Fig. 4
From: Species perceived to be dangerous are more likely to have distinctive local names
Comparison between species perceived to be dangerous (Risk perception) and attacks per surveyed household (N = 1037) and death-ration of the attacks. Species in blue highlight the medically important snakes. The fatal attacks attributed to the Olive Marsh Snake (Natriceres olivacea) are most likely a result of a misidentification since the species is known to be harmless. *One of the local names attributed to the Brown House Snake (Boaedon capensis)—Hiriri, coincided with the Bibron’s Stilleto Snake (Atractaspis bibronii) in the literature. Therefore, we expect a great proportion of the attacks of the Brown House Snake to have been caused by the Bibron’s Stilleto Snake, mostly because of the reported symptoms which included pain, swelling and hounds and these are known to be caused by the Brown House Snake. The species with most attacks on humans was the Brown House Snake (Boaedon capensis), the deadliest snake was the Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) and the African Edible Bull Frog (Pyxicephalus edulis) ranked 5th on the species perceived to be dangerous even though virtually no attacks were attributed to amphibians