Close-up of a Man Mountain pit viper with it's pink tongue flicking

Mang Mountain pit viper

A secretive snake
Type
lizard

Reptiles

Area
World map highlighting China
China
Endangered Status

Endangered

facts

size
7 feet long
The average bed is 6.25 feet long.
mountain pit viper next to an average american bed
food
meat
insects, frogs, mammals
carnivore
habitat
forests
forest habitat

description

Hang mountain pit viper juvenile coiled up on a large green tropical leaf

A fairly new find

As far as we know, no one had ever seen a Mang Mountain pit viper until 1989. Its green and brown coloring is perfect camouflage for moving around the forest floor, and if the snake stays still, it seems to vanish!

Mang mountain pit viper crawling over moist dirt

We want warmth!

The winters in this viper’s habitat have many days of freezing temperatures. As colder days approach, Mang Mountain pit vipers crawl into caves and under rock ledges. Scientists have found that the snakes that go the deepest have the best chance of surviving until spring.

Although their bite can deliver a deadly dose of venom, these snakes are shy most of the time. But a female will guard her nest of eggs carefully and bite any creature that tries to steal them!