VENOM

THE SIX MOST DANGEROUS SPECIES IN

I RAQ

TWO CLASSES OF VENOM

Hemotoxic/Cytotoxic Damages tissues around
the site of the bite/sting. May cause rupture of
blood cells, changes in heart function & blood
pressure, and abnormal clotting.
Neurotoxic Affects the nervous system. Usually
more deadly because of paralysis of the
respiratory muscles, causing death by
asphyxiation.

ARABIAN HORNED VIPER

(Cerastes gasperetti)

Photo by Neil Villard, used with permission

Found throughout the Arabian Peninsula

Average length 12-24
Prefers sandy desert, likes to burrow into the sand to camouflage
Horns over eyes are not always present
Venom is primarily hemotoxic/cytotoxic

PERSIAN HORNED VIPER

(Pseudocerastes persicus)

Photo by Lt. Col. Dwayne Knott at Freedom AFB, Kirkuk. 1 December 2003 Creative Commons License

Present throughout the Middle East, Iran, Pakistan

Average size 16-28
Horns tend to be smaller than those of C. gasperetti
Cannot burrow into sand like C. gasperetti
Venom is primarily hemotoxic/cytotoxic

LEBETINE VIPER
(Macrovipera lebetina)

Photo by Vclav Gvodk. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macrovipera_lebetina_obtusa02.jpg

Range from North Africa through the Middle East, as well as on some
Mediterranean islands
Can grow to 4 long or larger
Reportedly ill-tempered and tend to inject a large amount of venom
Venom is primarily hemotoxic/cytotoxic

SAW-SCALED VIPER
(Echis carinatus)

Photo by Saleem Hameed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Echis_carinatus_sal_(edit).jpg

Widespread from North Africa, through Middle East and into South Asia
Average body size 16-20
Venom is roughly 4 times more toxic per gram than king cobra venom
Responsible for more human deaths than any other species worldwide
Venom contains both hemotoxic/cytotoxic and neurotoxic components

DESERT COBRA
(Walterinnesia aegyptia)

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sinai-Desert-Cobra.jpg. Public domain.

Found throughout the Middle East

Average body size 20-24, but can grow to about 4
Does not usually open its hood and hunts primarily around midnight
Very fast moving
Short, fixed fangs mean venom is not injected immediately as with vipers
Venom is primarily neurotoxic and very potent

ARABIAN FAT-TAILED SCORPION

(Androctonus crassicauda)

Photo by Per-Anders Olsson. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_scorpion.jpg

Found throughout the Middle East and North Africa

Adult size is around 4 in length
Color ranges from reddish-brown to black
Prefers to hide in stone fences and around building ruins
Venom is neurotoxic & potentially deadly
Antivenin is available

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
Majority of bites in locals are to lower limbs and
are by M. lebetina. Majority of bites in US soldiers
during Iraqi Freedom were to fingers and hands
and by Cerastes gasperetti. DO NOT POKE THE
SNAKES!!
Majority of snake bites in dogs tend to be to the
nose and muzzle, making it difficult to slow the
spread of venom. WATCH YOUR DOGS CLOSELY.
Snakes are capable of biting down and injecting
venom even after they are dead and after
decapitation. BE VERY CAREFUL EVEN WHEN YOU
ARE SURE THEY ARE DEAD.

FIRST AID
Most importantly, STAY CALM. Stress increases
heart rate and speeds movement of the venom,
and dogs can pick up on handlers stress,
increasing their stress level.
For bites to the extremities, a compression
bandage (NOT a tourniquet) placed above the
bite wound can help slow spread of venom.
Try to identify the snake, if possible, to know what
kind of signs to watch for.
Seek medical attention immediately.