Russell's viper is a heavy-bodied viper from India, southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, and the Indonesian archipelago. It is responsible for thousands of snakebites and deaths annually, third only to the saw scaled viper and the spectacled cobra. This viper inhabits grasslands, brush, scrub, plantations, and farmland; dense jungle and overly humid areas are avoided. It is primarily terrestrial and nocturnal. The females give live birth.
In appearance, Russell's viper is thick and heavy, with a tan background covered by brown blotches.