This snake stretches its mouth extra wide to swallow a chicken egg. Next, special vertebrae crack the shell, and the contents drain out into the snake's body. Muscles and vertebrae then squeeze the shell into a compact clump. Finally the snake spits out the eggshell and returns to its normal size. Only about one third of all the world's snakes are venomous.
Snakes have venom in order to kill their prey, first and foremost.
They may also use it to protect themselves by biting their predators. On every continent except Australia, the number of nonvenomous snakes species is far greater than the number of venomous species. The Taipan is not only toxic, but it is also quick to strike. Perhaps the most deadly snake on Earth is the beaked sea snake off the coast of Australia. Thankfully, it seldom strikes at humans.