Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia
Description of the most important representatives:
| General behaviour |
Habitats |
Appearance |
Defensive behaviour |
Factors relevant to envenoming |
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nocturnal
ground-dwelling |
forests, open areas, agricultural zones, populated areas |
slender snakes, smallest species between 70 and 90 cm long, largest up to 2 m; several species with clear cross bands along the body |
very shy during the day; when threatened the head is hidden under the coils of the body |
bites only occur at night, and many victims are bitten while sleeping; the bite often goes unnoticed and the victim awakes with neurotoxic symptoms |
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nocturnal and diurnal
ground-dwelling |
forests, open areas, agricultural zones; often in densely populated areas |
slender to sturdy body; wide head, but not clearly distinct from the body; length 1–2 m |
raising the first third of the body, neck region is spread out into a flat hood; some species with a marking on the back of the flattened hood (see picture) |
accidents occur while victims are working in the field, or on the way to or from work; often responsible for bites in freshwater fishers; N. philippinensis represents an occupational danger for rice farmers in the Philippines |
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nocturnal or diurnal
ground-dwelling |
primarily in dense forest, sometimes also in open areas; never in densely populated areas |
appearance as for Naja sp., but up to 4 or 5 m long; sturdy body, yet appears slender |
as for Naja sp. (see above); in the defensive position can raise their head to a height of over 1.5 m from the ground; grunting warning sound |
bites are rare |
| Echis carinatus
|
primarily nocturnal, in cooler weather also active during the day
ground-dwelling |
open areas in arid regions; also in agricultural areas and gardens |
small snakes with an average length of 30 cm (max. 80 cm); "side-winders" |
by continuously rubbing the coils of their body together they produce a clear warning sound similar to that made when two pieces of sandpaper are rubbed together; from this position, they dart forwards rapidly and may strike repeatedly |
extremely nervous and agitated; rarely flee; although small, they are among the most dangerous snakes in India; most bites occur in the fields |
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primarily nocturnal
ground-dwelling |
open grasslands or scrubland; plantations, often in rice fields |
sturdy body with an average length of 1 m (max. 1.5 m); body markings consist of dark ovals |
repeated, intermittent puffing through the large nostrils; at the same time the body is formed into taut coils |
victims are chiefly rural workers, primarily in rice fields |
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primarily nocturnal, peak activity during the monsoon rains
ground-dwelling |
forested areas, open regions; also in plantations |
sturdy body, rarely more than 1 m in length |
no specific defensive behaviour |
most bites occur in rubber or coffee plantations; during the dry season they also enter houses, thus bites also occur in living quarters |
|
according to the old classification (including the new subgenera/genera Craspedocephalus, Himalayophis, Ovophis, Parias, Peltopelor, Popeia, Protobothrops, Sinovipera, Trimeresurus, Tropidolaemus and Viridovipera) |
most species are arboreal (bushes and shrubs), some are ground-dwelling |
wooded regions, open areas with bushes and shrubs, parks in cities, gardens |
smaller snakes under 1 m; the most important species in medical terms are green, without markings |
body is held in an S-shaped coil |
common cause of snakebites |