Kuwait Reptiles, Insects & Mammals

Recognition, Hazard Awareness and

Emergency Response Actions

HSE Dept.
 Introduction

• Some Kuwait animal species are venomous and

there is potential for serious health effects if bitten.

• Normally, they will avoid human contact, but they

could be encountered if they are disturbed in their
natural habitat.
 Snakes
• There is no need for you to fear snakes if you
know:

– Their habits.
– How to identify the dangerous kinds.
– Precautions to take to prevent snakebite.
– What actions to take in case of snakebite

• Nearly all snakes avoid man if possible. Even

aggressive species of snakes attack humans
only occasionally. Most snakes get out of the
way and are seldom seen.
 Snake venom

The three most important types of toxins found in

snake venom are:

– Neurotoxins - Affect the nervous system,

causing breathing to stop

– Cardiotoxins - Affect the heart muscles,

causing it to stop beating

– Haemotoxins - Cause the blood vessels to

rupture, resulting in widespread internal
bleeding

• Not all snake bites will result in envenoming.

Some bites are “dry”. This is because snakes
have a limited supply of venom and may prefer
to use this for hunting rather than defence.
 Arabian Horned Viper
(Cerastes gasperatti)
• Size : Length up to 0.85m.
• Recognition : Flattened triangular head and very
distinct narrow neck with thick body. Colour varies
from light grey and brown to yellow. Dark blotches
extend the length of the back.
• Habits : Spends the daylight hours buried up to its
eyes in loose sand. Uses side-winding motion,
leaving J-shaped trail in sand.
• Danger : When threatened, produces a hissing
sound by rubbing a series of pointed scales on
opposing loops of its body. Strikes fast and
continuously. Venomous
 Persian Horned Viper
(Pseudocerastes persicus)
• Size : Maximum length of 1m.

• Recognition : Horns are made up of

numerous small scales. Stout bodied
with short, slender tail. Head is broad
and flat with narrow neck. Snout is
short and blunt.

• Habits : Slow moving, side-winding

motion. Relatively placid. If disturbed
it will hiss loudly but usually requires
some provocation before striking.

• Danger : Not much is known about

venom toxicity, but unlikely to be
high risk.
 Saw-scale or Carpet Viper
(Echis sochureki )
• Size : 0.3 - 0.75m long.
• Recognition : Body grey, green, or
yellow-brown.. Dorsal white markings
edged with black. Arrow-shaped
marking on the top of the head. This Notice the head marking that
sometimes looks like a white cross distinguishes this species.

shape.
• Habits : Uses sidewinding motion.
• Danger : If disturbed, assumes an S-
shaped coil position (see photo) and
rubs the sides of the body together
making a rasping sound. Very
nervous, irritable and aggressive,
quick to strike at the slightest
provocation and does not try to
escape. Venomous
 Black desert cobra
(Walterinnesia aegyptia)

• Size : Body 1m long.

• Recognition : Glossy black; belly

paler. Scales smooth, hood
usually not apparent. Head small,
not distinct from neck. Rare in
Kuwait

• Habits : Not usually aggressive.

When provoked, will hiss violently
& strike. Does not usually spread
its hood, nor hold the front of its
body up off the ground.

• Danger : Highly venomous

 Arabian Rear Fanged Snake
(Molpolon moilensis)

• Size : Length up to 1.5m

• Recognition : Pale brown, with dark spots
along its back and sides. Has a dark mark
on each side of the head at the back.

• Habits : When threatened, it sometimes

raises its front body above the ground and
faces its attacker with neck flattened and
spread like a hooded cobra. Fangs located
at the back of its jaws.

• Danger : Bite attempts do not usually result

in successful envenoming of humans.
Venom is poisonous but not considered
dangerous.
 Montpellier Snake
(Malpolon monspessulanus )
• Size : Length up to 2m
• Recognition : Slender, uniformly
coloured body with a long tapering tail.
Head is elongated and narrow, with a
midline depression. Eyes are large in
size with round pupils.

• Habits : Very good vision so tends to

flee if approached. If disturbed or
threatened, hisses loudly and may
flatten its body and spread a small
hood. If provoked it will attempt to bite
without much hesitation. Moves
quickly on the ground.

• Danger : Rear-fanged. Envenoming is

possible but unlikely to prove lethal.
 Arabian Sand Boa
(Eryx jayakari)
• Size : Rarely exceeds 40cm
• Recognition : Yellow/brown
body. Head is indistinct from
neck. Eyes are located on top of
head.

