Oman Releases Updated Guide to Snakes
Muscat, Oman – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has unveiled the updated second edition of the “Guide to Snakes in the Sultanate of Oman.” This comprehensive and illustrated guide is designed to educate the public about the various types of venomous, mildly venomous, and non-venomous snakes in Oman. The goal is to help people avoid the dangers posed by venomous snakes and prevent unnecessary harm to non-venomous ones.
The guide’s scientific content was meticulously prepared by Hanan bint Mansour Al-Nabhaniyah, Head of the Collections Management Department at the Natural History Museum. The material was reviewed by Dr. Salvador Carranza, a reptile expert at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, Spain, and Ahmed Al-Busaidi, a wildlife specialist at the University of Nizwa.
Snake Dangers in Oman
According to Al-Nabhaniyah, the guide highlights that the dangers of snakes in Oman and the Arabian Gulf region mainly come from all types of sea snakes and nine species of land snakes. She explained that many species have a limited distribution and are not found in the same area. For example, the black desert cobra is absent in northern Oman, the horned viper lives only in sandy areas, the false horned viper inhabits northern highlands, while the puff adder, the burrowing asp, the Arabian cobra, and one type of sea snake are found in southern Oman.
Detailed Information and Maps
The guide includes detailed distribution maps for all snake species in Oman and lists their local and mountain names. It also notes that many of the snakes seen usually do not pose a threat to humans, nor do any of the lizards living in the area. Most snakes naturally avoid humans and do not bite or attack unless provoked. Even when they do, it is often without injecting venom, and it is rare for the venom to cause serious injuries to humans. Snake bites are very rarely dangerous or fatal.
General Information and Scientific Facts
Al-Nabhaniyah emphasized that the guide provides general information and scientific facts about snakes, explains the differences between them, and includes an index of snake species names in Arabic found in Oman.
Bilingual Publication
The “Guide to Snakes in the Sultanate of Oman” is published in both Arabic and English in the same edition. It contains essential information on prevention methods, how to avoid snakes, and key emergency first aid measures to take in case of snake bites.
