{"id":330,"date":"2025-06-05T05:55:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T02:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/en\/2025\/06\/05\/nice-or-not-to-meet-the-venomous-snakes-in-israel\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T23:37:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T20:37:02","slug":"nice-or-not-to-meet-the-venomous-snakes-in-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/en\/2025\/06\/05\/nice-or-not-to-meet-the-venomous-snakes-in-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"It's a Pleasure to Meet You (Or Not): the Venomous Snakes of Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Important reminder:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>In case of a snakebite:<\/strong> 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\u2014the snake's length, color, and any distinctive markings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Do not!<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do not suck out the venom. Also, do not cut, heat, cool, or apply a tourniquet to the bite area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Here are the 9 venomous snakes of Israel:<\/p>\n<h2><b>Painted saw-scaled viper (<\/b><b><i>Echis coloratus<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identification: length 60\u201390 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Distribution in Israel: Judean Desert, Negev, Arava, Gilboa foothills, and the Jordan Valley.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Level of venomousness: potentially lethal. A bite can cause severe systemic symptoms and have resulted in fatalities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Interesting snake fact: why do snakes flick their tongues? It's\u00a0 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36413\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36413\" class=\"wp-image-36413 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05d1\u05df-\u05e9\u05e8\u05de\u05d9\u05d9\u05e1\u05d8\u05e8-\u05d0\u05e4\u05e2\u05d4-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36413\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Ben Shermeister<\/p><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u05e0\u05d7\u05e9 \ud83d\udc0d\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2GUM_419Iu8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Video editing: Yael Enzer Geva<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Palestine viper (<\/b><b><i>Daboia palaestinae<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Distribution in Israel: throughout the country, from Be'er Sheva northwards to the lower slopes of Mount Hermon.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36414\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36414\" class=\"wp-image-36414 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05d1\u05df-\u05e9\u05e8\u05de\u05d9\u05d9\u05e1\u05d8\u05e8-\u05e6\u05e4\u05e2-\u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05d9-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36414\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Ben Shermeister<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Lebanon viper (<\/b><b><i>Montivipera bornmuelleri<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Identification: up to 80 cm in length\u00a0 (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.<\/p>\n<p>Distribution in Israel: found exclusively on the summit of Mount Hermon.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36415\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36415\" class=\"wp-image-36415 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05d1\u05df-\u05e9\u05e8\u05de\u05d9\u05d9\u05e1\u05d8\u05e8-\u05e6\u05e4\u05e2-\u05d7\u05e8\u05de\u05d5\u05df-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36415\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Ben Shermeister<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Negev horned viper (<\/b><b><i>Pseudocerastes fieldi<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<p>Distribution in Israel: Central Negev and Arava.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>An interesting snake fact:\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36416\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36416\" class=\"wp-image-36416 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05e9\u05e4\u05d9\u05e4\u05d5\u05df_-\u05e7\u05e8\u05d3\u05d9\u05d8_-\u05dc\u05d9\u05e8\u05d9-\u05e7\u05d5\u05e4\u05dc\u05d1\u05d9\u05e5-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1441\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36416\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Liri Koflevitz<\/p><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u05e9\u05e4\u05d9\u05e4\u05d5\u05df | \u05e7\u05e8\u05d3\u05d9\u05d8:\u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d4 \u05e0\u05d3\u05dc\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Hgse5nhokUA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Video: Shlomo Nadel<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Arabian horned viper (<\/b><b><i>Cerastes gasperettii<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Distribution in Israel: Arava dunes.<\/p>\n<p>Level of venomousness: highly venomous and capable of causing serious harm. Bites may produce systemic symptoms and can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Snake myth: snakes are aggressive and chase people.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality<\/strong>: While you should keep a safe distance from venomous snakes, they rarely chase animals that are not their prey, such as humans.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36417\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36417\" class=\"wp-image-36417 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05e2\u05db\u05df-\u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc-\u05d0\u05dc\u05db\u05e1-\u05e1\u05dc\u05d1\u05e0\u05e7\u05d5-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1709\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36417\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Alex Savenko<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Sahara sand viper (<\/b><b><i>Cerastes vipera<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Distribution in Israel: Western Negev sand dunes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36418\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36418\" class=\"wp-image-36418 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05e2\u05db\u05df-\u05e7\u05d8\u05df-\u05e4\u05d5\u05e2\u05e8-\u05e4\u05d4-\u05d2\u05d9\u05d0-\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05de\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05e5-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1634\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36418\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shown here in a defensive display: the snake side-winds in place with an open mouth to deter potential predators | Photo: Guy Haimovich<\/p><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u05e2\u05db\u05df \u05e7\u05d8\u05df \ud83d\udc0d\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wa1NS038Pmg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Video editing: Yael Enzer Geva<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Saharan horned viper (<\/b><b><i>Cerastes cerastes<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Distribution in Israel: Western Negev dunes near the Egyptian border.