![]() ![]() The color pattern of the butterfly viper consists of a series of 15–18 blue or blue-green, oblong markings, each with a lemon-yellow line down the center. The butterfly viper is often considered one of the most beautiful of all snakes because of its incredible coloration. As is true with all snakes in the Viperidae family, the butterfly viper sheds its fangs periodically, every 6-10 weeks. As such, the butterfly viper may open its mouth without the fangs flipping down into place. When not in use, the fangs are folded up into the roof of the snake’s mouth. The butterfly viper has the ability to control the movement of its fangs. These fangs penetrate deep into the snake’s victim, allowing small doses of venom to flow into the wound. These fangs are not large, rarely more than 1.5 centimeters, or 0.59 inches, long. The butterfly viper has a pair of hollow fangs in its mouth. Holding a butterfly viper by the tail is not safe as it can use it to fling itself upwards and strike. The butterfly viper’s neck is thin and its eyes are small and set well forward.īutterfly vipers have a partially prehensile tail that aids their climbing behavior. The head is considerably smaller in size than its body and has a large, dark triangular, arrow-shaped marking on the back. One of the butterfly viper’s most distinguishing characteristics is its small, flattened, narrow, triangular-shaped head. The butterfly viper’s scales are so rough and heavily keeled that they sometimes inflict cuts on handlers when the snakes struggle. ![]() There are 12-32 paired subcaudals, enlarged plates on the underside of the tail, with males having a higher count of 25–30 than females with 16–19. There are 117–140 ventral scales and a single anal scale. The butterfly viper’s midbody has 31–43 dorsal scale rows. Butterfly vipers display sexual dimorphism as females are usually the larger of the two monomorphic sexes. Some butterfly vipers have been reported to reach 2.1 meters, or 7 feet. Maximum total lengths of up to 1.2 meters, or 47.2 inches, are possible, but are an exception. Adult butterfly vipers have an average total length, from body to tail, of 60-107 centimeters, or 23-42 inches. Antivenin for gaboon vipers works for this species as well.The butterfly viper is a large, stout, heavy-bodied snake. The venom of the rhinoceros viper is considered to be relatively weak and is more likely to cause severe tissue damage than death, but certainly a bite is not pleasant. In the wild, frogs and fish also are eaten. Difficult feeders may take gerbils when other rodents are refused. They take a variety of prey, ranging from hopper mice for young specimens to rats for large adults. Rhinoceros vipers spend much of the day partially hidden in the substrate and are most active at night. Persistent temperatures over 80 degrees can lead to dehydration and death. The temperature should be kept low, just 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide a large, shallow water bowl in which the snake can soak change the water regularly. For a substrate use 2 inches of sphagnum moss, orchid bark or any other material that can hold a high moisture content. It should be about 3 feet high, with a basking light placed toward the top of the terrarium. The terrarium should be at least equal to the length of the snake, so plan for roughly 4 feet square for an adult. They also may be severely dehydrated and need to be soaked as they adapt to the terrarium. Most specimens are wild-caught and should be thoroughly vetted for intestinal and other parasites, neck problems and paramyxovirus infection (âstar-gazing diseaseâ). ![]()
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