Longest venomous snake in the world — up to 5.5 m. Olive-green to brown with chevron markings. Only snake that builds a nest for its eggs.

One bite delivers enough neurotoxin to kill 20 humans or an Asian elephant. Causes respiratory paralysis within 30 minutes. Antivenom essential. Mortality without treatment: ~60%.

Forests, mangroves, agricultural areas of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Diurnal. Hunts other snakes (genus name means 'snake-eater'). Rears up to 1/3 of body length when threatened and makes a low growl-like hiss.

Up to 1.5 m. Glossy black with 20-50 white bands. Causes most snakebite deaths in southern China, Taiwan, northern Vietnam, Myanmar.

Most toxic land snake venom in Asia after taipan. Bite is often painless — symptoms begin hours later with paralysis. Without antivenom mortality 50%. Steve Irwin's contemporary Joe Slowinski died from a captive bite in 2001.

Southern China (south of Yangtze), Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar. Open countryside, near water, occasionally enters houses.

Strictly nocturnal. Shy by day. Often crawls into bedding. Many bites occur during sleep — victims wake paralyzed.

Largest living reptile — males up to 7 m and 1,000 kg. Olive-grey. Strongest bite force ever measured (3,700 psi). The world's most prolific man-eater.

Kills ~1,000 people per year worldwide — more than sharks, lions, and tigers combined. Active hunter of humans. About 1-2 deaths/year in Australia, dozens in Indonesia/PNG/Solomon Islands.

Tropical coasts and rivers from India through SE Asia, northern Australia, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji (rarely).

Ambush hunter — explodes from water to grab prey at water's edge. Death roll drowns large prey. Travels 1,000+ km along coasts via ocean currents.

Up to 5 tons. Smaller than African elephant; ears like India's shape. Despite being icons of Buddhist/Hindu reverence, kill more humans per year than tigers and lions combined.

About 500 deaths/year in India alone. 'Bull elephants in musth' (hormonal frenzy) are exceptionally dangerous. Crop-raiding leads to confrontations. Tramples or gores with tusks.

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo).

Matriarchal herds of cows + calves; bulls solitary. Highly intelligent — remember faces, hold grudges. Charge at 40 km/h.

5-7 mm mosquito. The primary vector of malaria in urban South Asia. As a species group, mosquitoes have killed more humans than any other animal in history.

Malaria kills 600,000+ people/year globally — most in tropical Asia and Africa. Dengue, lymphatic filariasis, Japanese encephalitis also transmitted. India: 200,000+ malaria cases/year.

Urban and peri-urban areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, parts of Middle East, Horn of Africa.

Bites at dusk and dawn. Breeds in wells, water storage containers, construction sites. Now spreading to African cities.

Up to 1 m. Reddish-brown with triangular markings. The most common venomous snake in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Causes most snakebites in Southeast Asia. Hemotoxin causes severe tissue necrosis — often requires amputation. Mortality 2% with antivenom. Used in research to develop anti-stroke drug 'Ancrod'.

Plantations, forests, rice paddies of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java).

Mostly nocturnal. Lies motionless on leaf litter — perfect camouflage. Often bitten by rubber plantation workers.