As spring advances and snakes start emerging from their winter hibernation, we have put together information about the nine venomous snake species in Israel.
Advertisement
Important reminder: venomous snakes are protected wildlife in Israel; capturing or harming them is prohibited. We recommend enjoying their beauty from a safe distance, and if you see a snake in a residential area, keep it in sight and call a certified snake catcher.
In case of a snakebite: Immediately dial 101 for Magen David Adom. Move the victim to a safe place, and keep them calm and at rest. If the bite is on an arm or leg (which is usually the case), immobilize the limb to prevent movement, and remove any rings, bracelets, or watches. If possible, photograph the snake from a safe distance or try to recall its appearance—the snake's length, color, and any distinctive markings.
Do not! Do not suck out the venom. Also, do not cut, heat, cool, or apply a tourniquet to the bite area.
Here are the 9 venomous snakes of Israel:
Painted saw-scaled viper (Echis coloratus)
Identification: length 60–90 cm. In most parts of the Israeli desert the snake is light brown, whereas in the Eilat mountains it is reddish-brown. It's dorsal background color is darker than its flanks, and its back is dotted with pale spots. The head is flat, triangular, and clearly distinct from the body.
Distribution in Israel: Judean Desert, Negev, Arava, Gilboa foothills, and the Jordan Valley.
Level of venomousness: potentially lethal. A bite can cause severe systemic symptoms and have resulted in fatalities.
Interesting snake fact: why do snakes flick their tongues? It's actually their sense of smell. Snakes have an olfactory organ in their palates called the Jacobson's organ, which detects tiny scent molecules in the air The tongue brings the air into the palate, allowing the molecules to be absorbed by the organ.
Photo: Ben Shermeister
Palestine viper (Daboia palaestinae)
Identification: this is the largest and most dangerous venomous snake in Israel, mainly because it often lives near human residenial areas. It can grow up to 130 cm in length, and its body is thicker than that of other Israeli snakes. A chain of diamonds runs along its back, which may merge into a zigzag stripe, and thin dark vertical bars run along its flanks. Its background color ranges from brown to gray. Its triangular head is broader than its body.
Distribution in Israel: throughout the country, from Be'er Sheva northwards to the lower slopes of Mount Hermon.
Level of venomousness: potentially lethal. Bites can cause severe systemic symptoms and have resulted in fatalities. The Palestine viper accounts for the highest number of reported snakebites in Israel.
Interesting snake fact: snakes have what seem like 'double' reproductive organs! Males have two hemipenes, while females have two hemiclitorides, one on each side of the cloacal opening.
Photo: Ben Shermeister
Lebanon viper (Montivipera bornmuelleri)
Identification: up to 80 cm in length (shorter than the Palestine viper). Its body color varies from bluish-grey to dark brown, with irregular dark cross bands on its back. Its triangular head is broader than its body. It has supraocular scales that form conspicuous 'eyebrows' that project sideways and shade the eyes, making them difficult to see from above.
Distribution in Israel: found exclusively on the summit of Mount Hermon.
Level of venomousness: moderately venomous. Bites usually cause localized symptoms and are not considered life-threatening, but individual reactions can vary, and severe responses are possible.
Photo: Ben Shermeister
Negev horned viper (Pseudocerastes fieldi)
Identification: up to 90 cm in length. It has a sand-colored background with slightly darker, rectangular brown blotches. It is a stout snake with a triangular head. This snake has raised horn-like scales above each eye (shorter than those of the Saharan horned viper, described below).
Distribution in Israel: Central Negev and Arava.
Level of venomousness: moderately venomous. Bites usually cause localized symptoms and are not considered life-threatening, but individual reactions can vary, and severe responses are possible.
An interesting snake fact: a related species, the spider-tailed horned viper of Iran, has a tail that mimics a spider and is used to lure birds. When the birds swoop in for the 'spider', the snake may strike and eat them instead.
Photo: Liri Koflevitz
Arabian horned viper (Cerastes gasperettii)
Identification: up to 90 cm in length. It has a hand-colored background with brown cross-bands on its back. It moves by side-winding, i.e. with lateral rather than forward motion. Its scales appear rough, and its triangular head is broader than its body.
Distribution in Israel: Arava dunes.
Level of venomousness: highly venomous and capable of causing serious harm. Bites may produce systemic symptoms and can be life-threatening.
Snake myth: snakes are aggressive and chase people.
