North Africa, Near and Middle East
Description of the most important representatives:
| General behaviour | Habitats |
Appearance |
Defensive behaviour | Factors relevant to envenoming | |
|
|
primarily nocturnal
ground-dwelling |
except for desert areas, found everywhere, especially in open habitats; can be found close to human settlements; also in plantations |
relatively solid body, wide head, but not substantially distinct from the body; length up 1.5–2 m or more |
raising the first third of the body; neck region is spread out into a flat hood (Fig. 4.57) |
dangerous snake often found close to humans; responsible for a large number of bites; also enters houses and is known to have bitten victims during the night |
| Atractaspis sp.
|
nocturnal
live underground; surface at night or after heavy rainfall |
from tropical forests to desert regions |
largest species up to 90 cm, small head |
non-aggressive during the day – roll themselves into a ball |
"bites" occur in victims walking around at night or while handling these snakes; the venom fangs are projected laterally, with the mouth virtually closed, and the fangs are stabbed into the victim via sidewards movements of the head |
| Bitis arietans
|
nocturnal, but often lie sunning themselves during the day
ground-dwelling |
common in savannas and grasslands |
solid body that appears short; on average barely more than 1 m, although in East Africa up to 1.5 m |
loud puffing (thus the name Puff adder); they rarely flee and rely on their markings for camouflage |
responsible for large numbers of bites; many bites occur when the snakes are accidentally trodden on |
|
|
primarily nocturnal
ground-dwelling vor allem nachtaktiv |
sandy deserts and stony regions with sparse vegetation Sandwüsten und steinige Gebiete mit schütterer Vegetation |
sturdy body; length on average 35–50 cm; "side-winders" |
they rub the coils of their body together to produce a clearly audible warning sound, as in Echis spp. |
not known |
|
|
primarily nocturnal, in cooler weather also active during the day
ground-dwelling |
dry regions, such as sand deserts, semi-arid rocky deserts, steppes and savannas, but also in agricultural areas and gardens |
small snakes with an average length of 35 cm (max. 80 cm); slender to sturdy body; "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 of all; in some areas extremely common and responsible for the most snakebites by far |
|
|
nocturnal in warm weather, diurnal in cool
ground-dwelling |
prefer dry and stony habitats; steppes, mountainous areas; but also in forests, agricultural areas and gardens; V. palaestinae prefers damp habitats and is often found close to human settlements |
sturdy body with a length of up to 1–1.6 m in the larger species |
body is coiled into a taut S-shape; repeated hissing |
primarily the larger species are dangerous; V. palaestinae responsible for the most snakebites in Israel by far |