4 Distribution

4.1 Distribution, general 4.2 Distribution, most important snakes 4.3 Distribution, simplified classification

4.1 Distribution, general

• As far as native venomous snakes are concerned, only vipers are found in Europe.
• In Africa there are elapids, vipers and colubrids.
• The most important snakes in America are the pit vipers and several coral snakes.
• In Asia, all families are represented (but not all genera).
• A number of elapsids live in Australia.
• Problems with venomous sea snakes are limited to coastal areas of Asia and Australia.
• Imported exotic pet snakes can be responsible for bites, especially in affluent countries

4.2 Distribution, most important snakes

It is useful to have an idea of which major venomous snakes can be found where.

• In Southeast Asia Russellīs viper (Daboia russelli), Echis carinatus, the habu's and the Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) are the most important.
• In Africa the saw-scaled vipers (Echis carinatus complex), the puff viper (Bitis arietans) and to a lesser extent cobras and mambas are important.
• In South and Central America the cascabel (Crotalus durissus terrificus), jararaca (Bothrops jararaca) and fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox) are the most important venomous snakes. Bites by the notorious bushmaster (Lachesis muta) are actually quite rare.
• In North America the various rattlesnakes (Crotalus sp. and Sistrurus sp.) are the most important, with Crotalus atrox (Western diamondback) heading the list. Mocassins (Agkistrodon sp.) and coral snakes (Micrurus and Micruroides) are statistically less important.
• Coastal areas in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia: sea snakes such as Pelamis, Laticauda sp, Enhydrina sp.
• Australia: Brown snake (Pseudonaja sp), black snake (Pseudoechis), death adder (Acantophis), Taipan (Oxyuranus), tiger snake (Notechis).

*

The five medically most important snakes in the world are:

Echis carinatus complex

Bitis arietans

Daboia russelli

Calloselasma rhodostoma

Bothrops atrox

4.3 Distribution, simplified classification

ELAPIDAE

	Example	Eur	Afr	NAm	SAm	Asia	Austr	Category
Micrurus	coral snake	.	.	+	+	.	.	2
Dendroaspis	mamba	.	+	.	.	.	.	2
Hemachatus	rinkhals	.	+	.	.	.	.	2
Naja	cobra	.	+	.	.	+	.	1
Ophiophagus	king cobra	.	.	.	.	+	.	2
Bungarus	krait	.	.	.	.	+	.	2
Pseudonaja	brown snake	.	.	.	.	.	+	1
Pseudoechis	mulga	.	.	.	.	.	+	2
Notechis	tiger snake	.	.	.	.	.	+	1
Oxyuranus	taipan	.	.	.	.	.	+	2
Acanthopis	death adder	.	.	.	.	.	+	1

HYDROPHIIDAE

Enhydrina	beaked sea snake	.	.	.	.	+	+	1
Lapemis	Hardwick's snake	.	.	.	.	+	+	1

VIPERIDAE (vipers)

Vipera	European viper	+	.	.	.	.	.	2
	Sand viper	+	.	.	.	.	.	3
Bitis	puff viper	.	+	.	.	.	.	1
	gaboon viper	.	+	.	.	.	.	2
Echis	saw-scaled viper	.	+	.	.	+	.	1
Cerastes	horned viper	.	+	.	.	+	.	3
Atractaspis	burrowing asp	.	+	.	.	+	.	2
Daboia	Russell's viper	.	.	.	.	+	.	1

CROTALIDAE ( pit vipers)

Bothrops	fer-de-lance	.	.	.	+	.	.	1
	jararaca	.	.	.	+	.	.	1
Lachesis	bushmaster	.	.	.	+	.	.	2
Crotalus	cascabel	.	.	.	+	.	.	1
	timber rattlesnake	.	.	+	.	.	.	1
	diamondback	.	.	+	.	.	.	1
Agkistrodon	water moccasin	.	.	+	.	.	.	1
	copperhead	.	.	+	.	.	.	3
	mamushi	.	.	.	.	+	.	3
Calloselasma	Malayan pit viper	.	.	.	.	+	.	1
Trimeresurus	habu	.	.	.	.	+	.	1

COLUBRIDAE

Dispholidus	Boomslang	.	+	.	.	.	.	2
Thelotornis	Bird/vine snake	.	+	.	.	.	.	2

CATEGORY

• 1: Bites frequently and often lethal or serious morbidity
• 2: Rarely bites, but bite is serious to lethal
• 3: Bites frequently, but rarely serious consequences