Venomous Snakes of Central Iraq

Prepared by R. G. Sprackland, Ph.D.

Director, The Virtual Museum of Natural History at www.curator.org

For use by Australian, British, and United States military forces near Baghdad

Contents:

I.                    Overview.

II.                 Species Present.

III.               Symptom of Envenomation and Appropriate Antivenins to Administer.

I. Overview.

1. There are many species of venomous snakes in Iraq; there are no venomous lizards outside of North and Central America.
2. Snakes found in or near salty water and have a laterally flattened tail are sea snakes; all are venomous, many highly venomous. Venoms are neurotoxins.
3. Land snakes whose heads are triangular and wider than the neck and have vertical (cat-like) pupils are vipers; all are dangerously venomous regardless of size. Sand boas resemble vipers, but their heads are not triangular or wider than the neck. Primary venom component is haemotoxic (enzymes digest circulatory vessels).
4. Snakes with heads only slightly broader than the neck, with large scales on top of the head, and smooth scales are cobras. Not all cobras will extend the hood if annoyed. Cobras are largely black or brown, shiny snakes. The venom is highly dangerous and neurotoxic.

II. Species Present.

VIPERS (Family Viperidae)

            Common snakes in sandy areas where they are principally nocturnal. Vipers spend the day in burrows or buried in the sand in order to avoid searing heat. At dusk they either prowl for small mammals, lizards, or nestling birds, or they lie only slightly buried with only the eyes exposed (sitting to ambush prey). Iraqi vipers may reach 65 inches (5.4 feet) in length, but most are considerably smaller. Even the smallest vipers may deliver a potentially fatal bite. Expect to find vipers wherever vermin (rodents, rabbits) are common; predators follow their food.

            Vipers typically share the following traits: head triangular and considerably broader in the rear than the neck; scales keeled; small scales on top of the head; body short, relatively stout; pupils vertical.

            The vipers of central Iraq are as follows:

Lebetine viper.

1)      Lebetine viper (Vipera lebetina): grows to 65 inches. No horn-like scales over the eyes; variable in colour from tan to brown to maroon; belly spotted with dark colour. Terrestrial and may be active any time of day or night, including cool days.

Saw-scaled viper.

2)      Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus): Though it rarely grows to even 24 inches in length, this is a highly venomous species responsible for numerous human deaths each year. Because of its fatality rate, this species is listed as one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. The venom is composed of almost equally neurotoxic and haemotoxic components; bite victims typically manifest widespread hemorrhaging and respiratory failure. The vipers are active by day and travel over sand in a sidewinder fashion. When cornered, they inflate the body and rub sections against each other, producing a loud and ominous hissing sound. They strike quickly and repeatedly.

3)      Desert horned viper (Cerastes cerastes): Up to 27 inches, another sidewinder that generally has one or two thin spiny horns over each eye (but these are sometimes absent). It is similar in appearance to the saw-scaled viper, but is less aggressive and, though still dangerous, its venom is considerably less toxic than the saw-scaled viper.

4)      Persian horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus) grows to 27 inches, and always has horns over the eyes; these are blunt and made of many smaller scales. Unlike the previous species, the Persian viper is common in rocky areas but rare in loose open sandy regions. The body is pale gunmetal blue to gray with lighter irregular dark blotches.

COBRAS (Family Elapidae)

            Cobras are locally common snakes that may otherwise be absent in nearby areas. They are found in all habitats, from sandy areas where they are principally nocturnal, to river edges and rocky valleys, where they may be active by day. Cobras feed on small mammals, lizards, and other snakes, including vipers. The venom is principally neurotoxic, and distress stems from respiratory and cardiac inhibition. Even the smallest cobras may deliver a potentially fatal bite.

            Traits of cobras include smooth, shiny scales; round pupils; a cluster of large distinct scales on top of the head; head not triangular, and only slightly broader in the rear than the neck; and an extensible neck hood.

            The cobras of central Iraq are as follows:

Desert blacksnake.

1)      Desert blacksnake (Walterinnesia aegyptia): grows to 52 inches, but typically 3-4 feet. The body is uniformly black or dark brown with no pattern; the belly bluish-gray on the belly. Juveniles from Iran and Iraq are dark with pink crossbands. The effect of the venom on humans is not known, but presumed to be dangerous. This is the commonest and most widespread cobra in the Middle East.

Arabian cobra.

2)      Arabian cobra (Naja haje arabica): grows to 72 inches (6 feet), making it the largest venomous snake of the Middle East. This snake is considered to be a subspecies of the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje haje), whose antivenin should be administered in case of bite. Adults are brown, tan, coppery, or black, with a yellow belly. Though not native to Iraq, it is sometimes imported for snake fakir shows. Bites are always to be considered extremely dangerous.

III. Symptoms of Envenomation and Appropriate Antivenins to Administer.