Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Cantor, 1839)
Pointed-scale Pit Viper 烙鐵頭
(Venomous)
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
* Photos taken in Taiwan
Order
Suborder		 Squamata 有鱗目
Serpentes 蛇亞目
Family Viperidae 蝰蛇科
Genus Protobothrops 原矛頭蝮屬
Species Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
Other name Brown spotted pitviper
Chinese name 原矛頭蝮
Total length Records from China, Average 85 cm, can grow up to 130 cm.
Description Back brown or reddish brown, with a row of dark purple blotches along dorsum and lateral sides.
Blotches united posteriorly to form a wavy pattern.
Ventrals pale grey, with light brown.
Body long and slender. Head triangular, brown above, whitish below. A heat-sensing pit between eye and nostril.
Eyes with vertical, slit-like pupil. A greyish stripes extend from behind of each eye to the neck. Tail long.
Long and slender body separates it from the stockier Mountain Pit viper (Ovophis monticola makazayazaya)
Habitat

Hillsides species, inhabits bamboo thickets, shrubland and cultivated field.
Behaviour Predominantly nocturnal, but can be seen in daytime.
A fierce snake, strike readily even from long distance.
Diet Small rodents, frog, lizards.
Reproduction Oviparous. Is reported with litter size 5- 13. Hatchling 25 cm in total length.
Distribution

Rare in Hong Kong with only 2 known records.
In 2002, four dead specimens was found on road near Kei Ling Ha (企嶺下).
In December 2004, a live adult was found in Ko Tong (高塘), Sai Kung.
It cannot be ruled out that the individuals found were released or escaped, but the two distant localities where it was found suggest that there may be a wild population. Its status in Hong Kong is still uncertain and need further survey to confirm.
Occurs in Central to southern China, Taiwan, India, Burma and Vietnam; introduced to Okinawa Japan.
Conservation Status IUCN Redlist: NE (Not Evaluated)
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
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