Brown Spotted Pit Viper Facts

 Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Squamata
• Suborder: Serpentes
• Family: Viperidae
• Genus: Protobothrops
• Scientific Name: Protobothrops mucrosquamatus

The brown spotted pit viper is a venomous pit viper that is endemic to China and Southeast Asia. Males can grow a maximum length of 112 centimeters while females can reach 116 centimeters.

Distribution

Brown spotted pit vipers are distributed in India, Bangladesh, Burma, Okinawa, Taiwan, and the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places in China.

Coloration

Light grey or olive brown above, a series of large browns on the back, spots or spots on black edges, and a series of smaller spots on the sides; Brown on the head, white underneath; Belly white, but heavily powdery, with light brown; The tail is brownish with a series of dark spots on the back.

Habit

Brown spotted pit vipers often inhabit in hills and mountainous areas, bamboo forests, shrubs, streams, tea hills, cultivated fields, and often around houses such as grass, garbage heaps, firewood, stone crevices and fallen leaves. Its survival range ranges from 82 to 2200 m above sea level. The model origin of this species is in Assam, India. Usually, they will choose to leave when they come into contact with people, and will not attack people immediately unless disturbed. Female snakes have the behavior of protecting their eggs, and will take the initiative to attack if disturbed during protecting their eggs.

Other Names

Pointed-scaled pit viper, Taiwan habu, habu, Chinese Habu

Quick Facts

• Brown spotted pit viper likes to come out after the rain.
• Its favorite food includes insects, frog, fish, rats and birds.
• Sometimes Brown spotted pit viper would even hunt smaller snakes for food.
• The conservation status of this pit viper is considered the least concern according to the IUCN.