8 Types of Venomous Snakes in Myanmar (DANGEROUS)

ByScott

Do you want to learn about the venomous snakes found in Myanmar?

Types of venomous snakes in Myanmar

If so, you have come to the right place. In the article below, I have listed the MOST COMMON venomous snakes you can expect to see. If I missed any, please leave a COMMENT at the bottom of the page. 🙂

You’ll see that the venomous snakes in Myanmar are very different from each other. They have different sizes, habitats, and even different types of venom. In addition, certain snakes are common to find living around people. For each species, you will find out how to identify that snake correctly, along with pictures, interesting facts, and RANGE MAPS!

8 Venomous Snakes that Live in Myanmar:

*If you encounter any of these species, PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB! Venomous snakes are dangerous animals and should be left alone. The more you agitate them, the more likely you could get bitten. DO NOT RELY ON THIS ARTICLE to correctly identify a snake that has recently bitten you, as colors and patterns can vary widely. If you have recently been bitten, GO DIRECTLY to the nearest hospital to get help and to determine if the snake is venomous.*

#1. King Cobra

  • Ophiophagus hannah

Common Myanmar venomous snakes

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults are 3-3.6 m (10-12 ft) long, but the largest specimens can grow up to 5.4 m (18 ft).
  • Their coloring is olive green with black and white bands on the body.
  • They have a prominent hood that opens in a defensive stance and a rounded nose.

The King Cobra is the longest venomous snake in Myanmar.

Despite its size, this species is not considered particularly aggressive. It usually avoids humans and slinks off when disturbed. However, it is known to defend incubating eggs aggressively and strikes intruders rapidly. A single attack can deliver multiple bites.

Interestingly, the venom of hatchlings is as potent as the adults’. The babies are brightly marked, but these colors often fade as they mature. In addition, they are often nervous and alert, which makes them highly aggressive if disturbed.

Whether you encounter a juvenile or an adult, giving this dangerous snake a lot of space is recommended. Its bite results in excruciating pain, blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, and even paralysis. If the bite victim doesn’t receive medical help, they can die from cardiovascular and respiratory failure within 30 minutes of the bite. Stay back!

#2. Common Seasnake

  • Enhydrina schistosa

Also known as Beaked Sea Snake, Hook-nosed Sea Snake, Valakadeyan Sea Snake.

Common venomous snakes found in Myanmar

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults are 91-152 cm (36-60 in) long on average.
  • Their pointy snouts hook downwards over the lips and have bigger scales than the rest of the body.
  • Coloration is usually gray on top, with faint dark bars across the body. These snakes are whitish or yellowish on the sides and bottom.

The venomous Common Sea Snake loves to hang out in the tropical waters of Myanmar.

This agile swimmer has some impressive skills. It can dive down to a jaw-dropping 100 meters (328 feet) and stay underwater for up to five hours! Like an oar, it uses its tail to navigate the water.

But watch out; the Common Sea Snake’s venom is twice as potent as many land-dwelling snakes. A single bite is enough to take down 50 humans; That’s some serious firepower! So, if you ever encounter one, remember to give it the respect it deserves and keep your distance.

Common Sea Snakes have quite the appetite when it’s time to dine. Their favorite meals include fish, shrimp, and catfish. Sadly, these captivating creatures face threats such as pollution, habitat loss, and getting tangled in fishing nets. They’re even hunted for their meat, skin, organs, and venom (which is used to create antivenoms).

#3. Monocellate Cobra

  • Naja kaouthia

Also known as Indian Spitting Cobra, Monocled Cobra.

Venomous Snakes of Myanmar

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults measure around 135-150 cm (53-59 in) but can reach up to a whopping 229 cm (90 in).
  • Young ones have more consistent colors, but adults can have yellow, brown, gray, or black-colored backs with or without cross bands.
  • It displays an O-shaped pattern on the back of its flared hood.

The Monocellate Cobra is a dangerous snake in Myanmar you might encounter in rainforests and agricultural lands, living close to human-populated areas. Be careful! When it feels threatened, it raises its head and flares its hood, revealing the eye-catching monocle marking on the back to warn potential foes.

Monocellate Cobra Range Map

Regarding diet, mammals, birds, frogs, and fellow snakes are on the menu for the Monocellate Cobra. With specialized fangs, it delivers neurotoxic venom that can immobilize both its prey and unlucky humans who get bitten.

Thankfully, the Monocellate Cobra is generally docile and prefers to slither away when confronted. However, it can turn aggressive when cornered, and its bite can cause severe pain, convulsions, respiratory failure, and death if left untreated. Steer clear!

#4. Thai Spitting Cobra

  • Naja siamensis

Also known as Black and White Spitting Cobra, Indochinese Spitting Cobra, and Siamese Spitting Cobra.

Common Myanmar venomous snakes

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults measure around 90-120 cm (35-47 in) in length. They can occasionally reach up to 160 cm (63 in), but it’s rare.
  • This species is slim, different from other cobras in the Naja family.
  • Body colors can be gray, brown, or black, with white spots or stripes. Some have so many white markings that their bodies almost look white.
  • The mark on their hood can vary: sometimes irregularly shaped, sometimes resembling spectacles, or even missing altogether.

