Mock Viper

Southeast Asia Snakes

Snakes ~ Other Snakes ~ 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. In Peninsular Malaysia, their colours are highly variable and include brown, grey, red and black. They are terrestial as well as nocturnal. Mock vipers have a traingular viper-like head with fine white speckles on the flanks near the ventral region. Some individuals may exhibit small dark markings on the dorsum. Their body is remarkably stout for their small size.

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. Mating was observed to occur during the late night among two captive specimens, lasting over an hour.