Saw Scaled Viper and Sri Lankan Coral Snake

Saw Scaled Viper (Echis carinatus)

Belongs to the family viperidae. Is relatively small snake which found in the north western, northern and north eastern arid coastal areas. Forehead with light grey cross and series of amber green patches along the vertebral areas helps to identify. Only few cases were reported from Jaffna, mannar and yala. The venom is hematotoxic and nephrotoxix. Vomiting of blood and bleeding from the gums.

Sri Lankan Coral Snake (Calliophis melanurus)

Belongs to the family elapidae. There are 2 species of coral snakes in Sri Lanka. One specie and One Sub Specie is endemic to SL. Commonly found in dry zone. These species are highly venomous but small in size, so their fangs aren’t able to pierce the skin of large animals. So bites aren’t recorded from these species.