Look for Thai Spitting Cobras in lowlands, hills, plains, and woodlands in Myanmar.

Sometimes, they wander into urban settlements while hunting mice, so stay alert! These snakes also feed on toads and other snakes.

To protect itself from potential attackers, the Thai Spitting Cobra can spit venom from 1 meter (3.3 ft) away, a shorter range than most cobras. Regardless, don’t take that lightly! This cobra accurately aims for the eyes, causing intense pain and temporary blindness.

Thai Spitting Cobra Range Map

By day, Thai Spitting Cobras sluggishly rest in burrows but turn to aggressive hunters at night. If you come across one, back away slowly and leave the area! This species’ venom has neurotoxins and cytotoxins, causing pain, necrosis, paralysis, and even death in unlucky victims. Seek immediate medical help if you get bitten.

#5. Many-banded Krait

  • Bungarus multicinctus

Also known as the Chinese Krait or the Taiwanese Krait.

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults are 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft) long. The record length is 1.85 m (6.1 ft).
  • Its body is slim and slightly compressed on the sides, with the spine visible on top.
  • Their coloring is dark bluish-black with white cross bands along the back.

Look for the Many-banded Krait in shrublands, agricultural fields, woodlands, suburban areas, and villages. It often makes its home inside abandoned buildings. This species prefers to stay close to water, so pay close attention to rice paddies, ditches, and riverbanks.

It’s best to keep your distance from this dangerous snake in Myanmar.

Many-banded Kraits have strong jaws and can twist sharply, landing a bite even when held behind the head. It can take up to an hour to show symptoms of a bite, by which time there can be lethal consequences. So if you see one in the wild, it should be left alone.

#6. Banded Krait

  • Bungarus fasciatus

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults are about 0.8 m (2.6 ft) long, but the largest recorded was 2.7 m (9 ft).
  • Its body is covered in horizontal yellow and black bands. The underparts of the head are yellow.
  • The head is black, with a broad shape, but not distinct from the body. Look for its distinctive keeled spine, which gives its body a triangular shape.

The Banded Krait’s venom contains neurotoxins, and though bites are rare, it’s best to avoid this venomous snake in Myanmar.

Banded Kraits can be seen in diverse habitats, ranging from forests to agricultural lands and open countryside plains. They often live near human settlements, especially villages, because of the large supply of rodents and water.

Due to their love of water, they can most commonly be seen during rainy seasons. They are also nocturnal and usually hunt at night, mainly feeding on other snakes but are also known to eat fish, skinks, frogs, and snake eggs.

If harassed, they will hide their heads under their coils and do not generally attempt to bite. But, since they are more active at night, it can be easy to stumble upon one and wind up in danger.

#7. Golden Tree Snake

  • Chrysopelea ornata

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults are 115-130 cm (45-51 in) long.
  • Their coloring is green, with black cross-hatching and yellow, red, or gold accents.
  • They have slender bodies and flat heads with defined necks.

Golden Tree Snakes hunt for bats, lizards, and small rodents during the day. This species is an arboreal snake that lives mostly on tree branches. It has great gliding ability and is an excellent climber, easily moving from tree to tree.

It is mildly venomous and uses its venom to subdue its fast-moving prey. The snake stalks after the prey once it’s delivered a bite and seizes it by the neck, which is crushed in its strong jaws. Because their venom is mild, a bite from this species can be irritating and painful to humans but is not life-threatening.

Golden Tree Snakes have become increasingly available in the exotic pet trade in recent years. Unfortunately, many imported specimens have heavy parasite loads, and the stress of captivity often leads to untimely death. It’s much better to observe this species in the wild since it does poorly in captivity.

#8. Oriental Whipsnake

  • Ahaetulla prasina

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Adults grow up to 1.8 m (6 ft) long.
  • This species has a slender body with a long, pointed snout.
  • Their coloring varies from light brown to dull yellow-green and fluorescent green. Some individuals have a checkered pattern of light and dark green scales.

Oriental Whipsnakes are mildly venomous, but the toxins are not strong enough to hurt humans in Myanmar. If you see one, observe from a respectful distance, but you don’t need to rush away.

The Oriental Whipsnake is one of the most colorful snakes in Myanmar! Its impressive range of colors makes it difficult to recognize because individuals look so different from one another. However, the slender body and incredibly large, spade-shaped head should help with your identification.

This species is arboreal and usually lives in forest edge habitats such as parklands, rural agricultural areas, and wooded residential areas. It’s also a diurnal snake, so the best place to find one is sunbathing or hunting during the day. They eat small nesting birds, lizards, and tree frogs.

Do you want to learn about other animals in Myanmar?

If so, check out these guides!

Which of these snakes have you seen before in Myanmar?

Leave a COMMENT below!

Scott is the creator of Bird Watching HQ. His goal is to inspire you to care more about the birds and wildlife in YOUR backyard. Over the past 5 years, he has been focused on improving the habitat in his own yard by doing things like adding native plants, not using pesticides, etc. He is happy to report that over 50 species of birds have now been seen on his 1.5-acre property (that's in a suburban neighborhood). Learn more about Scott on his About page. And make sure to check out his LIVE bird cameras.

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