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Beautifully Eerie Portraits of Some of the World’s Deadliest Snakes [9 Pictures]

August 8, 2012 at 4:00pm | by AP

Selections from Mark Laita’s remarkable series “Serpentine”…

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Category: Animals, Awesome, Photography.

Comments

Dennis Prien says:

November 2, 2012 at 12:34 am

beauty in the world of reptals colorfull and deadly.

Amber Harris says:

September 23, 2012 at 2:19 am

Why do the most beautiful patterned snakes have to be the most poisonous?

Jefri Lynn Palermo says:

August 30, 2012 at 8:34 pm

I am afraid of snakes but these are spellbinding photos.

Nicole Nisly says:

August 30, 2012 at 10:34 pm

I should tell you the snake story of my house

Michael Ummel says:

August 9, 2012 at 3:19 pm

Photog says he did not even know he was bitten until he developed the pics…has one at the moment of the bite…and only survived as no venom was injected, also know as a “Dry bite.” Article further states Black Mamba bites (with venom, of course) are 100% fatal!

Michael Ummel says:

August 9, 2012 at 4:19 pm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180577/Photographer-Mark-Laita-bitten-deadly-black-mamba-snake.html

Jennifer Weston says:

August 9, 2012 at 4:19 pm

^ That is, 100% fatal if untreated. If you get prompt antivenom injections you may survive (though you’ll probably feel rotten for a couple days before the venom denatures.)

That guy was durned lucky it was a dry bite!

Michael Ummel says:

August 9, 2012 at 4:19 pm

^Did not know that, but was surprised to see the “100% fatal” comment in the article. Saw the pic…gnarly stuff Durned lucky indeed!

Michael Ummel says:

August 9, 2012 at 3:19 pm

As much as I can offer, in order of appearance (top to bottom): Blue Malaysian Coral Snake, Green Vine Snake, unknown to me, Beautiful Pit Viper, Mangshen Viper, King Cobra, unknown to me, Black Pakistan Cobra, Emerald Tree Boa (& babies!)…BTW, I did a little research on the project, subjects were not in a box, they were on the floor, simply on a black background. Photographer was bitten by a Black Mamba during the shoot-for real!

Jennifer Weston says:

August 8, 2012 at 4:19 pm

They’re all very beautiful, but they aren’t all deadly. That lowest one is an emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus), which isn’t even venomous.

Denise Halbe says:

August 8, 2012 at 7:19 pm

I was wondering about that.

Barry Lewis says:

August 9, 2012 at 7:36 am

I agree, I’m no expert, but I think the red and white alternating colored one is a Milk Snake. Not Poisonous. Still these were some really amazing photos.

Jennifer Weston says:

August 9, 2012 at 7:59 am

^ I think you’re right about the ‘candy cane’ snake. You’re definitely right about the photos’ amazingness. I wonder how many shots the photographer had to take to get these?

Barry Lewis says:

August 9, 2012 at 7:59 am

I have no idea, but perfection takes great effort and these are close to perfect for what the photographer was trying to achieve.

Jennifer Weston says:

August 9, 2012 at 12:04 pm

Update: After some searching I’ve concluded the red-and-white specimen is an ‘Albino Arizona Kingsnake’ (not a true albino, but that’s what it’s called.) Not only is it unvenomous, it’s a popular pet.

http://www.scserp.com/SCSPhotoGalleryKingsnakesandMilkSnakesFullSizeImages/AlbinoQueretaroKingsnake002.JPG

Denise Halbe says:

August 9, 2012 at 1:04 pm

I wish there were descriptions/IDs. I think the first one is a Northern Red-bellied Snake (non-venomous) and the pippy-longstocking is a Ruthven’s Kingsnake (also non-venomous).

Jennifer Weston says:

August 9, 2012 at 1:04 pm

The two hooded ones, on the other hand, are definitely venomous!

Those three vividly-patterned ones with the pointed heads may be vipers- if so, they’re dangerous too.

I, also, would prefer some IDs.

Denise Halbe says:

August 8, 2012 at 4:19 pm

Spectacularly beautiful. (maybe not for herpetophobes).

Michael Ummel says:

August 8, 2012 at 7:19 pm

trippy

Denise Halbe says:

August 8, 2012 at 7:19 pm

hard to figure how those were taken

Michael Ummel says:

August 8, 2012 at 7:34 pm

I found myself wondering the same thing…I thought about the shoot as if I were the photographer…the set, the lighting, filters, angles…and gave up when I got to snake wrangling

Denise Halbe says:

August 8, 2012 at 8:04 pm

I mean really! pretty mind boggling.

Jennifer Weston says:

August 9, 2012 at 7:59 am

Perhaps the snakes are in a deep enclosure and the shots were taken using a zoom lens.

I, for one, wouldn’t get within striking distance of a cobra for any photo.

Denise Halbe says:

August 9, 2012 at 3:04 pm

I’m with you, a couple look like viperids. we’re talking a reeeeally long stick