6 Venomous Snakes found in Saudi Arabia (2025)
Believe it or not, you can find 6 types of venomous snakes in Saudi Arabia.
But please don’t live in fear, thinking that you are going to be bitten. In general, snakes try to avoid any contact or interaction with people. If you leave them alone, you shouldn’t have any trouble!
Did you know that snakes are venomous, NOT poisonous? If you eat something that makes you sick, then it’s considered “poisonous.” If an animal, like a snake, delivers its toxins when it bites, it’s considered “venomous.”
*If you encounter any of these species, PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB! Venomous snakes are dangerous animals and should be left alone. The more you agitate them, the more likely you will get bitten. DO NOT RELY ON THIS ARTICLE to correctly identify a snake that has recently bitten you. If you have recently been bitten, GO DIRECTLY to the nearest hospital to get help and to determine if the snake is venomous.*
Venomous Snakes in Saudi Arabia:
#1. Borkin’s Carpet Viper
- Echis borkini
Also known as the Yemen Carpet Viper.
Look at pictures of this venomous snake here!
- These small, scaly snakes are 30-90 cm (12-35 in) long on average.
- Body colors include shades of brown, gray, and orange. In some specimens, there are dark-edged blotches along the back.
- Their pear-shaped heads are easily distinguishable from their necks. They also have slender tails.
- The snout appears short and rounded, while the eyes are relatively large.
Borkin’s Carpet Vipers are found exclusively in the dry desert regions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the Middle East. These nocturnal hunters come out when the sun sets, tracking down food in the form of mammals, birds, lizards, scorpions, centipedes, and other snakes.
Borkin’s Carpet Viper Range Map
Don’t let the unassuming size of the Borkin’s Carpet Viper fool you! This small but terrible snake is irritable, aggressive, and is packed with highly lethal venom. When threatened, a Borkin’s Carpet Viper will move its body into C-shaped folds, rubbing its scales together to make a hissing sound. When it does, respect its warning and back away slowly.
Victims who get bitten by the Borkin’s Carpet Viper might get lulled into a false sense of security. This snake’s venom takes time to work its way into the body. However, a few days after the bite, blood clotting and hemorrhage may occur. It’s crucial to seek immediate treatment if you’ve been bitten!
#2. Field’s Horned Viper
- Pseudocerastes fieldi
Also known as False Horned Viper, Field’s Viper.
- These stout-bodied snakes are 46-122 cm (18-48 in) long on average. Their short, slender tails are visibly black on the tip.
- Their heads are pear-shaped and flattened, visibly distinct from their necks. Their snouts are short and blunt.
- The horn-like protrusions above this viper’s eyes aren’t as remarkable as other related viper species. That’s why it has another common name, the “False Horned Viper.”
Look for this venomous snake in Saudi Arabia among deserts and shrublands. If you find S-shaped markings on the sand, it might mean that a Field’s Horned Viper is nearby, moving in a sidewinding pattern. Be particularly watchful near rock crevices and animal burrows where this viper likes to nest.
Field’s Horned Viper Range Map
Field’s Horned Vipers are masters of the night. In the cover of darkness, they set out to hunt unsuspecting lizards, mice, small mammals, birds, and spiders.
Their venom is neurotoxic, and victims who get bitten may experience extreme pain, swelling, and even paralysis.
Though they’re typically shy and live far from human civilization, Field’s Horned Vipers won’t hesitate to attack if they feel cornered. First, they will hiss at you to announce a warning. If that happens, it’s best that you back away and leave the area before they get a chance to strike!
#3. Arabian Cobra
- Naja arabica
- Adults grow up to 240 cm (94 in) long.
- Their heads are broad and flattened with round snouts.
- The coloring is brown, copper, or dark gold, with pale throats and bellies.
It’s rare to see this venomous snake in Saudi Arabia.
That’s because Arabian Cobras live in remote areas in the hottest deserts of the world! They stay close to the sparse vegetation and bodies of water in oases. During the day, they hunt frogs, small mammals, birds, and other snakes.
Guard your eyes! The Arabian Cobra can spray venom from 8 feet (2.4 m) away. As with other cobras, it will raise its forebody off the ground and spread its neck hood when confronting threats. This snake can be wildly unpredictable, so stay away.
