Snake Safety In Bahrain: What You Need To Know

Although Bahrain is believed to be devoid of snakes, three species inhabit the island, and two live in the surrounding ocean. These include the Elegant sand snake, Hardwicke's racer, and the Arabian sand boa, which are found on the island, and the Annulated sea snake and the Yellow sea snake, which inhabit the ocean surrounding Bahrain.

Three snake species inhabit Bahrain, with two in the ocean

Elegant sand snakes, on the other hand, are diurnal and can run at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. They prey on rodents, lizards, and birds, and their bite is mildly venomous, although not considered dangerous to humans. Hardwicke's racers, also known as rat snakes, share similar prey and speed but are non-venomous.

The two sea snake species found in Bahrain's ocean waters are the annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) and the yellow sea snake (Pelamis platurus). The annulated sea snake, also known as the black-backed or blue sea snake, can grow up to 8 feet in length, making it one of the longest sea snake species. It is rarely seen by humans as it prefers shallow waters and never comes ashore. The yellow sea snake, on the other hand, stays within a few miles of the shore and is well-adapted to the aquatic environment with its paddle-like tail and reduced ventral scales. While it is venomous, it is reluctant to bite, and no human fatalities have been recorded.

Elegant sand snakes are one of the venomous snake species in Bahrain

Elegant sand snakes (Psammophis schokari) are one of the venomous snake species in Bahrain. They are extremely fast snakes, capable of slithering at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. They use their speed to capture prey such as rodents, lizards, and birds, as well as to escape from predators. Elegant sand snakes possess enlarged, grooved teeth near the back of their upper jaws. When they bite their prey, mild venom flows down the grooves and into the wound. While humans should avoid contact with these snakes, their bites are rarely serious.

Elegant sand snakes share the island with two other species: Hardwicke's racers and Arabian sand boas. Hardwicke's racers (Platyceps [Coluber] ventromaculatus) are also fast-moving snakes. They play an important ecological role by consuming rats, birds, and lizards. This species is not dangerous to humans and typically flees when approached.

Arabian sand boas (Eryx jayakari), on the other hand, are nocturnal snakes that often go undetected by humans, even those in close proximity. They spend most of their time under loose sand, ambushing rodents, lizards, and birds that come too close. Unlike the elegant sand snakes, Arabian sand boas lack venom. Instead, they kill their prey by constriction, throwing several strong coils around their victims.

In addition to the three terrestrial species, two species of sea snakes inhabit the waters surrounding Bahrain: annulated sea snakes and yellow sea snakes. Both species are venomous, but they rarely come into contact with humans and are not known to be aggressive.

Hardwicke's racers are fast-moving snakes that are not harmful to humans

Bahrain is home to three species of snake, two of which are venomous sea snakes, and one of which—the elegant sand snake—is venomous and capable of slithering at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. However, despite their venomous bite, sand snakes are rarely a cause for concern, as their bite is not often serious.

The other terrestrial snake species found in Bahrain is the Hardwicke's racer, also known as the glossy-bellied racer, Gray's rat snake, or the spotted-bellied snake. These snakes are not dangerous to humans and will generally flee when approached. They are, however, fast-moving.

Hardwicke's racers are graceful snakes with a smooth, round, elongated body that tapers gradually, and a tail that makes up more than a quarter of their total length. They have moderately narrow heads and their colour can vary from grey to olive-brown, olive-green, or dirty yellow. Their scales feature a series of black rhomboidal cross-bars running down the middle of the back, with similar smaller spots on the sides of the body. Their bellies are yellow to white with glossy scales.

These snakes are native to southern and southwestern Asia and inhabit stony hillsides, open or cultivated land, and sometimes congested urban areas. They prey on geckos and other lizards and play an important ecological role by consuming rats, birds, and lizards.

Arabian sand boas are nocturnal snakes that constrict their prey

The Arabian sand boa (Eryx jayakari) is a nocturnal snake species that is native to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Spending most of its time under loose sand, the Arabian sand boa is an ambush hunter that constricts its prey.

The Arabian sand boa is a small snake, growing to a total length of about 15-16 inches. Its eyes are positioned on the top of its head, allowing it to remain mostly buried in the sand while searching for prey. This adaptation makes it well-suited for its desert habitat, where it spends the day buried deep in the sand to thermoregulate and avoid the extreme heat.

As nocturnal predators, Arabian sand boas become active at dusk, moving closer to the surface and waiting for unsuspecting prey. They feed on rodents, lizards, and birds, which they capture by throwing several strong coils around their prey and constricting them. This constriction technique is effective as Arabian sand boas, like all boas, are non-venomous.

The Arabian sand boa is a solitary snake, only coming together with others of its kind to mate. Females are notably larger than males, and they lay a clutch of 5-15 eggs, which hatch in about 66 days. This species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and stable population numbers.

Annulated sea snakes are one of the longest sea snake species in the world

Annulated sea snakes (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) are one of the longest sea snake species in the world. Also known as black-backed or blue sea snakes, they inhabit the waters surrounding Bahrain and are rarely encountered by humans. This elusive species prefers shallow waters, such as those surrounding reefs, sandbars, or seagrass beds, and they never voluntarily come ashore.

The female annulated sea snakes grow significantly longer than their male counterparts, with this dimorphism apparent even at birth. On average, adult annulated sea snakes measure around 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) in length, but some individuals can reach up to 8 feet (2.4 meters), with a few records of specimens approaching 9.8 feet (3 meters).

The striking appearance of annulated sea snakes is characterised by alternating rings of black and yellow-green scales, giving them a distinctive annulated pattern. They are highly venomous, with a bite that is rarely painful but can be fatal due to the neurotoxins in their venom.

These sea snakes are active predators, primarily feeding on small fish and occasionally on eels and invertebrates. They employ stealth and ambush tactics to capture their prey, using their potent venom to immobilise them before swallowing them whole.

Annulated sea snakes have several adaptations that make them well-suited for their marine environment. They have a compressed body shape, paddle-like tails, and nostrils located on top of their heads, enabling them to swim and breathe with ease in the water. Additionally, they possess a special gland underneath their tongue that expels excess salt, which is crucial for surviving in saltwater environments.

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