• Habits : Hides under loose sand

and rarely surfaces

• Danger : Not venomous but a

bite may cause punctures, with
local pain & swelling, potential
for secondary infection.
 Non-venomous snakes
Rat or Racer Snake
(Coluber ventromaculatus)
• Can grow to about 1.3m.
• Long slender body with a long tail.
Distinctive dark patches down body.
White belly.
• Will climb into bushes in search of
prey. Fast mover
Cliff or Wadi Racer
(Platyceps rhodorachis)
• Can grow to about 1.4 m.
• Slender bodied with a very long
tapering tail. Variable colouring
but white belly
• Fast mover
 Scorpions
• Found in all kinds of habitats, dry desert areas to urban
populations in major cities living in cracks and crevices of the
walls of houses.

• The most common species encountered in Kuwait are

Androctonus crassicauda, Leiurus quinquestriatus and
Compsobuthus arabicus

• Most scorpion stings are relatively harmless to humans;

producing only local effects such as pain, numbness or swelling

• A few scorpion species, however, can be dangerous to humans

due to the toxicity of their venom. Unfortunately, Androctonus
and Leiurus are among them
 Androctonus Crassicauda
(Black Scorpion)
• Size : Up to 8 cm in length
• Recognition : Usually a brownish-black colour.
• Habits : Aggressive nature
• Danger : Highly venomous! Risk of heart or respiratory failure if
untreated, mainly in infants and elderly
 Leiurus quinquestriatus
(Yellow Scorpion or ‘Death Stalker’)
• Size : 8 – 10 cm long
• Recognition : Difficult to identify from harmless species!
• Habits : Aggressive nature
• Danger : Highly venomous! Risk of heart or respiratory failure if
untreated, mainly in infants and elderly
 Compsobuthus arabicus

• Size : Body 2 – 3 cm long

• Recognition : Yellowish brown in colour
• Habits : Shelters from the heat during daytime
• Danger : Slightly poisonous venom. Low risk
 Habitat
• Inhabits the walls of houses, stone fences and under rubble.
Therefore especially dangerous because of the high risk of
human-animal contact.

• Picture shows a container with specimens collected under a tent

in a small military camp. A total of 28 scorpions were found
under this tent, 17 being Black Scorpion
 Camel Spider (Solpugid)
• Size : Body size up to 6 inches
• Recognition : Light grey, tan or reddish brown
• Habits : May follow your shadow to stay in shade.
Can move at 10mph
• Danger : Non-venomous, but painful bite
 Wolf Spider
• Size : Body up to 3 cm in length
• Recognition : Usually brown or grey with striped markings
• Habits : Fast mover. May hunt during daytime. Non-aggressive
but bites freely if provoked
• Danger : Venom is mildly poisonous. Low risk. Painful bite
 Preventing Snake, Scorpion &
Spider Bites & Stings
• Do not handle or disturb deliberately
• Eliminate or reduce potential hiding places
• Sandbag around edges of tents to seal entry
• Always shake out clothes, shoes, sleeping bags before you use them
• Never walk barefoot. Avoid open-toed footwear when in the desert
• Avoid sleeping on the ground. Ensure bedding does not touch tent or
room walls
• In buildings, seal door/window gaps and where utilities enter structure
• Wear gloves when handling tentage or outdoor materials which have
been in contact with the ground
• Scorpions or spiders on your body should be brushed off, not swatted
• Look before you reach into, under, over or around
• Step on to, not over, fallen logs so you can see what’s on the other
side before placing your feet.
 Emergency Response
• Assume the bite/sting is venomous
• Get the victim to rest and try to keep them calm
• Place ice on the bite/sting site if available
• Most bite/sting areas will swell. All rings or other jewellery on the
affected limb, especially on fingers, should be removed
• Immobilise the affected limb and cover site with firm bandage
(NOT a tourniquet). Do not suck or cut the wound
• Transport them to hospital as soon as possible
• Try to give a good description of the snake, scorpion or spider
(photo if possible)
 Some less-hazardous Kuwait wildlife….
• Long-eared hedgehog

• Naked-bellied Tomb bat

• Arabian Red Fox

• Arabian Wolf
• Desert Monitor

• Dhub
• Flower Mantis

• Gerboa
 Thank you

HSE Dept.