Salazar's Pit Viper
Trimeresurus salazar
A recently described green pit viper from northeastern India, popularly noted for being named after a fictional Harry Potter character.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.6-0.9 m (2-3 ft)
- Range
- Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India
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Overview
Salazar's Pit Viper is a green pit viper described from Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India, drawing widespread public attention for its whimsical namesake, Salazar Slytherin from the Harry Potter book series. Beyond its popular notoriety, it represents part of the rich, still-being-documented pit viper diversity of the eastern Himalayan foothills.
Its discovery underscores the biodiversity richness of northeastern India, a region still yielding new reptile species to science.
How to identify it
- Bright green body with a reddish-brown stripe running along the eye in males
- Reddish or coppery iris with vertical pupils
- Triangular head with heat-sensing facial pits
- Slender body with a prehensile tail
- Keeled scales along the dorsum
- Distinguished from related green pit vipers by scalation details and the reddish eye-stripe pattern
Habitat & range
Found in forested hill habitats of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India, typically at moderate elevations within humid, densely vegetated terrain.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal and arboreal, resting on low branches and shrubs by day. Feeds on frogs, lizards, and small mammals. Reproduction is presumed viviparous, consistent with related Trimeresurus species.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salazar's Pit Viper venomous?
Yes, it is venomous.
Why is it called Salazar's Pit Viper?
It was named after the fictional character Salazar Slytherin from the Harry Potter series.
Where is Salazar's Pit Viper found?
In Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India.
When was Salazar's Pit Viper described?
It was described relatively recently as part of ongoing surveys of northeastern India's biodiversity.
Salazar's Pit Viper guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Salazar's Pit Viper.
