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VIPERIDAE
This family consists of front fanged venomous snakes called vipers. These snakes are characterized by strongly curved retractile fangs, distinct triangular head, presence of small scales on top of the head (in most species) and, shorter tail. In southern India, two sub families occur. These creatures are predominantly nocturnal and are active mainly in rainy nights. The pit-less vipers / true vipers (sub family: Viperinae) are represented by 2 species in south India; the pit-vipers (sub family: Crotalinae) is represented by 6 species. The true vipers are typical inhabitants of open rocky, sandy and thin scrub outcrops in drier plains country. The pit vipers are hill species, which require cool climate, dense undergrowth and hilly terrain. The chief prey species of these vipers are small mammals, nestling birds, lizards & frogs. The south Indian forms are ovoviviparous (as are most) and the young are born in a caul, a thin membranous covering. Most species have very slow speed of locomotion but when defending they are extremely agile by nature. Viperids have primarily haemotoxic venom. Unlike the highly venomous true vipers, the pit-viper bites are not that serious / life-threatening to man. The following species occur in southern India. An * indicates endemic species.
Daboia russellii (SHAW, 1797)
Echis carinatus (SCHNEIDER,1801)
Sub family: Crotalinae
Hypnale hypnale (MERREM, 1820)
Trimeresurus macrolepis* (BEDDOME, 1862)
T. malabaricus* (JERDON, 1854)
T. gramineus* (SHAW, 1802)
T. strigatus* GRAY, 1842
Tropidolaemus huttoni* (SMITH, 1949)
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, Sep 18 2009, 2:44 AM EDT
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Keyword tags:
vipers & pit vipers
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