Cerastes cerastes, commonly known as the Saharan horned viper or the desert horned viper, is a venomous species of viper native to the deserts of northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant. It often is easily recognized by the presence of a pair of supraocular "horns", although hornless individuals do occur. Three subspecies have been described.
Echis carinatus is a venomous viper species found in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, and especially the Indian subcontinent. It is the smallest member of the big four snakes that are responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths, due to various factors including their frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and their inconspicuous nature. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Russell's viper is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae native to the Indian subcontinent. It was described in 1797 by George Shaw and Frederick Polydore Nodder, and named after Patrick Russell who wrote of it in his 1796 work An account of Indian serpents, collected on the coast of Coromandel.
The four venomous snake species responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant human snake bite cases on the Indian Subcontinent are sometimes collectively referred to as the Big Four. They are as follows:
- Common krait, Bungarus caeruleus
- Russell's viper, Daboia russelii
- Indian saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus
- Indian cobra, Naja naja
Macrovipera lebetinus is a venomous viper species found in North Africa, much of the Middle East, and as far east as Kashmir. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.
Ovophis monticola is a venomous pitviper species found in Asia. Currently, two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. Recent taxonomic work suggests that most of these should be considered as separate species. IUCN has already evaluated O. m. makazayazaya as Ovophis makazayazaya.
Stokes's sea snake is a large species of sea snake in the family Elapidae. It is sometimes placed in its own genus Astrotia. The species is endemic to tropical Indo-Pacific oceanic waters.
Hydrophis nigrocinctus is a species of marine venomous snakes Elapidae.
Echis is a genus of venomous vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound. The name Echis is the Latin transliteration of the Greek word for "viper" (ἔχις). Their common name is "saw-scaled vipers" and they include some of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Twelve species are currently recognized.
Macrovipera is a genus of venomous vipers that inhabit the semideserts and steppes of North Africa, the Near and Middle East, and the Milos Archipelago in the Aegean Sea. These snakes are responsible for a number of bites in Africa and Western Asia every year. They have a reputation for being ill-tempered and can inject a lot of venom, which is why they should be considered as very dangerous. Three species are currently recognized.
Vipera is a genus of venomous vipers. It has a very wide range, being found from North Africa to just within the Arctic Circle and from Great Britain to Pacific Asia. The Latin name vīpera is possibly derived from the Latin words vivus and pario, meaning "alive" and "bear" or "bring forth"; likely a reference to the fact that most vipers bear live young. Currently, 21 species are recognized.
Calloselasma is a monotypic genus created for a venomous pit viper species, C. rhodostoma, which is endemic to Southeast Asia from Thailand to northern Malaysia and on the island of Java. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Vipera aspis is a venomous viper species found in southwestern Europe. Its common names include asp, asp viper, European asp, and aspic viper, among others. Bites from this species can be more severe than from the European adder, V. berus; not only can they be very painful, but also about 4% of all untreated bites are fatal. The specific epithet, aspis, is a Greek word that means "viper." Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Macrovipera lebetina obtusa is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Asia, from central Turkey to northern Pakistan (Kashmir).
Daboia palaestinae, also known as the Palestine viper, is a viper species endemic to the Levant. Like all vipers, it is venomous. It is considered a leading cause of snakebite within its range. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Montivipera xanthina is a venomous viper species found in northeastern Greece and Turkey, as well as certain islands in the Aegean Sea. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Trimeresurus andersonii is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the Andaman Islands of India. Common names include: Nicobar mangrove pit viper, Anderson's pitviper, and Andaman pit viper.
Chain snake may refer to:
The Indochinese spitting cobra also called the Thai spitting cobra, Siamese spitting cobra, is a species of spitting cobra found in Southeast Asia.
Daboia is a genus of venomous vipers.
