#pit vipers

Malabarian Pit Viper (Craspedocephalus malabaricus)

Today's animal of the day is the Hump-Nosed Pit Viper (Hypnale hypnale)!

Photo credit: Yuwaraj Gurjar

Also known as Merrem's or the Oriental hump-nosed viper, this species of snake can be found in the rainforests of the Indian Peninsula as well as Sri Lanka. They typically grow to around one or two feet long and have a grayish coloration with light brown mottling and a doublerow of dark brown spots. They have wide heads with an upturned snout that ends in a hump, hence their name. The tips of their tails are usually yellow or red in color.

Photo credit: Daniel Liepack

They are primarily nocturnal, but can also usually be found basking near streams during the early mornings. They typically spend the day hiding in bushes, fallen logs, under rocks, or in areas with lots of fallen leaves, since their coloration makes it easy for them to blend in with them. They are ambush predators that will sit and wait for prey to venture close enough for them to strike. Sometimes, they use their red or yellow tail tips to lure in prey by wiggling them around in order to trick other animals into thinking it is a worm. Their diet consists mostly of geckos, skinks, frogs, and small rodents. Like all pit vipers, they have special heat-sensitive pits on their faces that help sense changes in temperature so they can sense where their prey is in the dark of the night.

Photo credit: Sakuntha Shehara

When threatened, these snakes will flatten their bodies and vibrate their tails as a warning to would-be predators not to get any closer. However, since they are so good at camouflaging against the forest floor, they're often accidentally stepped on by people, which means that they end up biting a lot of people. This species has the highest amount of recorded bites of any snake in Sri Lanka, and if left untreated for several hours, its venom can cause symptoms such as coagulopathy, kidney failure, and even death.

Photo credit: kalyanvarma on iNaturalist

Managing the Mangshan Viper

The mangshan viper, also known as the Mang Mountain pit viper, the Chinese pit viper, and the iron-headed pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), is a species of pit viper found in south-central China. It is endemic to the Mangshan mountain region and the surrounding areas, and is typically found in tropical montane forests at elevations of 800–1,300 m (2,600–4,300 ft).

Mangshan pit vipers are notoriously hard to spot due to their camouflage-patterned green and brown scales, which are perfectly suited to blend into the forest. However, they grow to be quite large; some up to 203 cm (6.66 ft) and weighing 5 kg (10 lbs). In fact, they are among the largest members of the pit viper family.

P. mangshanensis is a notoriously shy and solitary species. They are nocturnal, using their camouflage to remain hidden and their 'pit organs' to sense the heat of passing prey. They feed primarily on rodents, birds, and frogs. Thanks to their size, ability to blend in, and their incredibly potent venom, adults have virtually no predators. Eggs and juveniles however, may be vulnerable to birds of prey, larger reptiles, and carnivorous mammals.

Though the start of the breeding season is unknown, females lay eggs in June or July. They may lay up to 27 eggs in a clutch, in a nest built from leaf litter, and guard them until they hatch some 50 days later. This is unusual among pit vipers, as most other species are oviviparous- incubating the eggs internally and giving birth to live young. Once the eggs hatch, the young are fully independent. Individuals may live up to 25 years in the wild.

Conservation status: The Chinese pit viper is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. There are approximately 500 individuals in the wild, and the population is believed to be declining due to illegal hunting and collection for the pet trade, habitat destruction, and climate change. There are about 150 Mangshan pit vipers in zoos and husbandry programs.

Photos

Los Angeles Zoo

Julie Larson

1. These Diabloceratopses

These animatronics were absolutely amazing and I loved all the dinosaurs but I loved this little family the most.

2. Mangshang Pit Viper

A beautiful, critically endangered green serpent.

3. Blomberg’s Giant Toads

These big guys were hanging out on a log, eager for a photo shoot.

4. Leaf Tailed Gecko

This guy was hanging out on the glass, just chilling.

5. Rowley’s Palm Pitviper

He’s beautiful.

6. King Julian

There's few things in the world I love more than zoos, Dino, so these are some exquisite snapshots!! 🤩🤩🤩

The dino exhibit had me overjoyed when it was first announced and I'm glad that you got to experience all these beautifully crafted prehistoric beasties! And that they gave dinos like Diabloceratops some spotlight.

Stopping by the reptile house is always a fun time! I especially love it when the snakes are active and swaying their heads about, or getting to see the frogs all clumped together and chilling with their moischur.

But geckos are some of my favorites. Look at him! He's a little guy with a leafy butt!

Fun Fact about ringtails (lemurs are my favorite primates), they frequently engage in stink battles, rubbing their tails all over the scent glands on their wrists and chests and waving their fumes at the other lemur. Whoever smelt it dealt it. It being a crushing blow to their rival's pride.

Fer-de-lance

Fer-de-lances are pit vipers from Central and South America.