The snake bite that can reverse the effects of puberty (if you manage to survive it)
The Russell’s Pit Viper’s highly toxic venom kills thousands every year – but a bite from this sometimes vicious snake can also reverse puberty.
A study in The Lancet showed that 29 per cent of people who survived Russell’s Viper bites later suffered from hypopituitarism, which results in men losing facial and pubic hair, women their curves – from weight loss - and both sexes their sex drive and fertility.
The loss of mental abilities in victims has also been observed by medics.
Deadly: The Russell's Pit Viper can kill, but can also affect human physiology
The snake is renowned for injecting huge doses of venom in its bites, with the immediate effects being pain and blisters at the site of the bite, falling blood pressure, reduced heart rate, vomiting and facial swelling.
The venom can also cause kidney failure and widespread haemorrhaging, which often affects the pituitary gland.
This gland is only the size of a pea, but it secretes hormones that help to control growth and sex organ functions.
Lurking: Thailand is one of the countries the Russell's Viper can be found
Found throughout South East Asia, the Russell’s Viper is normal fairly docile, but can become aggressive if an attempt is made to pick it up.
When threatened it forms multiple S-loops and emits a hiss that’s said to be the loudest of any snake.
It prefers living in open grass areas and often comes into contact with humans on farmland.
Rodents, mice, squirrels and lizards are its foods of choice.