Big Four (Indian snakes)

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For other uses, see Big Four.

These are the four venomous snake species responsible for causing the most human snake bite cases in South Asia (mostly in India) and Sri Lanka. They are referred to as the big four.


The Big Four:[1]

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


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


  1. ^ Whitaker Z. 1990. Snakeman. Penguin Books Ltd. 192 pp. ISBN 0-14-014308-4.