How many Snakes are there in the world?

There is no real way of calculating the number of snakes in the world but there are more than 3,000 species of snakes. Unlike most animal families, there is at least one species of snake in every continent in the world except Antarctica.

Some countries are unlucky in having poisonous snakes. The anaconda, the python and the cobra are seriously venomous but these are not the only species. Snakes can be as small as 3 metres and as long as 30 metres. Certain varieties can be safely kept as pets but most are best avoided!

The closest answer here is between 2,780 and 2,790. However, the most correct answer is closer to 3,000 than either of those numbers. Only about 300 of these different species of snakes are poisonous. That means the likelihood of being around a venomous snake is around one in ten. It’s not all that big when you really think about it.

Fun fact: the deadliest snake in the world lives in Australia. It’s called the inland Taipan, and its venom can kill a man within forty-five minutes if it isn’t treated. Luckily, the people of Australia are used to things like this because their country/continent has many deadly animals. A very high percentage of the hospitals in the country have antivenom for the inland Taipan venom.