A Few Venomous Snakes of East Africa
Bitis arietans
Puff Adder
A snake with venom that kills cells and tissues and causes extreme pain. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Bitis gabonica
Gaboon Viper
A snake with venom that kills cells and tissues and causes extreme pain. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Bitis nasicornis
Rhinoceros Viper
A snake with venom that kills cells and tissues and causes extreme pain. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of Simongsh under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Echis pyramidum
Northeast African Carpet Viper
A snake with venom that kills cells and tissues and causes extreme pain and sometimes bleeding. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Causus rhombeatus
Rhombic Night Adder
A snake with mild venom can cause pain and swelling near the bite site. A bite should be treated at the hospital by symptom management with observation.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Dendroaspis polylepis
Black Mamba
A snake with venom that affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis and difficulty breathing. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Dendroaspis angusticeps
Green Mamba
A snake with venom that affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis and difficulty breathing. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of. Stephen Spawls
Naja subfulva
Brown or Eastern Forest Cobra
A snake with venom that affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis and difficulty breathing. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed. This snake tends to be reluctant to bite and would rather escape.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Naja haje
Egyptian Cobra
A snake with venom that affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis and difficulty breathing. A bite is a medical emergency so proceed to a hospital immediately for antivenom therapy as needed.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Naja pallida
Red Spitting Cobra
This cobra has venom that kills cells and tissues, and they can spit their venom into your eyes from 3 meters away. A bite or venom in the eye is a medical emergency, so please get to the hospital quickly for treatment. Can bite at night while sleeping.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Naja ashei
Ashe's Spitting Cobra
This cobra has venom that kills cells and tissues, and they can spit their venom into your eyes from 3 meters away. A bite or venom in the eye is a medical emergency, so please get to the hospital quickly for treatment.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Spawls
Naja nigricollis
Black-Necked Spitting Cobra
This cobra has venom that kills cells and tissues, and they can spit their venom into your eyes from 3 meters away. A bite or venom in the eye is a medical emergency, so please get to the hospital quickly for treatment.
Photo courtesy of John Lyakurwa under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0