Facts About the Sumatran Pit Viper

The Sumatran pit viper has a limited range in southeast Asia. Not much information exists about its habits because it represents a rare species.

  1. Range

    • The range of the Sumatran pit viper includes Borneo, Sumatra and the Malaysian peninsula.

    Appearance

    • The Sumatran pit viper has black bands on a large green body. A white stripe runs along each side, the stomach is light green and the tail is reddish brown. Young snakes have white irises that darken to copper in adults.

    Toxicity

    • No one knows exactly how much venom the Sumatran pit viper produces, but its long one-inch fangs and large body size suggest a highly toxic species.

    Prey

    • The Sumatran pit viper probably eats small mammals and birds in nature. In captivity, the viper eats mice, according to NatureMalaysia.com.

    Feeding Habits

    • The Sumatran pit viper probably feeds at night. All pit vipers in Malaysia have nocturnal habits, generally spending the day in trees and descending at night to feed.