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Psammophis schokari
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Family: Lamprophiidae
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Subfamily: Psammophiinae
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Genus: Psammophis
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Species: schokari
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Common Names
Forskal's Sand Snake , Schokari Sand Snake , Schokari Sand Racer , Teer Snake , Momayez Snake , Afro-Asian Sand Snake
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Local Names
Shigari , Boucerri , Abu el Suyur , Zeurig , Kebeli , Abu Far , Abu Sa Aifa , Um Sot , Zerrag , Schokari , Kung , Ishor , Inshor
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Region
Middle East + North Africa + West Asia
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Countries
Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Mauritania, West Sahara, Somalia
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Taxonomy and Biology
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Adult Length: 0.70 m
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General Shape
Medium length, cylindrical, slender, elongate bodied snake with a long, slender gradually tapering tail. Can grow to a maximum of about 1.48 metres. Head is elongate, distinct from neck with a moderately long snout and an angled canthus rostralis. Eyes are large in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales smooth, arranged obliquely with apical pits. Ventrals are distinctly rounded. Dorsal scale count 17 - 17 - ( 15 or 13 ).
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Habitat
Up to 1800 metres in arid and semiarid regions with some water including desert lowlands with sparse vegetation, mountain foothills, plateaus, steppes and oases.
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Habits
Diurnal and terrestrial snake which tends to forage at night in the hottest months. Very agile snake which quickly immobilises prey by venom. Inoffensive disposition and will attempt to quickly escape if approached. Often finds refuge under stones, building rubble and abandoned rodent burrows but has been found taking refuge in holes or in olive trees. Often climbs in bushes and small trees. Usually escapes along the ground if approached.
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Prey
Feeds mainly on lizards but will eatrodents, small mammals, frogs and young birds.
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Venom
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General: Venom Neurotoxins
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Myotoxins
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Procoagulants
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Anticoagulants
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Haemorrhagins
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Nephrotoxins
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Cardiotoxins
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Necrotoxins
Non-venomous
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General: Venom Other
Non-venomous
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Clinical Effects
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General: Dangerousness
Non-venomous, so no likelihood of envenoming or lethality
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General: Rate of Envenoming: Non-venomous, so essentially all bites should be "dry".
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General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Non-venomous, so no likelihood of envenoming or lethality
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General: Local Effects
Mild to moderate local effects possible
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General: Local Necrosis
Not likely to occur
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General: General Systemic Effects
General systemic effects unlikely
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General: Neurotoxic Paralysis
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Myotoxicity
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Renal Damage
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Cardiotoxicity
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Other
Not likely to occur
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First Aid
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Description: First aid for bites by non-front-fanged colubroid snakes likely to cause either no effects or only mild local effects.
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Details
1. After ensuring the patient and onlookers have moved out of range of further strikes by the snake, the bitten person should be reassured and persuaded to lie down and remain still. Many will be terrified, fearing sudden death and, in this mood, they may behave irrationally or even hysterically. The basis for reassurance is the fact that many venomous bites do not result in envenoming, the relatively slow progression to severe envenoming (hours following elapid bites, days following viper bites) and the effectiveness of modern medical treatment.
2. The bite wound should not be tampered with in any way. Wiping it once with a damp cloth to remove surface venom is unlikely to do much harm (or good) but the wound must not be massaged.
3. All rings or other jewellery on the bitten limb, especially on fingers, should be removed, as they may act as tourniquets if oedema develops.
4. The bitten limb should be immobilised as effectively as possible using an extemporised splint or sling.
5. If there is any impairment of vital functions, such as problems with respiration, airway, circulation, heart function, these must be supported as a priority. In particular, for bites causing flaccid paralysis, including respiratory paralysis, both airway and respiration may be impaired, requiring urgent and prolonged treatment, which may include the mouth to mask (mouth to mouth) technique of expired air transfer. Seek urgent medical attention.
6. Do not use Tourniquets, cut, suck or scarify the wound or apply chemicals or electric shock.
7. Avoid peroral intake, absolutely no alcohol. No sedatives outside hospital. If there will be considerable delay before reaching medical aid, measured in several hours to days, then give clear fluids by mouth to prevent dehydration.
8. If the offending snake has been killed it should be brought with the patient for identification (only relevant in areas where there are more than one naturally occurring venomous snake species), but be careful to avoid touching the head, as even a dead snake can envenom. No attempt should be made to pursue the snake into the undergrowth as this will risk further bites.
9. The snakebite victim should be transported as quickly and as passively as possible to the nearest place where they can be seen by a medically-trained person (health station, dispensary, clinic or hospital). The bitten limb must not be exercised as muscular contraction will promote systemic absorption of venom. If no motor vehicle or boat is available, the patient can be carried on a stretcher or hurdle, on the pillion or crossbar of a bicycle or on someone's back.
10. Most traditional, and many of the more recently fashionable, first aid measures are useless and potentially dangerous. These include local cauterization, incision, excision, amputation, suction by mouth, vacuum pump or syringe, combined incision and suction ("venom-ex" apparatus), injection or instillation of compounds such as potassium permanganate, phenol (carbolic soap) and trypsin, application of electric shocks or ice (cryotherapy), use of traditional herbal, folk and other remedies including the ingestion of emetic plant products and parts of the snake, multiple incisions, tattooing and so on.
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Treatment
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Treatment Summary
Bites by this species are not expected to cause medically significant effects and the only risk, probably small, is local secondary infection. Patients presenting with bites by these snakes do not require medical attention, other than to check for infection and ensure tetanus immune status. Patients should be advised to return if local symptoms develop, suggesting secondary infection.
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Key Diagnostic Features
Bites unlikely to cause more than mild to moderate local swelling & pain, occasionally local bruising, paresthesia/numbness, erythema or bleeding, but no necrosis and no systemic effects.
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General Approach to Management
While most cases will be minor, not requiring admission, some cases will be more severe, requiring admission and treatment, so assess carefully before early discharge.
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Antivenom Therapy
No antivenom available
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Images
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No images for Images
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