第 0372 號，共 1 402 號

McMahon's viper

Eristicophis macmahonii

名字的由來： The specific name macmahonii honours the British diplomat Arthur Henry McMahon.1

需要看醫生很少致命，但被咬了需要看醫生。

蝰蛇

咬吃：肉

對人的危險: 嚴重被咬了需要看醫生。死亡案例非常罕見。

McMahon's viper is a small, venomous snake that lives in the sandy deserts of Balochistan, near the borders of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is well known for its habit of sinking into loose sand so that only its snout and eyes stay uncovered. Scientists have also studied a protein from its venom for its possible use against melanoma, a type of skin cancer.1

分布在

Desert region of Balochistan near the Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan borders; also reported in the Rajasthan Desert, India1

亞洲

首頁

It lives in shifting dunes of fine, loose sand. It is not found above 1,300 m (4,300 ft).1

長度

22 cm 到 72 cm (8,7 in 到 2,4 ft)1

最高速度

大約 3,3 km/h（2,1 mph）

在陸地上, 粗略估計

牠吃什麼？

It preys on small lizards, small rodents and sometimes birds. It holds mice in its mouth until they are dead or nearly so.1

McMahon's viper 的照片 — McMahon's viper。照片：Tad Arensmeier from St. Louis, MO, USA。 CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.

怎麼認出牠

Reddish to yellowish brown body with a regular series of 20 to 25 dark spots, each bordered partly or fully with white scales1
A white stripe runs from the back of the eye to the corner of the mouth1
Large, broad, flat, wedge-shaped head that is clearly distinct from the neck1
Short tail with a yellow tip and distinct crossbands1
Adults are under 1 m (39 in) in total length, tail included1

毒液力量

咬

咬的時候，毒液會從毒牙或牙齒出來。

牠的毒液有什麼作用？

Relatively few data are available on its venom. The species is regarded as potentially dangerous, and its venom is said to be similar to that of snakes in the genus Echis. A venom protein called eristostatin has been reported to help in the fight against melanoma.1

牠對人有多危險？

對人的危險: 嚴重被咬了需要看醫生。死亡案例非常罕見。

It is regarded as a potentially dangerous species. It is described as bad-tempered, hissing very loudly and deeply, and it will strike aggressively when threatened.1

牠害怕時會做什麼？

It hisses very loudly and deeply, raises the front of its body off the ground in a loop and strikes aggressively. It may also sink into sand and cover its head, leaving only its snout and eyes uncovered.1

如果牠咬人

讓傷者保持不動和冷靜，讓被咬的手臂或腿保持在和心臟一樣的高度，取下戒指和緊身的東西，並趕快送醫院。

一定要先打緊急電話（112、000、911）。這是一般急救指引，不是醫療建議。急救基本知識

注意安全

絕對不要碰、抓或捉弄野生動物，就算是很小的動物，就算牠看起來在睡覺或已經死了也一樣。
給牠空間。如果遇到了，保持冷靜，慢慢往後退，讓牠自己離開。
如果被牠咬了：保持冷靜，保持不動，打緊急電話（112、000、911）或趕快去醫院。記住牠的樣子，有照片會很有幫助。

牠不是想來抓你。牠用毒液來捕捉食物或保護自己，而且牠更想躲起來。更多安全知識

在世界上的哪裡？

非洲亞洲歐洲北美洲南美洲澳洲與大洋洲

牠有多大？

牠有多長？

跟 4 根香蕉頭尾相接一樣長可以在 110 秒內跑完 100 公尺（最快的人類需要 9.6 秒）

McMahon's viper 跟「你」比起來有多大？

只是在你的瀏覽器裡做算術。什麼都不會儲存，也不會傳送到任何地方。

牠有多快？

一隻陸龜 大約 0,3 km/h (0,19 mph)

McMahon's viper 大約 3,3 km/h (2,1 mph)

一個正在走路的人 大約 5 km/h (3,1 mph)

值得知道

小知識

A protein in its venom, called eristostatin, has been reported to help in the fight against melanoma.1

It can sink down into loose sand using a rocking or wave-like motion, then shake its head to cover it with sand.1

Its enlarged nasorostral scales are thought to keep sand out of its nostrils.1

It moves by sidewinding when crossing loose sand or when alarmed.1

Its short tail is prehensile, and it sometimes climbs into bushes with it.1

給毒液專家

學名: Eristicophis macmahonii
類群: 蝰蛇
各大洲: 亞洲
寶寶: It lays eggs (oviparous), up to a dozen at a time. The eggs hatch after 6 to 8 weeks, and each hatchling is about 15 cm (6 in) long.1
對人的危險: 3 / 5: 嚴重2