Identifying the Poisonous Snakes of Sri Lanka

Of all the travel destinations in the world, Sri Lanka may have the deadliest animals. In this country live roughly three dozen species of venomous snakes. While medical attention should be sought after a bite from any snake, knowing how to identify the most dangerous ones is crucial.

Viper

A common venomous snake in the country is the viper. The body of this creature is typically fat and short in length, and its head is arrow-shaped. While not all vipers are poisonous, most are and are known to find their way into urban areas.

Krait

The common krait have glossy scales that are thick and black with thin, lightly colored stripes. Luckily, these reptiles are nocturnal, so you most likely will not run into one during the daytime. If you’re visiting in the rainy season, make sure to close your windows before you go to bed. These snakes like to hide inside to stay dry.

Cobra

The most common type of snake in Sri Lanka is the cobra. While they vary in color, most species of cobra can be identified by their ribbed hoods. If you see a charmer enchanting one of these creatures on the street, make sure you stay a few feet away. While many charmers remove the fangs of the snake, others do not. Even trained snakes can attack if they feel threatened.