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India's Big Four Venomous Snakes Apr 6, 2026 • 11 min read
India's 'Big Four' — Indian cobra, common krait, Russell's viper, and saw-scaled viper — cause most snakebite deaths in the country. Here is how to recognise each.
Photo: Gannavarapu Narasimhamurti via Wikimedia Commons · CC0
The full guide is in progress. Outline below.
Why the 'Big Four' matter for public health in India Indian Cobra (Naja naja): hood, habitat, behaviour Common Krait: nocturnal bites, why so many happen indoors Russell's Viper: chain pattern, agricultural risk Saw-scaled Viper: small, fast, distinctive rasping sound Other dangerous Indian species (king cobra, banded krait, hump-nosed viper) Lookalikes: non-venomous species commonly killed by mistake Prevention at home and in the field What to do after a bite — and how a picture helps doctors Download CTA and link to the India species page Get SerpentID while the guide is being finished Identify any snake by picture in seconds — free on iOS and Android.
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india big four snakes indian cobra common krait russell's viper saw-scaled viper
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