Malabarian Pit Viper

About the Malabarian Pit Viper

Craspedocephalus malabaricus, (formerly Trimeresurus malabaricus) commonly known as Malabar pit viper, Malabar rock pit viper, or rock viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to the high-moderate elevations of Western Ghats of southwestern India. Recently this species complex was split into three different species: C. malabaricus (north of Palghat gap), C. travancoricus (south of Shengottai gap), and C. anamallensis (south of Palghat gap up to north of Shengottai gap).

Adults may attain a snout-vent length (SVL) of 105 cm (41 in). The tail is prehensile. The weakly keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 21 or 19 rows at midbody. Ventral scales in the males number 143-158 and in females 136-159. Anal scale entire. Subcaudals paired and numbering 50-63 in males, 44-54 in females. Internasals large and usually touching. There are 9 or 10 supralabials, the first completely separated from the nasal. There is a single row of scales between supralabials and elongate subocular. The temporal scales are smooth or obliquely keeled.

Many different colour morphs are known to exist, including colours such as yellow, green, and brown. Shown here is a brown colour morph with... Wikipedia →