Russell's viper
Medically significantDaboia russelii
It prefers open, sunny country. By day it is usually found lying coiled in grass; at night it moves about and crosses roads.4
About Russell's viperGame
Hidden
Many bites happen when someone steps on or near a snake they never saw. Walk slowly, look ahead, and stop in time.
Based on published guidance · pending expert review
Indian rock python
Non-venomousPython molurus
Mostly a forest snake, from dense jungle to sparse woodland on rocky hills. Where there is little forest, it keeps close to rivers and marshes.4
About the Indian rock pythonSaw-scaled viper
Medically significantEchis carinatus
In southern India it lives in dry scrub, grassland and rocky areas, and usually stays under rocks and around small bushes.5
About the saw-scaled viperGreen vine snake
Mildly venomousAhaetulla nasuta
It lives entirely in trees and bushes. Resting on the topmost branches of a bush, it generally passes for a green twig.8,4
About the green vine snakeCommon wolf snake
Non-venomousLycodon aulicus
Active at night, it forages among rocks and on walls and other rough surfaces, and hides in their holes and cracks by day.7
About the common wolf snakeCommon krait
Medically significantBungarus caeruleus
Mainly active at night, it is often seen entering houses or crossing roads, and it adapts readily to farms and gardens.6
About the common kraitRound 1 of 9Dry grassland at the edge of a field
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Paused
The path will wait for you.
Space stops (or takes a step). Click or tap the snake, or move the pointer with the arrow keys and press Enter. Tab reaches the places to look while you are stopped. D describes the scene; Esc or P pauses; F toggles full screen.
Spot the snake before you step near it
Walk a quiet path through grass, leaves, sand and scrub. Somewhere ahead a snake lies still, well hidden. Stop before your next step lands near it.
Stop when something looks wrong. The dashed footprint shows where your next step will land.
Point at the snake: click or tap it, or use the arrow keys and Enter. Sticks and ropes are false alarms.
Describe the scene for a text account of what is in view. F toggles full screen.
End of the path
0points
The snakes on your path
Watch your step
From the site’s first-aid guide:
- Watch where you put hands and feet. Don't reach into holes, nests or hidden spaces. Step onto rocks or logs rather than straight over them, as snakes may be resting against their sides.1,2
- Use a torch at night. Carry a torch or lamp after dark, especially after rain, and tap the ground ahead with a stick. Light around the house and on the way to the latrine helps too.1
- Wear boots and long trousers. Most bites are on the feet and lower legs. Wear solid shoes or boots and long trousers in fields, undergrowth and the dark, and gloves when clearing brush.1,2
Why it matters
Watch where you put your feet
The game is a simplification. This is the guidance it is built on.
Most bites are on the feet and legs
In South and South-East Asia, most snakebites are on the lower legs, ankles and feet of farm workers and their families. WHO guidance notes that 67% of bites are on the feet and legs, and that agricultural workers and children are the most affected.1,3
Camouflage makes snakes hard to see
Snakes are secretive, and many rely on camouflage, which makes them difficult to see. Knowing the places where your local snakes like to live and hide helps you avoid them.1
Dusk and darkness add to the risk
Take particular care at night, and when walking to and from the fields before dawn and after dusk. In the figures WHO quotes, 40% of bites happened between 5 pm and 10 pm, and better lighting helps people see snakes.1
Step on, not over
Step on to rocks or logs rather than straight over them, because snakes may be lying against their sides. Stay away from tall grass and piles of leaves when you can.1,2
What the game simplifies
- Small snakes are drawn about a quarter larger than life, so they can be seen on a phone screen.
- Every snake here lies still. Real snakes often move away when they feel footsteps, but some, like Russell’s viper, hold their ground.
- “Too close” means a step landing within about 40 cm of the snake. That is a game rule, not a safe distance: if you see a snake, step back and give it room.
- The rounds mix species from different parts of South Asia; the green vine snake, in the strict sense, lives only in Sri Lanka.
References
- 1
World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia. Guidelines for the management of snakebites, 2nd edition. New Delhi: WHO SEARO; 2016. ISBN 978-92-9022-530-0. (Chapter 2, Prevention, pp. 19–23.) who.int
- 2
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH. Venomous snakes (outdoor workers). cdc.gov
- 3
World Health Organization. Snakebite envenoming: fact sheet. who.int
- 4
Wall, F. (1921). Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon. Colombo Museum; H.R. Cottle, Government Printer, Colombo. Habits of Python molurus, Dryophis mycterizans (the vine snake, in the older, broader sense) and Vipera russelli (= Daboia russelii). archive.org
- 5
Samson, K., Abinesh, A., Vishnu, C.S. & Vishwanath, P.R. (2024). An observation on neonate litter size of the venomous Saw-scaled Viper from Madurai, India. Reptile Rap #246, Zoo's Print 39(2): 6–8. zoosprint.org
- 6
Dabholkar, P. & Sagar, A. (2024). Scavenging by Indian Kraits, Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider 1801) (Elapidae), in Alibag, Maharashtra, India. Reptiles & Amphibians 31: e19957. doi.org
- 7
Vishnu, S.N. & Ramesh, C. (2021). Predation on a Common Wolfsnake, Lycodon aulicus (Colubridae), by an Indian Roller, Coracias benghalensis (Coraciidae), in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India. Reptiles & Amphibians 28(1): 157–158. doi.org
- 8
Uetz, P. et al. (eds.) (2026). Ahaetulla nasuta (Lacépède, 1789). The Reptile Database. reptile-database.reptarium.cz