Big Four
Often, snake people refer the four most lethal snakes of India, as Big Four, which is more of a popular term and has no scientific significance, at all. Though some people have tried to . These four snakes mentioned below, which are referred as BIG FOUR, are the ones which pose threat to the humans in the inhabited areas. Though, some people have made big issues out of this insignificant term to take advantage of this by twisting facts in their favour, for their selfish motives for their self-promotion, and have coined a new term as BIG FIVE, which is so absurd and needs ridicule from all quarters of experts and herpetologists.
Saw-scaled Viper Echis carinatus
Description: Color is light buff with shades of brown, dull red, or gray. Its sides have a white or light-colored pattern. Its head usually has two dark stripes that start behind the eye and extend to the rear.
Characteristics: A small but extremely dangerous viper. It gets the name saw-scaled from the body scales, which produce rasping sound by rubbing the sides of its body together. This ill-tempered snake will attack any intruder, on slight provocation. Its venom is highly hemotoxic and quite potent. Many deaths are attributed to this species.
Habitat: Found in a variety of environments. It is common in rural settlements, cultivated fields, arid regions, barns, and rock walls.
Length: Average 45 centimeters, maximum 60 centimeters.
Distribution: Asia, Syria, India, Africa, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Egypt, and Israel.
Russell’s Viper Vipera russellii
Description: Light brown body with three rows of dark brown or black splotches bordered with white or yellow extending its entire length.
Characteristics: This dangerous species is abundant over its entire range. It is responsible for more human fatalities than any other venomous snake. It is irritable. When threatened, it coils tightly, hisses, and strikes with such speed, unfolding like a spring, that its victim has little chance of escaping. Its hemotoxic venom is a powerful coagulant, damaging tissue and blood cells.
Habitat: Variable, from farmlands to dense rain forests. It is commonly found around human settlements.
Length: Average 1 meter, maximum 1.5 meters
Distribution: Sri Lanka, south China, India, Malaysian Peninsula, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and surrounding islands
Cobra Naja Naja
Description: Also known as the Asiatic cobra. Usually slate gray to brown overall. The back of the hood may or may not have a pattern.
Characteristics: A very common species responsible for many deaths each year. When aroused or threatened, the cobra will lift its head off the ground and spread its hood, making it more menacing. Its venom is highly neurotoxic, causing respiratory paralysis with some tissue damage. The cobra would rather retreat if possible, but if escape is shut off, it will be a dangerous creature to deal with.
Habitat: Found in any habitat cultivated farms, swamps, open fields, and human dwelling where it searches for rodents.
Length: Average 1.2 meters, maximum 2.1 meters.
Distribution: All of Asia.
Common Krait Bungarus caeruleus
Common Krait is one of the deadliest snakes in the world. The deadliest Indian snake – considered to be 15 times more venomous than a cobra.
Description: scales shiny; steely blue, black or dark brown with paired narrow white bands across the body; belly unpatterned cream.
Habitat: Wide spread in plains, in thinly wooded forests, agricultural fields as well as the edges of human habitation.
Habits: Mostly nocturnal while foraging. It hides under piles of debris at other times. During the day, it is non aggressive, flattening the body, and attempting to hide its head under the coil of its body. Very active at night, ready to bite.
Diet: Snakes, mice, frogs and lizards. Cannibalism is on record.
The fangs are rather short, venom highly toxic, causing respiratory failure.
Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.