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Poisonous snakes are among the most feared creatures in the animal world. The venom of poisonous snakes is so deadly that it can induce paralysis and death in no more than thirty minutes, not to mention the risk of getting blind if any of the toxins are sprayed into the eyes. In spite of the risk of getting bitten in close encounters, poisonous snakes prove in fact harmless as they rely on their venom to survive: no snake will bite unless in defense or to hunt its meal . The rest of the negative aura surrounding snakes results from a faulty perception powered by ancient myths.

The venom structure difficulty is amazing: the paralysis and eventual death of the prey are caused by a smart combination of proteins and toxins. The toxin weakens the heart, the lungs and the muscles first, and depending on this way of action scientists have identified poisonous snakes into class that destroy blood vessels and cause unstoppable hemorrhage, venomous species that have a paralyzing effect on the heart and, last but not least, others that only cause excruciating muscle pain. Corals and cobras would thus occupy the first positions in a top of the most poisonous snakes.

The complicated structure of the snake venom still fascinates scientists, and lots of tests are still conducted on it. The only cure for poisonous snakes bites consists of the immediate administration of antivenins. There are however some factors that increase or decrease the victim's chances of staying alive: thus, an identification of the snake is essential as well as the proper location of the bite. If too much time lapses between the moment of the bite and the administration of the antivenin, the victim will suffer extensive health damage or even die. Furthermore, there have been cases of patients who developed instant allergies to poisonous snake bites or to antidotes and died.

Rattlesnakes cause most of the bites in the United States, yet lethal outcomes of such incidents have become a rarity in our times since medical help is not a problem anymore. Other relatives of the rattlesnake include the water moccasin, the cottonmouth or the copperhead; they are highly poisonous snakes which you should avoid by all means possible. Stressful incidents involving snake attacks are often behind snake phobia or this excessive fear can have roots in sociological ancestral beliefs that are present even with people who have never come across a snake in their life.

The snake is also a mythical representation not just an animal people feel afraid of. The representations of snakes in our arts and cultures go back to the ancient mythical cults. On the one hand, serpents are part of ecosystems, with a well-determined role in the existence of certain species, and secondly they remain figurative spokesmen of profound meanings. Their hunting mice and rats keeps pest under control and prevents rodents from over-breeding. Yet, in the very old traditions, types of snake worshiping did exist, with the serpent symbolizing deities, or the eternal cycle of life and death or wisdom.

Many types of snake-related myths have been identified everywhere in the world: for the old Greeks the snake was the symbol of fertility; Mesopotamians and Semites attributed immortal features to this creature because it moulted and it rejuvenated its appearance periodically; Indians, Siamese and Burmese believe the snake to be a demon figure that also had its good parts.