Arabian Cobra venom is neurotoxic, attacking the nervous system and causing paralysis. Within hours, the lungs can shut down, resulting in death. There might not be pain or swelling in the bite area, but don’t let that fool you. Seek medical attention immediately!
#4. Moila Snake
- Malpolon moilensis
Also known as False Cobra, Hooded Malpolon, Talheh Snake.
- Adults are 80-140 cm (31-55 in) on average, but longer specimens reach 190 cm (75 in) long.
- Their eyes are big and round.
- They are light tan or straw in color. There’s a checkered pattern of brown spots across their bodies. Their bellies are paler in contrast.
Look for this venomous snake in Saudi Arabia near stony deserts and dry shrublands.
It feeds on lizards, gerbils, beetles, and small birds during the day. However, it may adapt to hotter weather by hunting at night.
Curiously, the Moila Snake is sought after in the exotic pet trade despite being venomous. However, think twice before you decide to keep this snake as a pet. Some individuals are calm, while others are short-tempered, and Moila Snakes are notoriously volatile. Therefore, only experienced keepers can safely handle them.
If threatened, this species will flatten and spread its neck into a hood as a means of intimidation. This behavior is how it earned its other common name, the “False Cobra.” The venom isn’t strong enough to kill a human, but it can cause excruciating pain and swelling.
#5. Painted Saw-scaled Viper
- Echis coloratus
Also known as Arabian Saw-scaled Viper, Mid-East Saw-scaled Viper, Burton’s Carpet Viper, Palestine Saw-scaled Viper, and Painted Carpet Viper.
- Adults are 75-83 cm (30-33 in) long on average.
- These vibrant snakes vary in color according to their environment. In rocky terrains, some are yellowish-gray or brownish-gray. Where there’s red sandstone or granite, they are reddish brown or pink.
The venomous Painted Saw-scaled Viper loves to hang out in the rocky deserts and hillsides of Saudi Arabia. Though it prefers to prowl among rocks and bushes on the ground, it’s surprisingly adept at climbing trees as well! When the weather gets hotter, this viper digs and hides in deep burrows to keep cool.
Most active during the night, Painted Saw-scaled Vipers sit next to desert oases and wait for their prey. They have a taste for birds, lizards, mammals, and large invertebrates. They use their long, hollow fangs to subdue their prey quickly. When not in use, they can fold these against the roof of their mouths.
Although bites by the Painted Saw-scaled Viper are common, they’re rarely reported to have serious effects. Regardless, keep your wits about you and stay alert in this viper’s territory. Its venom can cause swelling, severe bleeding, anemia, and, in extreme instances, kidney failure. Rush over to a medical facility if you’ve been bitten!
#6. Western Black Desert Cobra
- Walterinnesia aegyptia
Also known as Desert Cobra, Desert Black Snake.
- Adults are 50-130 cm (20-51 in) long on average. They have short tails.
- As their common name suggests, these snakes are completely black all over. Their bodies are covered with shiny black scales.
- They have small, flattened heads which are distinct from their necks. They also have sharp snouts and small eyes.
If you want to avoid this dangerous snake in Saudi Arabia, be extra careful when you’re in rocky deserts, scrublands, and foothills. Sometimes, Western Black Desert Cobras can stray into farmlands in search of prey. Thankfully, these shy, solitary snakes prefer to escape rather than attack when disturbed.
Lizards, toads, other snakes, mice, and birds are all on the menu for the Western Black Desert Cobra. Also, this snake won’t waste the chance to eat dead food when available. Interestingly, this snake species doesn’t exclusively rely on its deadly venom to subdue its prey. It can also lunge from short distances, bite sideways, and use constriction techniques.
The bite of a Western Black Desert Cobra is no joke, even more venomous than the famous Indian Cobra from Asia and the iconic Cape Cobra from Africa! There have not been enough clinical reports to fully understand the effects of this cobra’s venom. However, we do know that it targets the nervous system and can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and intense pain. Keep your distance!
Check out these guides to other animals found in Saudi Arabia!
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8 Types of Snakes That Live in Saudi Arabia! (ID Guide)
-
20 MOST Common Birds That Live in Saudi Arabia!
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10 MOST Common SPIDERS Found in Saudi Arabia!
Which of these venomous snakes have you seen before in Saudi Arabia?
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