Russell's Viper

Causes more snakebite deaths in India than any other species. Highly aggressive.

FamilyViperidae

GenusDaboia

RegionAsiaSouth Asia, Southeast Asia

Misidentification risk

Russell's ViperIndian PythonCommon Sand Boa

Photo: AChawla · Source: Wikimedia Commons · License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Russell's Viper

Photo: AChawla · Source: Wikimedia Commons · License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Russell's Viper

Danger Score

Final Danger Score

Venom Core

Lethality weighted 55% (potency × yield). Clinical weighted 45% (real-world CFR).

0.55 × 77 + 0.45 × 10087.3

Modifiers

Multiplicative scalers - amplify or reduce existing danger, can't create it from nothing.

× Speed (1.01)88.2

× Delivery (1.00)88.2

× Encounter (1.04)91.8

Speed = antivenom window. Delivery = fang efficiency. Encounter = exposure × temperament.

Score92

Venom Profile

Type

HemotoxicTargets blood and circulatory system; disrupts clotting and can cause bleeding disorders.,CytotoxicDestroys cells and damages tissue; can cause permanent tissue damage and disfigurement.

Venom Yield

High

Venom Speed

Quick

Delivery Method

Hinged front fangs

Potency (SC Equivalent)

0.390mg/kg LD50

Max Dry Yield

130mg dry

Clinical Severity

Fatality (Untreated)

30-70%

WHO Importance

Cat. 1

Local Effects

Pain at bite site, Swelling

Blood

Internal bleeding, Coagulopathy, Circulatory shock

Muscle

Kidney failure

Causes of Death

Massive internal bleeding, Kidney failure, Circulatory shock