Identification:
Size: Average; females are larger than males.
Measurements:
- Males: Body length 600 mm, tail length 120 mm.
- Females: Body length 810 mm, tail length 130 mm.
Appearance:
- Body is cylindrical with raised scales.
- Head and body are green.
- Chin, throat, and belly are pale greenish-yellow or whitish-yellow.
- Males have a prominent white stripe on the first row of body scales, which is faint or absent in females.
- Tail is reddish-brown.
Biology and Ecology:
Habitat: This reptile species is typically found in hilly regions at elevations below 400m, including evergreen forests, swamps, and agricultural land.
Diet: They feed on rodents, birds, lizards, and frogs, primarily at night on the ground, resting in trees during the day.
Reproduction: Each litter consists of 7 to 16 offspring, which are identical to the adults, measuring 12-18 cm in length. They are venomous and dangerous. This species inflicts numerous dangerous wounds through their bites.
Reproduction Type: This species within the Viperidae family exhibits ovoviviparity (sometimes called “egg-laying”), meaning that the eggs develop and hatch within the mother’s body. The young emerge from the mother fully developed, appearing as though they are born alive rather than being hatched in an external environment. This phenomenon is often misinterpreted as live birth (viviparity). Reptiles are typically egg-laying animals.
Distribution:
Vietnam: Found throughout Vietnam, from Cao Bang to Kien Giang and Minh Hai.
Global: Found in tropical Asia, including Thailand, China, India, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.