The Viperidae

Genus

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

Subfamily Azemiopinae

Aziemops

Fea's Viper

China, Burma, Vietnam and Tibet

1 species, A. feae: found in mountains: oviparous: has 9 headshields and smooth scales. Mild human bites recorded.

Subfamily Viperinae

Adenorhinos

Short-Headed Viper

Tanzania

1 species, formerly part of Atheris. DANGEROUS

Atheris

Bush Vipers

C Africa

8-12 species, all arboreal and usually associated with hill forest. Not always fatal but should still be considered DANGEROUS

Bitis

African Adders, Puff Adders, Gaboon and Rhinoceros Vipers

Africa and Arabia

?'

16-17 species. The Gaboon Viper B. gabonica is especially beautiful. Venom varies from mild to fatal. At least some species (esp. the Puff Adder, B. arietans) should be considered DANGEROUS.

Causus

Night Adders

Africa

?"

6 species living in moist forest and savannah and preying mainly on frogs and toads. Venom not normally fatal.

Cerastus

Horned Viper

N Africa and Middle East

?'

3 species, normally found in arid and desert areas. Bad-tempered and DANGEROUS

Daboia

Russell's Viper

Indian subcontinent, SE Asia and China

1 species: formerly considered Vipera russellii. Kills many people each year owing partly to bad temperament. DANGEROUS.

Echis

Carpet or Saw-Scaled Vipers

N Africa and Middle East

Up to 3'

4-12 species, all formerly lumped together under the species E. carinatus. DANGEROUS

Eristicophis

McMahon's Viper 

Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan

1 species. 

Macrovipera

N Africa

4 species 

Montatheris

Montane Vipers

E Africa

Up to 14"

1 species, the Kenya Montane Viper M. hindii. Found at high altitudes but is terrestrial: not considered likely to be dangerous.

Proatheris

Lowland Swamp Viper

S & E Africa

1 small species: bites probably not life-threatening.

Pseudocerastes

Horned Viper

Middle East, C Asia and India

2 species. 

Vipera

Vipers

Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Asia

?"

27 species, widely distributed from W Europe to Asia. A few are DANGEROUS.

Subfamily Crotalinae

Agkistrodon

Cottonmouths, Copperheads, Asian Pit Vipers

USA, Mexico and Central America

?"

3-4 species. Mattison notes that these snakes resemble vipers rather than the traditional elapid form. All are DANGEROUS

Atropoides

S Mexico and C America

3 species: formerly members of Bothrops

Bothriechis

Mexico, C America, Venezuela

8 species: formerly members of Bothrops

Bothriopsis

S America (not Uruguay, Argentina or Chile)

7 species: formerly members of Bothrops

Bothrocophias

Colombia

1 species

Bothrops

Eyelash Vipers, Fer-de-Lance

C & S America

34 species, formerly 50 but some species split off into different genera. At least some species in this genus are DANGEROUS.

Calloselasma

SE Asia

1 species, toxicity can be fatal.

Cerrophidion

Mexico and C America

4 species

Crotalus

Rattlesnakes

N America inc. Mexico

?"

29 species: size, toxicity and proximity to human dwelling places vary, but at least some should be considered DANGEROUS

Deinagkistrodon

China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos

1 species

Ermia

China

1 species, formerly included in Trimesurus

Gloydius

Asia, including Russia, India and Japan but not SE Asia

10 species

Hypnale

Sri Lanka and India

3 species.

Lachesis

Bushmaster 

C America, N S America

10' 

3 species, of which two were formerly considered subspecies of L. muta: the only oviparous pit vipers in the New World.

Ophryacus

Mexico

2 species

Ovophis

India, SE Asia and Japan

4 species

Porthidium

Mexico, C America, Venezuela and Ecuador

7 species, formerly members of Bothrops

Protobothrops

Japan, India, SE Asia, China

7 species

Sistrurus

Massasaugas and Pygmy Rattlesnakes

USA and Mexico

10-30"

3-4 species. Most if not all considered not dangerous to humans.

Trimerus

Bamboo or Temple Vipers 

China, Indian subcontinent and SE Asia

32 species: widespread.

Tropidolaemus

S India and SE Asia

2 species: formerly considered members of Trimeresurus