ABSTRACT
Hundreds of different habitats on the African continent vary from the Saharan desert regions of North Africa to the tropical forests of central and west Africa. As might be expected, the snake fauna is highly complex; 137 species are reported to be venomous, but fewer than 25 species in 4 snake families are likely to cause human mortality. Humans moving about in early evening or at night are at risk as they may step near or on the snake. Pastoralists may come in contact with snakes in the fields. Elapid snake venom is primarily neurotoxic. No published information exists on the prevalence of snakebite in wild animals, but a fortuitous filming of African lions in Botswana provided a vivid record of the effects of a bite by an Egyptian cobra. There are no criteria for diagnosis of snakebite in animals other than similarity to signs seen in humans.
