Common Mock Viper
Common Mock ViperCommon Mock ViperCommon Mock ViperCommon Mock Viper

Common Mock Viper

Psammodynastes pulverulentus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Tanjung Puting National Park
2 Verified sightings at Tanjung Puting National Park From 2019 to 2026
175 Verified sightings across all 16 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Common Mock Viper

Psammodynastes pulverulentus, the common mock viper, is a species of snake native to Asia. It is a small snake (total length up to 65 cm (26 in), less in males), and it will form defensive coils and strike in a viper-like fashion when threatened, although it is harmless to humans.

The common mock viper is known from Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, China (Fujian, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong), north-eastern India (Assam, Sikkim, Darjeeling; Jalpaiguri; Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh), Bhutan, Indonesia (Bali, Bangka, Borneo, Butung, Enggano, Flores, Java, Kalimantan, Komodo, Lombok, Mentawai Archipelago, Natuna Archipelago, Padar, Riau Archipelago, Rinca, Sangihe Archipelago, Sulawesi, Sula Archipelago, Sumatra, Sumba, Sumbawa, Togian Archipelago), Laos, Malaysia (Malaya and East Malaysia, Pulau Tioman), Nepal, the Philippines (Balabac, Basilan, Bohol, Bongao, Busuanga, Dinagat, Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Polillo, Samar), Taiwan, Thailand (incl. Phuket), and Vietnam. It has been reported from Singapore.

Subspecies Psammodynastes pulverulentus papenfussi is endemic to Taiwan. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Tanjung Puting National Park

Painted Mock Viper
LC

Painted Mock Viper

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Psammodynastes pictus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
~40%
2 Cuc Phuong National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
~30%
3 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
4 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
5 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
6 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~20%
7 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~10%
8 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
9 Tanjung Puting National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data
10 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
Insufficient data
11 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data
12 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
Insufficient data
13 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
14 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
Insufficient data
15 Sepilok 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Insufficient data
16 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
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