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.

Distinctive black mosquito with white lyre-shaped markings on thorax. Primary vector of dengue, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya in tropical Asia.

Dengue: 4 billion at risk globally, 40,000 deaths/year, mostly in Asia. 2024 outbreak in Bangladesh killed 1,705. Bangkok, Manila, Karachi seasonal epidemics.

Urban areas of all tropical and subtropical Asia. Domestic breeder — flowerpots, water tanks, gutters, AC drips.

Daytime biter (unlike most mosquitoes). Bites multiple people per blood meal — spreads disease efficiently.

Up to 60 cm. Mottled brown — perfect camouflage as a rock or piece of coral. 13 dorsal spines deliver deadly venom on contact. Asian counterpart of the Australian reef stonefish.

Excruciating pain often described as the worst known. Without antivenom, large stings can be fatal in hours from cardiovascular collapse. Several deaths/year across Asia.

Estuaries, mangroves, shallow tidal pools of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Philippines.

Lies motionless half-buried in sand/mud. Hunters often step on them while wading or fishing barefoot.

Beautiful patterned shell 10-15 cm long. The most venomous of all cone snails. Hunts fish with a venomous harpoon-like tooth fired from a proboscis.

Conotoxin causes total paralysis with no antidote — mortality ~30%. Victims describe being conscious but unable to move or breathe. Patients survived by being put on ventilators until toxin cleared.

Coral reefs and sandy areas of tropical Indo-Pacific — Australia, PNG, Indonesia, Philippines, all Pacific islands.

Slow-moving but hunts fish (!) by harpooning them with a tooth shot at high speed. Tourists picking up the pretty shell get stung.

Tiny — only 12-20 cm tip-to-tip. Yellow-brown with bright blue rings that pulse vividly when threatened. Looks adorable. Is lethal.

Tetrodotoxin (same as pufferfish) — 1,000x more potent than cyanide. One bite paralyzes adults; victim conscious but can't breathe. No antivenom. Treatment: artificial respiration for 24+ hours until toxin clears.

Tide pools and coral reefs of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon Islands.

Hides in shells, bottles, debris. Bite is painless — victim may not realize until paralysis begins minutes later. Picked up by tourists curious about color.

Black above, bright yellow below, paddle-shaped tail. Up to 1 m. The most widespread snake in the world — Indo-Pacific from Africa to Americas.

Highly potent neurotoxin — 10x more toxic than cobra. But docile and rarely bites swimmers. Most bites: fishermen entangled in nets.

Open ocean throughout Indo-Pacific — Australia, all Oceania islands, Indonesia, Philippines, India, even Pacific coast of Mexico/Central America.

Fully aquatic — cannot move well on land. Drinks fresh water from surface rain layer. Floats among debris hunting small fish.

Up to 5 m with vertical tiger-like stripes (fade with age). Eats almost anything — license plates, tires, and human remains have been found in their stomachs.

Second only to great white in unprovoked human attacks. Common in Caribbean and Hawaiian waters. Slow but powerful — strikes once and waits.

Tropical and subtropical waters — Florida, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii.

Solitary, mostly nocturnal. Migrates long distances. Females birth up to 80 live pups.