YEMEN OBSERVER (Sana’a) 07 May 05 A lesson on the more dangerous snakes of Yemen (Khalil Al-Buraihi)
Sana’a: Yemen is one of the most environmentally diverse countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and its snake population is no exception. You might find any number of species of snakes while you are travelling across the mountains and deserts of Arabia or even diving in its seas.
Not all of these snakes are dangerous to people, but there are some very dangerous species in the area. Nine poisonous species are recorded in Arabia, and six are found in Yemen. They are as follows: burrowing asp (Atractaspis microlepidota), East African saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidun), carpect viper (Echis coloratus), puff adder (Bitis ariertans), Arabian cobra (Naja haje arabicus), and yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus). The first species is widespread in the agricultural areas. The second holds the title for killing the largest number of people in the world. The fourth snake has killed more people in Africa than any other, but the forth one is the most dangerous in the world.
"Snakes in Arabia", a lecture given at the Yemen Society for Wildlife Protection in Sana’a, by Damien Egan, a specialist in herpetology and fresh water fish, identified the different species of snakes in Arabia, focussing on the species most dangerous to people. Maps, projectors, and a laptop made it easy for the audience to understand the lecture, along with the help of Dr. Abdulkarim A. M. Nasher, Professor of Zoology at Sana'a University.
Most of the sea snakes, which are plentiful in the Arabian Gulf, are not usually aggressive, and can be handled by an experienced fisherman. If the snake is hungry, or in its mating season, however, it can be very aggressive. This is the case of one local sea snake, Shaw's Sea Snake (Lapemis curtis), which is quite poisonous, capable of killing a victim within a few hours. The symptoms of a bite from this snake are similar to being drunk, with the victim losing balance and becoming disoriented. These symptoms are also similar to those of a cobra bite, but they differ in that the cobra’s venom affects the nervous system while the sea snake’s affects the muscles. There has been only one instance of death recorded in the Gulf area as a result of this sea snake's bite.
Toxicity of snakes is classified by the type of effect it has on the snakebite victim. One type of snake venom affects the nervous system; another kind will have a local effect; another will affect the blood, and a fourth affects the involuntary muscles. Antitoxins, or antidotes, have been produced against most snake species venoms.
Burton’s carpet viper is a close relative of the saw-scaled viper. The much higher population of saw-scaled vipers is the reason it has a much higher number of bite victims. Burton's carpet viper is almost exclusively found in mountain areas, as opposed to the saw-scale, which has a larger variety of habitats. The carpet viper has very long fangs and can attack its prey within a period of 1.5 seconds. However, it cannot attack from a long distance, but only when it is near to its prey. It has a narrow neck and flat head. The experts strongly recommend that this snake is to be avoided if found.
The most widespread of the venomous land snake species, and the most poisonous, is the Arabian cobra. It is characterized by its short fangs and lack mobility, and its venom, which affects the nervous system, can be lethal if immediate medical attention is not received. As mentioned above, symptoms of a cobra bite make the victim appear as though drunk.
The most common species of snakes in Yemen are the following: Hardwick’s rat snake (Coliber ventromaculatus), fake snake (Philot moileasis), spotted snake (Philothommus senth oriegatus), and house snake (Lamprophis Fuliganosis).
A lesson on the more dangerous snakes of Yemen