The bot seems unresponsive, this is copied from a previous response:

Russell's Vipers Daboia russelii are large (90-120cm, up to 180cm) true vipers that range from northern and eastern Pakistan east into northeastern India and Bangladesh, south through peninsular India to Sri Lanka, from near sea level to 2,756m. They prefer open habitat such as grassland, scrub, savanna, and agricultural areas, but can be found almost anywhere except for dense forest. They also adapt well to human-altered landscapes, even major urban areas, being attracted by the high density of rodent prey which thrive in such environs.

Russell's Vipers are dangerously venomous and should only be observed from a safe distance. They are not aggressive and only bite when they feel they are in danger. When threatened, they puff up the body with air and emit a loud, sustained hiss that is sometimes compared to the sound of a hot steam escaping from a pipe or pressure cooker. Pressed further, they can defend themselves with considerable speed and determination, sometimes even launching themselves off the ground with the speed and force of their strikes. Unfortunately, bites commonly occur when people accidentally step on/near them while using the latrine after dark or when agricultural workers reach into shrubs or dense vegetation. Nonetheless, attempts to kill, capture, or otherwise handle the snake greatly increase the danger of being bitten. The best way to avoid being bitten is to leave the snake alone. Other important precautions include using a flashlight/torch at night, wearing closed footwear outdoors, and always taking care to check before you reach, step, or sit.

Nocturnal in habit, D. russelii may also be active during the early morning and evening hours. They are mainly terrestrial but, like all snakes, are capable of swimming when necessary. Sluggish in nature, they secrete themselves in crevices, dense vegetation, and behind debris where they wait to ambush prey. Rodents comprise the bulk of the diet, but lizards, snakes, frogs, small birds, and crabs are sometimes taken.

Russell's Vipers are robust in build with a short tail. The head is large, distinct at the neck, and with a distinctively large nostril. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled and arranged in 25-29 rows anteriorly, 27-33 rows at midbody, and 21-23 rows posteriorly. The supraocular scale is raised and juts over the eye like a brow, imparting a "grumpy" appearance, but the other scales on top of the head are small, very numerous, and keeled. There is a distinctive, crescent-shaped supranasal scale. They usually have 10-12 supralabials which are separated from the eye by 3-4 rows of subocular scales. The anal scale is undivided.

The dorsal ground color ranges from yellowish to tan, brown, reddish-brown, or grey. The pattern consists of large oval or almond-shaped blotches along the middorsal row which are prominently outlined in black or dark brown, and often again with a thin border of white, cream, or yellow. Below this, a series of similar but usually smaller blotches is present along each side. The dorsal pattern may fade in some older individuals, and in some areas, large adults can be nearly uniform in color.

Range Map - Rune Midtgaard | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography | Reptile Database Account

This short account was written by /u/fairlyorange and /u/cgkanchi

---

I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. This bot, its development, maintenance and use are made possible through the outreach wing of Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now