's sophisticated hunting skills and powerful venom make it a formidable predator in the harsh desert environment.

The secret to Sidewinder's speed lies in the unique structure of its scales. The scales on its belly are asymmetrical, allowing it to "slide" across the sand, reducing friction and increasing speed. As it moves, Sidewinder tilts its body to one side, forming an "S" shape and pushing the sand back with its belly scales. Thanks to this unique movement technique, Sidewinder can reach speeds of up to 18 mph (29 km/h) across the sand, much faster than its prey and predators.

While Sidewinder venom is not fatal to humans, it can cause serious damage, including swelling, pain, necrosis, and even loss of limbs. Its venom contains substances that destroy cells and affect the blood clotting system, making it possible for a bite to lead to dangerous complications if not treated promptly.