Chinese mountain viper
Conservation Messaging Opportunities
Physical features
Chinese mountain vipers are large venomous snakes that grow up to 7 feet long.
These vipers are light green with dark patches on their sides and backs.
Mang mountain vipers are sexually dimorphic with males having longer tails than females and females being heavier than males. These vipers have white tipped tails.
Range and Habitat
Range – China (Guangdong, Hunan)
Habitat – Mountain forests
Diet: Carnivore
Wild – Primarily rodents but also birds, frogs and insects
Zoo – Rats and chicks
Lifespan
Wild – unknown
Zoo – unknown, has only been kept in captivity for a few years
Reproduction
A female Mang mountain viper will lay up to 27 eggs in each clutch. Clutches are laid in June and July.
In captivity Mang mountain vipers eggs hatch 49 to 51 days after being laid. Hatchlings are about 40 cm long.
Conservation: Endangered
Major Threats: Pet trade, being hunted for meat, and destruction of its natural habitat,
Mang mountain vipers are protected in the Mangshan Natural Nature Reserve.
They are in multiple zoos working to preserve the species, and San Diego Zoo is working to create a studbook for a Species Survival Plan.
Interpretive Information
Although the Mang mountain viper is primarily terrestrial, it can climb trees.
Adult Mang mountain vipers have few predators but juveniles are more vulnerable.
It is thought that Mang mountain vipers use their white tipped tails as lures to attract prey.
During the winter months, they hide deep in caves and under rock ledges. Scientists have found that the ones that go the deepest have the best chance of surviving.
They were not known of by scientists until 1989 because they have such good camouflage coloration.
References
Mang Mountain Pit Viper. Retrieved January 24, 2015 from http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/reptiles/mang-mountain-pit-viper
Mangshan Pit Viper. Retrieved from http://www.arkive.org/mangshan-pit-viper/protobothrops-mangshanensis/
Mt. Mang Pit Viper. Retrieved January 24, 2015 from http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/reptiles/snakes/mtmangpitviper
Zhou, Z. (2012). Protobothrops mangshanensis. Retrieved October 12, 2014 from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/192140/0
Updated January 2015