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Level of venomousness: highly venomous; can cause serious harm. Bites may produce systemic symptoms and can be life-threatening.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Interesting snake fact: most snakes in Israel are harmless to humans. Only nine of the 42 species are venomous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36419\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36419\" class=\"wp-image-36419 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05d1\u05df-\u05e9\u05e8\u05de\u05d9\u05d9\u05e1\u05d8\u05e8-\u05e2\u05db\u05df-\u05d7\u05e8\u05d8\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36419\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Ben Shermeister<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong><em>Snake myth: All black snakes in Israel are harmless.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Reality<\/strong>: Two of the three black snakes in Israel are venomous. One of them is:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Desert black snake (<\/b><b><i>Walterinnesia aegyptia<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Distribution in Israel: Dead Sea Rift Valley, Judean Desert, Negev, and Arava.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Level of venomousness: highly venomous; a bite can cause serious harm. Bites may produce systemic symptoms and can be life-threatening.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36420\" style=\"width: 1929px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36420\" class=\"wp-image-36420 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_3552\u05e4\u05ea\u05df-\u05e9\u05d7\u05d5\u05e8-\u05e7\u05e8\u05d3\u05d9\u05d8-\u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d4-\u05e0\u05d3\u05dc-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1919\" height=\"2560\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36420\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Shlomo Nadel<\/p><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u05e4\u05ea\u05df \u05e9\u05d7\u05d5\u05e8 \ud83d\udc0d \u05e0\u05d7\u05e9 \u05d0\u05e8\u05e1\u05d9 | \u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd \u05e1\u05e8\u05d8\u05d5\u05df: \u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d4 \u05e0\u05d3\u05dc\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9R0KO9kka2M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Video editing: Yael Enzer Geva<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong><em>Snake myth: All venomous snakes have a triangular head.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reality: The most venomous snake in Israel (though bites are rare) is the <\/span>Engaddi burrowing asp (below)<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, whose head is not triangular. It is a thin, slender black snake with a rounded head.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Engaddi burrowing asp (<\/b><b><i>Atractaspis engaddensis<\/i><\/b><b>)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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\u2019s belly is grayish.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Distribution in Israel: Judean Desert, central Negev, Arava, and desert areas along the Jordan Valley.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Level of venomousness: potentially lethal. Bites can cause severe systemic symptoms, and have resulted in fatalities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36421\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36421\" class=\"wp-image-36421 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/\u05d1\u05df-\u05e9\u05e8\u05de\u05d9\u05d9\u05e1\u05d8\u05e8-\u05e9\u05e8\u05e3-\u05e2\u05d9\u05df-\u05d2\u05d3\u05d9-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36421\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Ben Shermeister<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Special thanks to Dr. Alex Slavenko and Oren Oster for their assistance in writing this article.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Editing: Galia Halevy-Sade<\/p>\n<p>English editing: Gloria Volohonsky<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Snake collage numbering and photo credits at the main photo above:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Engaddi burrowing asp, photo: Ben Shermeister<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Painted Saw-scaled Viper, <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">photo: Ben Shermeister<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sahara sand viper, photo: Guy Haimovich<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arabian horned viper, photo: Alex Slavenko<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Negev horned viper, photo: Shlomo Nadel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Saharan horned viper, <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">photo: Ben Shermeister<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lebanon viper, <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">photo: Ben Shermeister<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Palestine viper, <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">photo: Ben Shermeister<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Desert Black Snake, photo: Shlomo Nadel<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biology","category-zoology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>It&#039;s a Pleasure to Meet You (Or Not): the Venomous Snakes of Israel - Little, Big Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/en\/2025\/06\/05\/nice-or-not-to-meet-the-venomous-snakes-in-israel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"It&#039;s a Pleasure to Meet You (Or Not): the Venomous Snakes of Israel - Little, Big Science\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Important reminder: venomous snakes are protected wildlife in Israel; capturing or harming them is prohibited. 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