Common Name :- Russel Viper
Distribution : - All over India ,Not found in North east and Kashmir.
Status :- Common, Most Common Viper in India.
Average Length:- 100 cm ( 3 feet 3 inch)
Maximum Length:- 180 cm ( 5 feet 11 inch )
Breeding Season:- In Between May to July or Mid August Female give birth to 6-63 live young ( Generally not more than 60 ).
Venom type :- Hemotoxic Venom.
Description
Habitat.
Its not restricted to any particular habitat,but does tend to avoid dense forests.The snake is mostly found in open,grassy or bushy areas,but may also be found in second growth forest( scrub jungles) ,on forested plantations and farmlands. They are most common in plains,coastal lowlands and hills of suitable habitat. Genrally not found at altitude,but has been reported as far up as 2300-3000m. Humid envornment ,such as marches,swamps, and rain forests are avoided.
This species is often found in highly urbanized areas and settlements in the countryside,the attraction being the rodents comensal with man.As a result,those working outside in these areas are most at risk of being bitten.
Behavior
Russell Viper is a nocturnal Species like other Vipers;but can be sighted in scrubs and bushes during day time for basking,during winter it can stay at single place for more than one day for mating and basking.Lives in bushes,scrubs,rocks,dense vegetation,agricultural lands,dry leaves,grass lands,wood piles etc.
Behavior very agile and uncertain on provocation;
First Produce whistle sound ( Like pressure cooker ) as warning sign,will coil its body with head at center of the coil and may attack anytime on further disturbance.Can bite even when its body is elongated while creeping.
Not a very good climber and like to remain on ground for better adjustment with its surroundings.Vary rarely ,if conditions and adverse,it may climb up to a certain height.Once a sub adult was found on hut in the month of December in MP
Feeds on rodents,birds,lizards adn small mammals,No genuine record of cannibalism from this species.
This snake is terrestrial and active primarily as nocturnal forager.However,during cool weather it will alter its behavior and become more active the day.
Adults are reported to persistently slow and sluggish unless pushed beyond a certain limit,after which they become aggressive.Juveniles,on the other hand,are generaaly more nervous.
When threatened they form series of S-loop,raise the first third of the body and produce a hiss that is supposedly louder that that of any other snake.
When striking from this position,they can exert so much force that even a large individual can lift most of its body off the ground in the process.These snakes are strong and may react violently to being picked up.The bite may be snap or they may hang on for many seconds.
Although this genus doesn't have the heat-sensitive pit organs common to the ceotalinae,it is one of a number of viperines that are apparently able to react to thermal cues,further supporting the notion that they too possess a heat-sensitive organ.The identity of this sensor is not certain,but the nerve ending in the supranasal sac of these snakes resemble those found in other heat-sensitive organs
Territory
Feeding Habits ( Food )
Distinctive Feature
Breeding,Housing and Nesting
General Size and Shape
Breeding Season ( Reproduction )
Egg
Importance of Snake
Survival,threats and Danger
Mimicry
Prey
Venom
Symptoms after Bite
Venom/Non Venom :- Highly Venomous Snake.Third most common venomous species.
Local Name/Marathi Name: -घोनसDistribution : - All over India ,Not found in North east and Kashmir.
Status :- Common, Most Common Viper in India.
Average Length:- 100 cm ( 3 feet 3 inch)
Maximum Length:- 180 cm ( 5 feet 11 inch )
Breeding Season:- In Between May to July or Mid August Female give birth to 6-63 live young ( Generally not more than 60 ).
Venom type :- Hemotoxic Venom.
Description
Habitat.
Its not restricted to any particular habitat,but does tend to avoid dense forests.The snake is mostly found in open,grassy or bushy areas,but may also be found in second growth forest( scrub jungles) ,on forested plantations and farmlands. They are most common in plains,coastal lowlands and hills of suitable habitat. Genrally not found at altitude,but has been reported as far up as 2300-3000m. Humid envornment ,such as marches,swamps, and rain forests are avoided.
This species is often found in highly urbanized areas and settlements in the countryside,the attraction being the rodents comensal with man.As a result,those working outside in these areas are most at risk of being bitten.
Behavior
Russell Viper is a nocturnal Species like other Vipers;but can be sighted in scrubs and bushes during day time for basking,during winter it can stay at single place for more than one day for mating and basking.Lives in bushes,scrubs,rocks,dense vegetation,agricultural lands,dry leaves,grass lands,wood piles etc.
Behavior very agile and uncertain on provocation;
First Produce whistle sound ( Like pressure cooker ) as warning sign,will coil its body with head at center of the coil and may attack anytime on further disturbance.Can bite even when its body is elongated while creeping.
Not a very good climber and like to remain on ground for better adjustment with its surroundings.Vary rarely ,if conditions and adverse,it may climb up to a certain height.Once a sub adult was found on hut in the month of December in MP
Feeds on rodents,birds,lizards adn small mammals,No genuine record of cannibalism from this species.
This snake is terrestrial and active primarily as nocturnal forager.However,during cool weather it will alter its behavior and become more active the day.
Adults are reported to persistently slow and sluggish unless pushed beyond a certain limit,after which they become aggressive.Juveniles,on the other hand,are generaaly more nervous.
When threatened they form series of S-loop,raise the first third of the body and produce a hiss that is supposedly louder that that of any other snake.
When striking from this position,they can exert so much force that even a large individual can lift most of its body off the ground in the process.These snakes are strong and may react violently to being picked up.The bite may be snap or they may hang on for many seconds.
Although this genus doesn't have the heat-sensitive pit organs common to the ceotalinae,it is one of a number of viperines that are apparently able to react to thermal cues,further supporting the notion that they too possess a heat-sensitive organ.The identity of this sensor is not certain,but the nerve ending in the supranasal sac of these snakes resemble those found in other heat-sensitive organs
Territory
Feeding Habits ( Food )
Distinctive Feature
Breeding,Housing and Nesting
General Size and Shape
Breeding Season ( Reproduction )
Egg
Importance of Snake
Survival,threats and Danger
Mimicry
Prey
Venom
Symptoms after Bite
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