The most venomous snake in Vietnam, the king cobra is still far behind

Topping the list of the most venomous snakes in Vietnam is the Peron sea snake, also known as the black venomous sea snake, the scientific name is Hydrophis peronii. It is also one of the largest and deadliest sea snakes on the planet.

Peron sea snakes have a flat body, large head with sharp teeth and dangerous venom. Their skin is black with white or light yellow stripes that make it easy for this snake to 'stealth' in the aquatic environment to avoid predators and prey.

This most venomous snake in Vietnam is from 1.5 to 2 meters long. Their venom contains a compound called xenoxin, a poison that affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems of humans and can be fatal if not treated promptly. A single bite from a Peron sea snake can kill a human in a matter of hours.

According to World's Most Venomous Snakes, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2014, the Peron sea snake is ranked 5th in the list of the most venomous snakes in the world, just behind the domestic Taipan snake, Dubois sea snake, Eastern brown snake and yellow-bellied sea snake.

Although usually living in the sea, Peron sea snakes have no gills, so they have to constantly come to the surface to breathe.

Peron sea snakes are distributed mainly in the sea areas with many coral reefs of Vietnam, including the Gulf of Tonkin, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Ca Mau. Their favorite food is small fish.

Peron sea snakes play an important role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. Peron sea snake venom has an important role in the development of effective anticoagulant drugs.

Currently, coral reef degradation, marine pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices put the Peron sea snake's habitat under threat.