Russell's viper

Daboia russelii

Russell's viper is a large venomous snake of South Asian open habitats. Chainlike markings and a loud hiss make it highly recognizable.

Key facts

Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) is a carnivore animal classified as Reptile · Squamata · Viperidae.
Primary habitats are grassland · savanna · urban, with a range across Indomalayan.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
Russell's viper is a large venomous snake of South Asian open habitats.
It inhabits Indomalayan grassland, savanna, farmland, and urban edges.
Typical lifespan: 12–15 years

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

It inhabits Indomalayan grassland, savanna, farmland, and urban edges. Open areas with abundant rodents often bring it close to people.

Total length 100-166 cm; weight 1.5-4 kg. Three rows of dark-edged oval blotches run along a brown body. The head is triangular and the body heavy.

Nocturnal and solitary, it coils when disturbed and gives a forceful hissing warning. It relies on camouflage before striking.

A carnivore, it feeds mainly on rodents, with birds, lizards, and frogs also taken. Venom helps subdue prey after an ambush strike.

It gives birth to live young, often in large litters. Newborns are independent and venomous from birth.

It is listed as Least Concern, but it is a major cause of snakebite where people and rodents share habitat. Contact management is important.