Pit Vipers

Southeast Asia Snakes

Pit Vipers in Southeast Asia mostly belong to the new world order of vipers, which means they possess heat-sensing pit organs located between the eye and nostril on each side of the head – hence, the name - 'pit vipers'. in Malaysia, most pit vipers are semi-arboreal with a prehensile tail, sometimes descending to the ground to search for prey at night; a few are completely terrestrial in nature. Most are also ovoviviparous or viviparous; meaning that they do not lay eggs but give birth to live young, especially those from the Trimeresurus group. The severity of venom intoxication from these snakes vary from species to species, but most are considered moderate in nature.

All pit viper species in Malaysia are nocturnal with the capability to inject hemotoxic venom; the type that degenerates body tissue, destroys blood cells and causes intense pain and swelling. The potential to cause fatality is high in a few species. Pit-vipers occur in all elevations of Peninsular Malaysia rainforest where they hunt frogs, lizards, birds and small mammals for prey. Vipers are also rather secretive and sedentary, but when threatened, can strike unpredictably. Some of the pit vipers described here occur in adjacent parts of Southeast Asia including Singapore, Thailand, Borneo and Indonesia.