VIPERS

KINGDOM :ANIMALIA

PHYLUM :CHORDATA

SUB-PHYLUM :VERTEBRATA

CLASS :REPTILIA

ORDER :SQUAMATA

SUB-ORDER :SERPENTES

FAMILY :VIPERIDAE

INTRODUCTION• They are found all over the world (India ,Sri

lank ,Myanmar,Pakistan ,China,Nepal,Bangladesh,Thaiwan,Thailand and Indonesia) except in Antartica ,Australia, New-zeland,Ireland , Madagascar, Hawai.

• In India. is abundant in Punjab • Vipers are highly venomous, medium sized or large sized and solenoglyphous(back fanged) snakes.• Head is broad , flat and triangular covered by small and keeled scales• Pupil is vertically elliptical, neck is narrow and tail is blunt.• Some species have characteristics markings or patches on the back • The name “viper” denotes the ovoviviparous habit of the snake (vivus-living,parere-to beget)• Vipers are characterized by a distinct pit in loreum (the region between eye and nostril) on each sides.it is

called loreal pit• Based on this features vipers are 2 types 1.Pit- vipers 2.pitless vipers

Pitless vipers • There are 42 odd species of pit less vipers, 7 are found in India• The commonest S.indian forms are Russell’s viper (chain viper or daboia) and saw scalled viper (echis or

phoosa)

Pit-vipers• Pit vipers have a pair of loreal pits in between eyes and nostrils. Most of them have small scales ,but

some have shields on the head.

Russell’s viper(Vipera russellii)

Identifying features Thick and rough –scaled body ,neck is narrow and short and blunt tail Flat, broad and triangular head ,covered by small keeled scales A characteristics V-shaped mark and some spots on the head Vertically elliptical pupil 3 longitudinal rows or chains of black patches or rings on the back Large and wide nostrils ,wider than those of any other Indian snakes Broad belly plates (ventral )and sub –caudals Light brown or yellow back and white and speckled belly with scattered spots Solenoglyphous fangs

Habitat

The snake is mostly found in open,grassy or bushy areas but may also be found in second growth forest

It is most common in Plaines , coastal low lands and hills of suitable habitate Generally not found at altitude, but has reported as far up as 2300 -3000 m, humid environment

such as marshes ,swamps and rain forests are avoided

Behavior

Mainly nocturnal, during cool whether it will alter its behavior and become more active during day Adult are reported to be slow and sluggish Raise 1st third of body and produce a hiss that is supposedly louder than that of any other snakes

Reproduction

Viper is ovoviviparous , mating generally occur early in the year although gravid female may be found at any time .The gestation period is more than 6 months . Young's are produced from may to November , but mostly in June and July.

Prey

it feeds a primarily on rodents especially murid species .it will all so eat rats ,mice , shrews,squirrels,land scabs ,scorpions and other arthropods. Juveniles are cannabalistic and all so will eat other snake s ,lizards etc…

Venom

Experiment have shown these snakes are capable of making decision on how much venom inject depending on the circumstances.importants determinant of venom expenditure is size of the snake (large specimen being capable of delivering much more venom).

Venom of viper is haemotoxic in action . The symptoms of viper bite are local as well as constitutional .the local symptoms include swelling stinging pain and bruising of the bitten part. Constituitional symptoms include rapid collapse and failure of heart ,if a lethal dose of venom is injected.

Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)

Identifying feature

Stocky body,covered by rough and strongly keeled scales Head wider than neck and trunk A distinct cross or lance mark on the top of the head and zig –zag pattern on the back A pale ,wavy white line along each flank of the back Short and stubby tail Back is dull colored and the under side is white with brown speckles

Geographical range

Ehis carinatus is endemic to Asia ,found an a range of different substrates including sand , rock , soft soil and in scrub landsc

Behavior Echis carinatus side winding. This species is mostly crepuscular and nocturnal ,although there

have been reports of activity during day light hours .during the day time they hide in all kinds of places such as deep mammal burrow, rock fissures they are mostly active after rain or on a humid night.

PITLESS VIPERS

Vipera russellii (Russell’s viper or Daboia)

Vipera lebetina (levantine viper)

Echis carinatus (saw – scaled viper)

Pit - viperAgkistrodon himalayanus (Himalayan pit viprer)

Agkistrodon hypnale (hump-nosed pit viper)

Trimeresurus macrolepis (green pit viper)

Trimeresurus malabaricus (malabar rock pit viper)

Trimeresurus strigatus (Horse – shoe pit viper)

Trimeresurus gramineus (Bamboo pit viper)

Trimeresurus monticola (Blotched pit viper)

Trimeresurus jerdoni (Jerdon’s pit viper)

Trimeresurus stejnegeri (stenjnerger’s pit viper)

Trimeresurus popeorum (Pope’s green pit viper)

Trimersurus mucrosquamatus(Brown spotted pit viper)

Thank you

By

Anand p p