Identification

This is relevant for all animals belonging to Terrestrial Snakes in Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Snake not available

Distribution

See Geographical Distribution to narrow down the possible culprits on country/state level.

Biological Features

Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia

Description of the most important representatives:

	General behaviour	Habitats	Appearance	Defensive behaviour	Factors relevant to envenoming
*Bungarus sp.*	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
*Naja sp.*	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
Ophiophagus hannah	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
Daboia russelli ssp.	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
Calloselasma rhodostoma	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
Trimeresurus sp. *Craspedocephalus sp.* *Ovophis sp.* *Protobothrops sp.* *Tropidolaemus sp.*	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

Snake available

Morphological Identification

Morphological key to the terrestrial venomous snakes

(excluding sea snakes)

Only ever pick up dead snakes! Caution - reflex bites are possible in snakes that have only just been killed. Hold the snake with one hand behind the head, and with the other hand open the mouth using tweezers and observe the dentition (also look for teeth that may be hidden in mucosal folds).

	Are all the teeth +/- of the same size?	yes	Harmless snakes (local symptoms may occur)
	no

	Enlarged teeth (venom fangs, generally grooved at the front or with a venom duct orifice near the tip) are +/- at the back; there are always normal teeth in front of these venom fangs!	yes	some species of *Colubridae*
	no

	Venom fangs are at the very front of the row of teeth and are +/- fixed (not moveable) in the upper jaw. May be so small as to be barely visible!	yes	Elapidae (no Elapidae in Europe!) » proceed to regional identification
	no

	Exceedingly long venom fangs at the very front of the upper jaw that can be erected forwards, in rare cases laterally. Normally they are folded back and covered by mucosal sheaths!


	Is there a pit between the nostril and the eye?	yes	Crotalinae (no Crotalinae in Central and Southern Africa, and Australia!) » proceed to regional identification
	no

	**Viperinae (no Viperinae in the Americas and Australia!)** » proceed to regional identification