COMMON SNAKES OF THE SOUTHERN DRC There are in the region of 137 different types of snakes in the DRC and most of them are not dangerous. Six types of snakes in the southern DRC are considered potentially deadly with the Black Mamba the most dangerous. VERY DANGEROUS MILDLY HARMLESS DANGEROUS VENOMOUS Has caused Painful bite, but does Not thought Not dangerous human fatalities not require antivenom to be harmful to humans VERY VERY VERY VERY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS Black Mamba Black Mamba Black-necked Spitting Cobra Gaboon Adder (Dendroaspis polylepis) (Dendroaspis polylepis) (Naja nigricollis) (Bitis gabonica) VERY VERY VERY VERY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS Puff Adder Oates’ Twig Snake Common Boomslang - male Common Boomslang - female (Bitis arietans arietans) (Thelotornis capensis oatesii) (Dispholidus typus viridis) (Dispholidus typus viridis) MILDLY MILDLY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS VENOMOUS VENOMOUS Rhombic Night Adder Bibron’s Stiletto Snake Olive Grass Snake Herald or Red-lipped Snake (Causus rhombeatus) (Atractaspis bibronii) Photo Warren Dick (Psammophis mossambicus) (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia) HARMLESS CAN INFLICT HARMLESS HARMLESS A NASTY BITE Rhombic Egg-eater Spotted Bush Snake Brown House Snake Mole Snake (Dasypeltis scabra) (Philothamnus semivariegatus) (Boaedon capensis) (Pseudaspis cana) © Johan Marais African Snakebite Institute Snakebite African © Johan Marais JOHAN MARAIS is the author of various books on reptiles including the best-seller A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including Snake Awareness, Scorpion Awareness EMERGENCY PROTOCOL and Venomous Snake Handling. Johan is accredited by the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) and is a IN THE EVENT OF A SNAKE BITE Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and DO NOT ww Travel Doctor-approved service provider. His courses are 1 Keep the victim calm, immobilized and ... apply a tourniquet. also accredited by the Health Professions Council of ... cut and suck the wound. transport the victim to the closest South Africa (HPCSA). ... use ice or very hot water. hospital without delay. ... give the victim alcohol. ... apply electric shock. 2 If the victim stops breathing, resort to ... inject antivenom randomly. artificial respiration or make use of a Antivenom (if required) must Johan Marais | African Snakebite Institute Bag Valve Mask. be administered by a doctor +27 82 494 2039 | [email protected] 3 Call the Poison Information Centre help- in a hospital environment. www.AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE.com line for further advice: 0861 555 777..