Viperidae
Siamese Russell's Viper
VenomousDaboia siamensis
4 photographs of the Siamese Russell's Viper. © Aiken Lau.
The Siamese Russell's Viper (Daboia siamensis) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 11 countries.
If you are bitten
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Family
- Viperidae
- Danger
- high
About the Siamese Russell's Viper
Daboia siamensis (Common name: eastern Russell's viper, Siamese Russell's viper, more) is a viper species which is endemic to parts of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of Daboia russelii (as Daboia russelli siamensis), but was elevated to species status in 2007.
Description
Dorsally, the color pattern is the same as that of D. russelii, except that the color is more grayish or olive, with small spots between the large spot rows. The venter is suffused with gray posteriorly.
Common names
Common names for D. siamensis include eastern Russell's viper and Siamese Russell's viper.
Previously, other common names were used to describe subspecies that are now part of the synonymy of this species: Indonesian Russell's viper for "limitis", and Formosan Russell's viper for "formosensis".
Geographic range
Daboia siamensis is found in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, China(Guangxi Guangdong), parts of India, Taiwan, Nepal and Indonesia (Ende, Bima-Sumbawa, Flores, east Java, Komodo, Lomblen Islands).
Brown (1973) mentions that D. siamensis can also found in Vietnam, Laos and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Ditmars (1937) reportedly received a specimen from Sumatra as well. However, its distribution in the Indonesian archipelago is still being elucidated.
Antivenom
As of 2016, antivenoms for Daboia siamensis were produced in India, Myanmar and Thailand.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Siamese Russell's Viper
- Is the Siamese Russell's Viper venomous?
- Yes. The Siamese Russell's Viper (Daboia siamensis) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Siamese Russell's Viper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Siamese Russell's Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Siamese Russell's Viper dangerous?
- This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Where does the Siamese Russell's Viper live?
- The Siamese Russell's Viper has verified records in 11 countries, including Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Siamese Russell's Viper?
- Common names for D. siamensis include eastern Russell's viper and Siamese Russell's viper. Previously, other common names were used to describe subspecies that are now part of the synonymy of this species: Indonesian Russell's viper for "limitis", and Formosan Russell's viper for "formosensis".
If you are bitten by the Siamese Russell's Viper
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
More Viperidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.