Russell's Viper
Daboia russelii • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Viperinae, Genus: Daboia, Species: Daboia russelii
Found throughout the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. A closely related species, Daboia siamensis, occurs in Southeast Asia.
Look up Russell's Viper in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Highly Venomous (Solenoglyphous fangs)
Danger Level
Extremely Dangerous; it is a member of the 'Big Four' snakes responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities and morbidity in South Asia.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Viperinae, Genus: Daboia, Species: Daboia russelii
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN Red List), though populations are threatened by habitat loss and persecution due to their dangerous nature.
Physical Description
Stout body with a flattened triangular head distinct from the neck. Base color is typically tan, brownish, or yellowish-gray with three rows of dark brown, white-edged oval spots/blotches running down the body. Eyes have vertical pupils and the snout is blunt.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the photo appears to be an adult or sub-adult given the thickness. Adults typically average 120 cm (4 feet) but can reach maximum lengths of about 165 cm (5.5 feet).
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in open grasslands, scrublands, coastal plains, and disturbed habitats. It frequently lives in agricultural areas like rice paddies and orchards where rodents are abundant.
Behavior & Temperament
Known for a very loud, high-pressure hiss used as a defensive warning. They can be sluggish but are capable of lightning-fast strikes. Primarily nocturnal, though may bask during cooler weather.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on rodents, but also consumes birds, lizards, and frogs. An ambush predator that uses its cryptic coloration to blend into the substrate while waiting for prey.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (birth to live young); litters are typically large, ranging from 20 to 40 young, though up to 65 have been recorded. Breeding season varies by region.
Venom Profile
Complex hemotoxic and cytotoxic cocktail, often with neurotoxic components in certain populations; causes severe pain, swelling, blood clotting disorders, and acute kidney injury.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with the Indian Rock Python (Python molurus) or Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus). Pythons lack the triangular head and have heat pits; Saw-scaled vipers are much smaller.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List), though populations are threatened by habitat loss and persecution due to their dangerous nature.
Cultural Significance
Feared and respected in South Asian culture; it is an ecologically vital predator of agricultural pests but represents a significant health crisis in rural farming communities.
Notable Features
Features the loudest hiss of any snake in the world, produced through specialized nasal valves. Its venom is noted for its ability to cause pituitary gland failure (Sheehan's syndrome) in survivors.