Wagler’s Pit Viper
Tropidolaemus wagleri
Wagler’s Pit Viper is often also called the Temple Pit Viper. It is a common species in Southeast Asia. Found on low vegetation, but can be found mid-canopy. As an ambush predator this snake can remain in the same spot for a month. It is a sexually dimorphic species, meaning the male and female look different. In this case the adult males are green and the adult females have pale yellow bands across the body and spots and is much larger.
- Size:
- Up to 1 metre (females). Smaller males grow to 0.75 metres.
- Diet:
- Warm-blooded prey (birds and mammals). Also will eat arboreal lizards.
- Speed:
- Fast strike but very slow moving in trees
- Habitat:
- Lowland rainforest from sea level to 400 metres
- Superpower:
- Heat-seaking pits allows this snake to detect warm-blooded prey accurately, even at night