Reality: While you should keep a safe distance from venomous snakes, they rarely chase animals that are not their prey, such as humans.
Photo: Alex Savenko
Sahara sand viper (Cerastes vipera)
Identification: up to 31 cm in length, it is the shortest venomous snake in Israel. It has a sand-colored body with scattered brown blotches, and a general chunky appearance due to its short, thick body. Its triangular head is broader than its body. It moves by side-winding. The tail tip of females is black, while the tail tip of males ranges from hand-colored to black.
Distribution in Israel: Western Negev sand dunes.
Level of venomousness: moderately venomous. Bites usually cause localized symptoms and are not considered life-threatening, but individual reactions can vary, and severe responses are possible.
Shown here in a defensive display: the snake side-winds in place with an open mouth to deter potential predators | Photo: Guy Haimovich
Saharan horned viper (Cerastes cerastes)
Identification: A heavy-bodied snake grows up to 75 cm in length. Its background color ranges from yellowish-brown to gray-brown, with brown and bluish blotches on the back. Its triangular head is broader than its body, and it has two elongated horn-like scales rising above the eyes. It has rough scales. The snake moves by side-winding.
Distribution in Israel: Western Negev dunes near the Egyptian border.
Level of venomousness: highly venomous; can cause serious harm. Bites may produce systemic symptoms and can be life-threatening.
Interesting snake fact: most snakes in Israel are harmless to humans. Only nine of the 42 species are venomous.
Photo: Ben Shermeister
Snake myth: All black snakes in Israel are harmless.
Reality: Two of the three black snakes in Israel are venomous. One of them is:
Desert black snake (Walterinnesia aegyptia)
Identification: up to 120 cm in length. It is uniformly glossy black. The head is rounded and is only slightly broader than the body. It resembles the non-venomous Black whip snake, which also occurs in Israel. There are three main differences: (1) the Desert black snake is entirely black (except for a grayish belly), whereas the Black whip snake has a whitish lower jaw; (2) the Desert black snake has black eyes, whereas the Black whip snake has red eyes with black pupils; (3) the Desert black snake hatches black, while juvenile Black whip snakes hatch gray-brown with black markings and only turn black as adults.
Distribution in Israel: Dead Sea Rift Valley, Judean Desert, Negev, and Arava.
Level of venomousness: highly venomous; a bite can cause serious harm. Bites may produce systemic symptoms and can be life-threatening.
Photo: Shlomo Nadel
Snake myth: All venomous snakes have a triangular head.
Reality: The most venomous snake in Israel (though bites are rare) is the Engaddi burrowing asp (below), whose head is not triangular. It is a thin, slender black snake with a rounded head.
Engaddi burrowing asp (Atractaspis engaddensis)
Identification: Length up to 80 cm. It is entirely black, slender, and glossy, with small black eyes and a flattened, rounded nose that is adapted for living underground among rocks and crevices. It can sometimes be seen coiled like a cinnamon roll. The burrowing asp can be distinguished from the Desert black snake by three main characteristics: (1) it is shorter and slimmer; (2) it has a smaller head and eyes; and (3) its belly is black, whereas the Desert black snake’s belly is grayish.
Distribution in Israel: Judean Desert, central Negev, Arava, and desert areas along the Jordan Valley.
Level of venomousness: potentially lethal. Bites can cause severe systemic symptoms, and have resulted in fatalities.
Photo: Ben Shermeister
Special thanks to Dr. Alex Slavenko and Oren Oster for their assistance in writing this article.
Editing: Galia Halevy-Sade
English editing: Gloria Volohonsky
Snake collage numbering and photo credits at the main photo above:
- Engaddi burrowing asp, photo: Ben Shermeister
- Painted Saw-scaled Viper, photo: Ben Shermeister
- Sahara sand viper, photo: Guy Haimovich
- Arabian horned viper, photo: Alex Slavenko
- Negev horned viper, photo: Shlomo Nadel
- Saharan horned viper, photo: Ben Shermeister
- Lebanon viper, photo: Ben Shermeister
- Palestine viper, photo: Ben Shermeister
- Desert Black Snake, photo: Shlomo Nadel
Maya serves as Scientific Director at "Little Big Science". Maya is a zoologist and an entomologist with a PhD from Tel-Aviv University, currently working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Florida Museum of Natural History, at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on social insects - especially ants - and covers topics such as ecology and invasive biology.
