Hump-nosed Pit Viper (Hypnale hypnale)
- Habitat: Rainforests, plantations, and moist lowlands
- Distribution: Sri Lanka and Western Ghats of India
- Diet: Small mammals, frogs, lizards, and sometimes birds
- Size: Typically 1-2 feet in length
Physical Characteristics
- Size: Hump-nosed pit vipers vary in size depending on the species and location, but they generally range from 30 to 90 centimeters (12 to 35 inches) in length.
- Appearance: They have a relatively stout body with a distinct hump or ridge on the nose, giving them their common name. Their coloration varies among species, but they often have shades of green, brown, gray, or reddish-brown, providing camouflage in their habitat.
- Color: The coloration can be variable, with patterns ranging from solid colors to complex patterns of bands, spots, or speckles.
Conservation Status
- Threats: Hump-nosed pit vipers face threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and persecution by humans due to fear or misunderstanding. They are also frequently killed for their skin and other body parts.
- Conservation Efforts: Efforts to conserve hump-nosed pit vipers include habitat protection, public awareness campaigns, and research initiatives to better understand their ecology and behavior.