Malabarian Pit Viper
Trimeresurus malabaricus
Description 3
INTRODUCTION
- Venomous Pit Viper
- Endemic to the Western Ghats
- Venom usually causes moderate pain, swelling and no deaths have been reported.
IDENTIFICATION
- Triangular head much broader than neck, heat sensing pits between eyes and nostrils
- Many color morphs known to exist with yellow, green and brown bodies.
- Often has a blotched pattern across it's body and sometimes brightly colored tail.
- Usually grow to 2 feet on average.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
- Found in the hills of the Western Ghats
- Prefer high elevations with dense forests near streams.
- Found on the ground, rocks and low vegetation.
DIET AND BEHAVIOR
- Primarily feed on Frogs, Lizards, small Birds and Mice
- Nocturnal and inactive in the day, sometimes seen basking on rocks.
- Slow-moving but capable of fast strikes if threatened.
Other Pit Vipers 3
While many other pit vipers exist in the Himalayas and NE India, only 6 are known in Peninsular India.
Other pit vipers endemic to WG :
- Large Scaled Pit Viper (Trimeresurus macrolepsis): High altitudes of southern WG. Large scales and arboreal.
- Horseshoe Pit Viper (Trimeresurus strigatus) : High elevations in southern WG. Horseshoe like pattern near neck.
- Hutton's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus huttoni) : Believed to be last spotted in 1948 in Meghamalai.
Sources and Credits
- no rights reserved, uploaded by S.MORE
- (c) Vinay Gogula, all rights reserved, uploaded by Vinay Gogula
- (c) Vinay Gogula, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Toxicity | Venomous |
|---|
