|
|
Vipera russelli (Russel's Viper) SHAW 1797 |
||
| There was a time when this snake
killed more people in the world than any other snake! It
is named after the pioneering herpetologist Dr.Patrick
Russel. The Indian Cobra (Naja naja) may be the most revered and respected snake of
Sri Lanka but the Russel's Viper is probably the most
feared and hated. Much of its detest has been earned by its deceptive nature. It is often confused with harmless snakes mainly the young of the Indian Python (Python molurus) and the Sand Boa (Eryx conicus) and often reveals its true identity after either killing its captor or a household pet. There was also a case where a specimen ended up in neatly packed in a bale of greenary. The bale was subsequently sold in the market and the episode ended after the snake killed the unfortunate person who happened to buy it. A majority of its victims happen to be children who either trod on it by accident or played on a pile of hay in which it was residing. |
Synonymy: May be listed as Daboia russelli
| Characteristics: A
large triangular headed, muscular and strong snake. Its
colouration is yellowish brown with dark brown mottles or
spots. It has large oval shaped eyes and large raised
nostrils. Its body is stout and cylindrical which along
with its colouration makes on the spot identification of
this snake difficult for many. Behaviour: It is often said that predicting the Sri Lankan weather is easier than predicting the behaviour of this snake. It is generally nocturnal in habit and often lies coiled up in a secluded place by day. If disturbed may sometimes allow itself to be handled or hiss violently and strike with no further provocation. It is also said to chase its challenger. Its muscular body enables it to wiggle violently and free itself once captured. However by night it usually flees when it senses that a human is about to cross its path. |
 |
Food: Feeds mainly on rodents. It pursues its prey by night. The prey once in reach is subjected to a lethal dose of venom and allowed to die. It is swallowed once dead. This snake frequently ventures down burrows in search of prey and may enter houses when seeking out rats.
Breeding: This snake is viviparous. Its reproductive habits vary with its wide range. Often mating takes place in December, January and February. In some areas it takes place in April and May. The young are born after a lengthy gestation period which lasts for six months. After fertilisation the eggs which are covered with a white membrane develop within the female. This white membrane slowly thins out during the gestation and ruptures a few days before birth. Occasionally this membrane does not rupture and the embryo often dies of suffocation soon after birth. Unfertilised eggs are also discharged at birth which resulted in the false belief that these snakes are oviparous. The brood varies from 1 to 60, making this snake one of the most prolific in Sri Lanka.
Growth: Upon birth neonates measure on average 240mm. These snakes reach maturity when they are over 4 years old and by then they measure 1m. These snakes eventually grow to lengths of 125cm and may reach extreme lengths of 160cm. Males and females are roughly of equal length but the males have proportionately longer tails.
Venom: Venom extremely lethal. It destroys the walls of arteries and causes heavy internal haemorrhages. Often bite victims begin to cough blood. Death is caused by heavy blood loss due to internal bleeding. A bite from this snake could prove fatal within 48 hours if not treated with antivenin with immediate effect.
Identification: This snake can be identified by its enlarged and elongated nasal passages with a raised nasal area and characteristic "diabolic" appearence which few can mistake. On a more scientific basis the absence of large shields on the head, divided subcaudals and 27 to 33 rows of costals at its midbody would suffice to indicate this species.
Lepidosis:
Dentition:
Distribution: South Asia, Southeast Asia and Indonesia
A frequently encountered snake in Sri Lanka with a near island wide distribution. It is only rare in the high peaks of the central hills. It prefers the dry scrub forests of the north and can also be found in forests of the south and south west. This snake is also found in fair numbers around human dwellings of major cities like Colombo.
Please adhere to the ethics
if the content of this site is used for publication
purposes. |
References:
WALL, Frank: Snakes of Ceylon (1921)
Acknowledgements:
Photo from a herpetological website
