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Waglers Viper Pictures and Species Profile

The Wagler’s Pit Viper is from Southeast Asia and is possibly the most well-known of the green tree-dwelling pit vipers in the region.  Other green tree-dwelling pit vipers from the same region include Pope’s Pit Viper and the White-Lipped Tree Viper. The Asian Tree Vipers are considered unusual among pit vipers in the respect that lizards and frogs contribute a large part of their diet especially when they are young. This behavior is also seen in tree-dwelling pit vipers in South America, one example being the Eyelash Viper. Why is this behaviour unusual?  the answer is that pit vipers evolved their pits to locate warm-blooded prey like birds and mammals. I Think the reason for these snakes  eating cold-blooded prey may be that lizards and frogs are more abundant than warm-blooded prey in the trees of tropical rain forests. However,  adult Wagner’s Pit Vipers would also eat small birds and mammals once they reach adult size. These snakes grow to just under one meter. The venom of these snakes is considered mildly cytotoxic and is strong enough to cause considerable tissue damage and swelling.

Picture of a Wagler’s Pit Viper perching on a branch.

Picture of a Wagler’s Pit Viper showing the head. The pits are situated between the eyes and the nostrils.