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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Up to 20 cm. Reddish-brown body, yellow legs. Most widespread of the giant centipedes — found across South Asia, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa and Pacific.

Bite causes intense pain (worse than wasp), swelling, fever, occasionally cardiac issues. One documented death of a child in the Philippines. Bites common in agricultural workers.

Tropical and subtropical regions — Hawaii, all SE Asia, India, southern China, Indonesia, Philippines, parts of Africa.

Nocturnal predator. Hunts insects, mice, frogs, even bats. Hides in damp dark places. Often found in houses.