Big Four (Indian snakes)

The four venomous snake species responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant human snake bite cases on the Indian subcontinent (majorly in India and Sri Lanka) are sometimes collectively referred to as the Big Four. They are as follows:

1. Russell's viper, Daboia russelii
2. Common krait, Bungarus caeruleus
3. Indian cobra, Naja naja
4. Indian saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus

According to a 2020 study that did a comprehensive analysis of snake bites in India, Russell's viper accounted for 43% of the snakebites in India, followed by kraits (18%), cobras (12%), hump nose viper (4%), saw-scaled viper (1.7%), and water snake (0.3%). The rest (21%) were of unidentified species.

Treatment

A polyvalent serum that effectively neutralizes the venom of the Big Four is widely available in India, and is frequently administered to save lives.

References

1. Big Four
2. Common krait
3. Indian cobra
4. Russell's viper
5. Echis carinatus
6. List of dangerous snakes
7. Venomous snake
8. Snake Cell Andhra Pradesh
9. Snakes and ladders
10. Snake
11. Un indien dans la ville
12. Antivenom
13. India national cricket team
14. Snake worship
15. Snakes & Arrows
16. Serpent symbolism
17. Snake venom
18. Burmese python
19. Nez Perce
20. Eastern Ghats