What is Horned Pit Viper (Protobothrops Cornutus)?

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Squamata
• Suborder: Serpentes
• Family: Viperidae
• Genus: Protobothrops
• Species: P. cornutus
• Scientific Name: Protobothrops cornutus

Horned pit viper (Protobothrops Cornutus) is a small venomous pit viper species found in northern and central Vietnam. Its another name is Fan-Si-Pan horned pit viper.

Physical Description

Size: This is a relatively small semi-arboreal pit viper, growing to almost 70 cm. They are slender and agile. The head is distinct from the neck in that it has a fairly flat top and is clearly triangular when viewed from above. They have large eyes, one of the distinguishing features of night hunting. Above the eyes, they have several raised (usually 2) scales, which give them the common name "horned pit viper". But with more and more snake species having horns, generic names like these can be confusing. The males are obviously not as small as the females, but seem to be slimmer.

Coloration: Horned pit viper has ight gray body with patterns in black and dark gray. Colors may vary slightly from region to region.

Habitat

Typically, horned pit vipers are located between 250 and 2,000 meters above sea level. Their habitat consists of mountainous karst areas. There is cool, clean running water in the forest. There are some climatic differences between the areas where they are found. These pit vipers live during the day deep in karst rocks and forests, where temperatures are much lower but more consistent in the parts that are in contact with the sun.

Behavior

Horned pit vipers are mostly nocturnal and spend their days hiding in burrows, under logs, crevices and burrows, which are their preferred habitat. When the sun goes down, they become active and move around. They can hunt prey, but prefer to be true ambush hunters. They sit on a twig, or lean against a tree, just far enough from the ground to wait for prey to pass by. They strike, usually let go, and a few minutes later they're on the hunt.

When disturbed, they quickly go into a defensive state and are very responsive to movement and touch. They are not inclined to attack towards the movement unless it has a clear thermal signal, but will attack aggressively when it is heavily disturbed. They are both quick strikers and a bit more calculating. When they feel threatened, they will defend themselves.

Diet

In nature, horned pit vipers feed mainly on frogs and  lizards, but also some small rodents, birds, small mammals and insects.

Status

The species is actually listed as endangered according to the IUCN. Their populations seem stable, but horned pit vipers are vulnerable because they live in small areas and like certain habitats. This habitat is in decline. Fortunately, most of their habitat is in national parks.