This snake takes the title as the world's deadliest-at least for humans. The saw-scaled viper's venom is strong, though not as toxic as that of some other snakes; its fangs don't set any records, either. This snake is dangerous because it has a nasty temper, and will strike at anything that come near it. The snake bites thousands of people every year, and kills more humans than any other snake in the world.
Neck Deep: In deserts and soft soils, this snake often buries itself in the ground so only its eyes stick up above the earth. This hides the snake so potential victims wander into its striking range without ever seeing their killer.
Rubbed Wrong: The saw-scaled viper got its name from jagged scales that jut out from its sides. When alarmed, the snake coils into a figure-8 and rubs these together to make a loud sound (like a rattlesnake's rattle) to warn away enemies.
Down With People[]
The saw-scaled viper coils before striking.
Experts believe that the saw-scaled viper kills more people every year than any other snake on the planet. Each year, up to 100,000 people are killed by snakebites from all species of snake combined. Experts don't have an exact number, but they estimate that this snake is responsible for at least 16,000 of those casualties. The saw-scaled viper's venom is especially good at attacking and destroying human blood cells. This causes extreme pain, and can kill a victim in as little as three days, though the poison has been known to stay in the human body and kill victims four months after the bite!
Temper Tantrum: One of the reasons this snake is so dangerous is that it doesn't tolerate intruders. The saw-scaled viper sometimes sits in the open, or under piles of twigs, and strikes repeatedly at anything that disturbs it.
Sidewinder: When slithering over soft ground, the saw-scaled viper can move sideways, and often moves this way when chasing after prey. The snake thrusts its head and neck to the side, and its body follows.
Strike Out[]
- A man is collecting firewood so he can cook dinner for his family and keep them warm. As he grabs dry sticks, he inches closer to a hidden saw-scaled viper. The snake notices the man, and rubs its scales together to scare him away.
- The man instantly jumps back at the sound, but the viper sees the quick motion as a threat and strikes. It misses, but the strike carries it closer to the man. The fast-acting snake strikes again, stabbing its fangs into the man's leg.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The saw-scaled viper is mentioned on several other knowledge cards cards:
- It's mentioned as part of the "big four" in Asia on the knowledge card for the Krait, which comes immediately after the viper's.
- It's also mentioned on the Egg-Eating Snake's card, as the harmless serpent mimics the deadly viper's posture to ward off threats.
- The "Down With People!" section on the knowledge card erroneously refers to the viper's venom as poison.
- The saw-scaled viper is featured in Odd Creature Out on Monster Mania 75.