Snakebite envenomation is a serious public health problem in underdeveloped tropical countries due to its high morbidity and mortality rates and the large number of individuals with permanent sequelae. Snakebite envenomation is more common in remote areas and vulnerable populations, placing these populations at risk of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) due to limited access to antivenom treatment and early diagnosis and management of this systemic complication. AKI related to snakebite envenomation is mainly caused by bites from the Viperidae family, whose main representatives in Brazil are the genera Bothrops, the jararacas, and Crotalus, the rattlesnakes. It is a frequent and potentially fatal clinical complication. In the case of Bothrops accidents, coagulation abnormalities are usually present and contribute to the development of AKI. In crotalic envenomations, rhabdomyolysis is the most common cause, which can be complicated by AKI. Other mechanisms proposed for this type of envenomation include inflammatory reactions, with formation of immune complexes, release of vasoactive mediators, generation of free radicals and modulation of the expression of adhesion molecules, hypovolemia, and direct effects of the venom. Risk factors include advanced age and comorbidities such as arterial hypertension and diabetes. There are cases of chronic kidney disease, the frequency of which has never been properly investigated. The frequency of AKI in snake envenomations varies greatly between different studies due to the lack of standardization of diagnostic criteria and study designs. Greater efforts are suggested to conduct studies on the pathophysiological mechanisms and search for biomarkers to support the early and accurate diagnosis, management, and prognosis of AKI resulting from snake envenomations. Accessible and viable diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions should be urgently implemented in remote areas to reduce morbidity and mortality related to AKI in snake envenomations.