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Russell's viper Facts

Russell's viper Facts
Russell's viper, also known as Daboia or chain viper, is venomous snake that belongs to the viper family. There are two subspecies of Russell's viper that can be found in India, Southeast Asia, China and Taiwan. Russell's viper inhabits plains, forests, scrublands, grasslands and agricultural fields. Major threats for the survival of Russell's vipers are traffic accidents and organized killing. In some parts of Asia, Russell's viper is on a target of hunters because of its skin and meat. Despite these factors, Russell's vipers are widely distributed and numerous in the wild.
Interesting Russell's viper Facts:
Russell's viper can reach 3.3 to 5.5 feet in length.
Russell's viper has deep yellow, beige or brown body covered with dark brown, almond-shaped, spots surrounded with black rings. Belly is white, yellow or pinkish in color and usually covered with irregular dark markings.
Russell's viper has flattened, triangular head, blunt snout, two long fangs, large nostrils and medium-sized eyes with vertical pupils. It has stout, cylindrical body and short tail.
Body of Russell's viper is covered with keeled scales.
Russell's viper is named after famous Scottish herpetologist, Patrick Russell, who described this and many other Indian snakes.
Russell's viper is terrestrial snake (adapted to the life on the solid ground). It moves slowly and sluggishly unless it is threatened.
Russell's viper is nocturnal animal (active during the night), except during the cool periods of year, when it becomes active during the day.
Russell's viper is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on rodents and small mammals. Birds, lizards and frogs are occasionally on the menu.
Russell's viper likes to bask in the sun during the day. When it is not basking, it hides in the caves, cracks in the soil or under the leaf litter.
Russell's viper can be often found in urban and rural areas because they provide plenty of food (rodents). Consequently, Russell's viper often gets in touch with people and induces more snakebites than other types of venomous snakes. It has very strong venom which induces strong bleeding, paralysis of neck muscles, permanent renal damage and death in the case that antivenin is not available. Russell's viper coils the body in numerous S-shaped loops, elevates upper third of the body and loudly hisses before the attack.
Mating season of Russell's vipers takes place from winter to summer.
Males fight to establish dominance and get opportunity to mate.
Pregnancy in females lasts 6 months and ends with 20 to 40 (up to 75) babies (female gives birth to live babies). When litter size is very big, many babies die shortly after birth due to improper nourishment during gestation.
Russell's vipers reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 to 3 years.
Russell's viper can survive up to 15 years in the captivity.


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