What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Malpolon Monspessulanus Snake Bite
• Western Montpellier Snake Bite

What is Montpellier Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) is a fairly large venomous snake that belongs to the largest snake family called Colubridae. It is widely distributed in North Africa, Europe, and parts of Middle East, across several countries, particularly along the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea coastlines. The snake is found in altitudes up to 7,200 feet (2,200 m) in open and dry areas with sparse to low bush vegetation, including grasslands, semi-deserts, rocky terrain, and woodlands
• The land-dwelling Montpellier snake ranges in size from nearly 4.5 feet to about 8 feet in length. The snake is known to climb small trees and a good swimmer too. It mostly hunts during the daytime (diurnal); but is nocturnal during the hot summer months. The reptile usually stays inside rodent or lizard burrows. It preys on lizards, birds, small mammals, and other snakes. Young Montpellier snakes may feed on insects (cockroaches and grasshoppers) too
• The snake is relatively slender with a uniform body and a medium-sized tapering tail. The snake’s head is elongated with large eyes and a midline depression; the head is not very distinct from the neck. Montpellier snakes are mostly uniformly colored black, gray, olive green, or brown, with light-colored bellies (white to yellow). The snake may present brown spots along its sides
• The snake may be found on agricultural lands and near river banks. Human contact with the Montpellier snake is not uncommon, although the snake normally tends to move away. When provoked, the snake may hiss continuously and take a flattened body posture with a raised hood, to deter the intruder. On further provocation, the snake can become aggressive and bite viciously
• Montpellier Snake Bites are generally not known to be lethal; nevertheless, the venom is neurotoxic-hemotoxic in nature. The bite can cause moderate envenomation (venom injection through a bite) with mild-moderate local effects and non-specific systemic symptoms. These may include pain, swelling, and numbness in the affected region, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, seizures, and collapse
• Currently, no suitable antivenom (or antivenin) is available for Montpellier Snake Bites. Symptomatic treatment is mainly considered that includes hospitalization, wound cleaning, cardiac monitoring, and breathing support, as needed. The prognosis of the condition with prompt and effective therapy is usually excellent, and the condition is known to resolve in a few days. Deaths from Montpellier Snake Bites have not been recorded