#bitis schneideri

Namaqua dwarf adder (Bitis schneideri)

Namaqua Dwarf Adder (Bitis schneideri) by Lourance Klose

An account is provided by Hurrell (1981) of a bite he sustained on his left index finger. The symptoms included intense pain, pronounced swelling, discoloration and oozing of serum from the punctures. After 24 hours, a 5 mm hematoma developed at the bite site. His condition stabilized after three to four days, with the swelling and pain gradually subsiding. Healing was complete after two weeks, with no loss of function or sensation of the afflicted digit. Minimal local tissue damage and no systemic effects were reported. No antivenom is available for this species.

Venom contains primarily weak cytotoxin, causing pain & local swelling; unlikely to be lethal to humans. Very few bites of humans recorded, causing slight swelling & discoloration at the bite site. No known specific antivenin is currently produced.

(Bitis schneideri) Namaqua dwarf adder