Flat-Nosed Pit Viper
Protobothrops kaulbacki
A little-known montane pit viper of northern Myanmar and adjacent regions, noted for its flattened snout profile.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.9-1.4 m (3-4.6 ft)
- Range
- Northern Myanmar, southwestern China, and Vietnam
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Overview
The Flat-Nosed Pit Viper occupies remote montane forests along the borders of Myanmar, China, and Vietnam, and remains one of the less-studied species within the Protobothrops group. Its restricted, rugged habitat has limited detailed ecological study.
It shares many features with related lance-headed pit vipers of the region but is set apart by its distinctively flattened snout.
How to identify it
- Olive to brownish-green body with darker, irregular blotches
- Notably flattened, blunt snout profile giving rise to its common name
- Broad, triangular head with vertical pupils
- Heat-sensing pits between eye and nostril
- Keeled scales along a moderately slender body
- Distinguished from related species primarily by snout shape and montane distribution
Habitat & range
Found in montane forests and rugged terrain of northern Myanmar, adjacent southwestern China, and northern Vietnam, typically at moderate to high elevations in humid forest environments.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Believed to be primarily nocturnal, foraging on the forest floor and in low vegetation for small vertebrates. Details of reproduction are not well documented, though it is presumed oviparous like most related Protobothrops species.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Flat-Nosed Pit Viper venomous?
Yes, it is a venomous pit viper.
Where is the Flat-Nosed Pit Viper found?
In montane forests of northern Myanmar, southwestern China, and Vietnam.
What is distinctive about its appearance?
It has a notably flattened, blunt snout.
Is much known about its behavior?
It remains one of the less-studied pit vipers, with limited ecological data available.
Flat-Nosed Pit Viper guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Flat-Nosed Pit Viper.
