Levant viper

Description: Gray to pale brown with large dark brown spots on the top of the black and a "" mark on top of the head.

Characteristics: This viper belongs to a large group of true vipers. Like its cousins, it is large and dangerous. Its venom is hemotoxic. Many deaths have been reported from bites of this species. It is a strong snake with an irritable disposition; it hisses loudly when ready to strike.

Habitat: Varies greatly, from farmlands to mountainous areas.

Length: Average 1 meter, maximum 1.5 meters.

Distribution: Greece, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Afghanistan, lower portion of the former USSR, and Saudi Arabia.

For information on a specific poisonous snake or lizard, click on one of the links below:

Snake Families:   - Colubridae   - Crotalidae   - Elapidae   - Viperidae   POISONOUS SNAKES OF THE AMERICAS:   - American copperhead   - Bushmaster   - Coral snake   - Cottonmouth   - Eastern diamondback rattlesnake   - Eyelash pit viper   - Fer-de-lance   - Jumping viper   - Mojave rattlesnake   - Tropical rattlesnake   - Western diamondback rattlesnake   POISONOUS SNAKES OF EUROPE:   - Common adder   - Long-nosed adder   - Pallas' viper   - Ursini's viper   POISONOUS SNAKES OF AFRICA AND ASIA:   - Boomslang   - Bush viper   - Common cobra   - Egyptian cobra   - Gaboon viper   - Green mamba   - Green tree pit viper   - Habu pit viper   - Horned desert viper   - King cobra   - Krait   - Levant viper   - Malayan pit viper   - McMahon's viper   - Mole viper or burrowing vipe   - Palestinian viper   - Puff adder   - Rhinoceros viper or river jack   - Russell's viper   - Sand viper   - Saw-scaled viper   - Wagler's pit viper or temple viper   POISONOUS SNAKES OF AUSTRALASIA:   - Australian copperhead   - Death adder   - Taipan   - Tiger snake   POISONOUS SEA SNAKES:   - Banded sea snake   - Yellow-bellied sea snake   POISONOUS LIZARDS:   - Gila monster   - Mexican beaded lizard