Big Four (Indian snakes)

For other uses, see Big Four.

The four venomous snake species responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant human snake bite cases on the Indian Subcontinent (mostly in India) are sometimes collectively referred to as the Big Four. They are as follows:

1. Common krait, Bungarus caeruleus
2. Russell's viper, Daboia russelii
3. Indian saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus
4. Indian cobra, Naja naja

• 
  Bungarus caeruleus, the common krait
• 
  Daboia russelii, Russel's viper
• 
  Echis carinatus, the saw-scaled viper
• 
  Naja naja, the Indian cobra

Of the Big Four, the common krait is responsible for the most snake bites, followed by Russell's viper, the saw-scaled viper, and the Indian cobra.

Treatment

A polyvalent serum that effectively neutralizes the venom of all of the Big Four snakes is widely available in India, and is frequently administered to save lives.