Saw-scaled viperEchis carinatus Description: Color is light buff with shades of brown, dull red, or gray. Its sides have a white or light-colored pattern. Its head usually has two dark stripes that start behind the eye and extend to the rear. Characteristics: A small but extremely dangerous viper. It gets the name saw-scaled from rubbing…
Tag: poisonous
Sand Viper snake – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
Sand viperCerastes vipera Description: Usually uniformly very pallid, with three rows of darker brown spots. Characteristics: A very small desert dweller that can bury itself in the sand during the day’s heat. It is nocturnal, coming out at night to feed on lizards and small desert rodents. It has a short temper and will strike…
Russell’s Viper snake – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
Russell’s viperVipera russellii Description: Light brown body with three rows of dark brown or black splotches bordered with white or yellow extending its entire length. Characteristics: This dangerous species is abundant over its entire range. It is responsible for more human fatalities than any other venomous snake. It is irritable. When threatened, it coils tightly,…
Rhinoceros Viper or River Jack Snake – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
Rhinoceros viper or river jackBitis nasicornis Description: Brightly colored with purplish to reddish-brown markings and black and light olive markings along the back. On its head it has a triangular marking that starts at the tip of the nose. It has a pair of long horns (scales) on the tip of its nose. Characteristics: Its…
Puff adder snake – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
Puff adderBitis arietans Description: Yellowish, light brown, or orange with chevron-shaped dark brown or black bars. Characteristics: The puff adder is the second largest of the dangerous vipers. It is one of the most common snakes in Africa. It is largely nocturnal, hunting at night and seeking shelter during the day’s heat. It is not…
Dangerous animals – complete guide to deadly creatures in the wilderness
Poisonous Plants – an overview of plant poisoning and how to avoid being poisoned
Palestinian viper – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
Palestinian viperVipera palaestinae Description: Olive to rusty brown with a dark V-shaped mark on the head and a brown, zigzag band along the back. Characteristics: The Palestinian viper is closely related to the Russell’s viper of Asia. Like its cousin, it is extremely dangerous. It is active and aggressive at night but fairly placid during…
Mole viper or burrowing viper – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
Mole viper or burrowing viperAtracaspis microlepidota Description: Uniformly black or dark brown with a small, narrow head. Characteristics: A viper that does not look like one. It is small in size, and its small head does not indicate the presence of venom glands. It has a rather inoffensive disposition; however, it will quickly turn and…
McMahon’s viper – how to identify, avoid their habitat, and treatment for their bite.
McMahon’s viperEristicophis macmahonii Description: Sandy buff color dominates the body, with darker brown spots on the side of the body. The nose shield is broad, aiding in burrowing. Characteristics: Very little is known about this species. It apparently is rare or seldom seen. This viper is very irritable; it hisses, coils, and strikes at any…









