Context:
All health centres and hospitals in Bangladesh have been ordered to stock anti-venom after reports of an increase in people being bitten by snakes, especially by the Russell’s viper.
Relevance:
GS III: Species in News
Overview of Russell’s Viper:
General Information:
- Type: Highly venomous terrestrial snake.
- Family: Viperidae.
- Scientific Name: Daboia russelii.
- Named After: Patrick Russell, a Scottish herpetologist who first described many of India’s snakes in the 1790s.
Significance:
- One of the “big four” deadliest snakes in India, along with the Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Indian Cobra (Naja naja), and Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus).
Distribution:
- Found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Pakistan, Cambodia, Tibet, China (Guangxi, Guangdong), Taiwan, and Indonesia.
Habitat:
- Preferred Areas: Open, grassy, or bushy areas.
- Also Found In: Second-growth forests (scrub jungles), forested plantations, and farmland.
- Avoids: Dense forests.
Behavior and Impact:
- Major Cause of Snake Bite Deaths: Common in farmlands with high human and rodent activity.
- Avoidance of Humans: Generally avoids human contact and does not actively seek to bite people.
- Bite Incidents: Most bites happen when humans accidentally step on or handle the snake.
- Fatalities: Often result from delayed medical treatment.
Physical Features:
- Length: Can grow up to 1.5 meters.
- Coloration: Distinctive reddish-brown spots outlined in black and white.
- Head: Wide, triangular with small, overlapping scales, large nostrils, and small eyes with vertical pupils.
- Activity: Mainly nocturnal, active as the sun fades.
- Behavior: Sedentary, often staying in one place for several days unless disturbed.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
-Source: The Hindu
