Mock Viper

The dusky or common mock viper is widely distributed across Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand) all the way up to Nepal and Taiwan. The colours are highly variable and include brown, grey, red and black. Mock vipers have a triangular viper-like head with fine white speckles on the flanks near the ventral region. Some individuals may exhibit small dark markings on the dorsum. Although not a true viper, they are rear-fanged and possess mild venom. They prey on lizards, frogs and other snakes in the wild. This species is ovoviparous and females are larger than males. A supralabial white stripe often occurs in females.