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Russell’s viper
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Russell’s viper

reptile
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Also known as: Daboia russelli, daboia, tic polonga
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Also called:
daboia, ortic polonga
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Russell’s viper, (Daboia russelii), abundant, highly venomous terrestrial snake of the family Viperidae. It is found from India to Taiwan and Java, most often in open country. It is a major cause of snakebite deaths within its range because it often exists in farmlands where human contact and rodent prey are abundant. The viper grows to a maximum of about 1.5 m (5 feet) and is marked with three rows of reddish brown spots outlined in black and again in white. Daboia is a live-bearer, and females commonly produce litters of more than 25 neonates.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.