Godman's Mountain Pit Viper
Ovophis monticola
A stout, short-tailed pit viper of Asian highland forests with variable earthy brown patterning.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.4-0.7 m (1.3-2.3 ft)
- Range
- Southern China, Myanmar, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and parts of the Himalayas
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Overview
Godman's Mountain Pit Viper is a moderately common but seldom-seen pit viper found across a broad swath of montane Southeast and East Asia. It belongs to the genus Ovophis, a group of pit vipers distinguished partly by their egg-laying reproductive mode, unusual among many pit vipers.
It is a heavy-bodied, short snake typically encountered on forest floors at higher elevations, where cooler temperatures suit its ecology.
How to identify it
- Stocky body with a short, thick tail
- Ground color ranges from tan to reddish-brown or gray with darker brown, sometimes triangular, blotches
- Broad, triangular head clearly distinct from the neck, with heat-sensing pits
- Vertically elliptical pupils
- Keeled dorsal scales giving a rough texture
- Distinguished from other regional pit vipers by its stout proportions and blotched (rather than banded) dorsal pattern
Habitat & range
Inhabits montane and submontane forests, typically between 800 and 2,000 m elevation. Found on forest floors among leaf litter, near streams, and along forested slopes in evergreen and mixed forest habitats.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal and terrestrial, though it may bask or move during cooler daytime hours in high-elevation habitats. An ambush predator feeding on small mammals, frogs, and lizards. Unlike many pit vipers, this species is oviparous, laying eggs rather than giving live birth.
Frequently asked questions
Is Godman's Mountain Pit Viper venomous?
Yes, it is a venomous pit viper, though bites to humans are uncommon.
How does this species reproduce?
It is oviparous, laying eggs, which is unusual among pit vipers that more commonly bear live young.
Where is Godman's Mountain Pit Viper found?
In montane forests across southern China, Myanmar, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and parts of the Himalayan foothills.
What does it eat?
Small mammals, frogs, and lizards found on the forest floor.
Godman's Mountain Pit Viper guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Godman's Mountain Pit Viper.
