Vipers are a family of venomous snakes that belong to the Viperidae family. They are found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, and some other isolated islands.
Vipers are characterized by their long, hollow, venom-injecting fangs, which are attached to movable bones of the upper jaw and are folded back in the mouth when not in use. They are split into four sub-families: Crotalinae (pit vipers), Viperinae (true vipers), Causinae (Night Adders), and Azemiopinae (Fea’s vipers).
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In this article, we will explore the different types of vipers, their characteristics, and where they are found.
4 Types Of Vipers
Crotalinae (pit vipers)
Crotalinae, commonly known as pit vipers or pit adders, are a subfamily of venomous snakes that belong to the Viperidae family.
They are found in Eurasia and the Americas, and are characterized by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head. This pit organ helps them accurately aim their strike at their warm-blooded prey.
Pit vipers are found in a wide range of habitats, from deserts to rainforests, and can be terrestrial, arboreal, or aquatic. They are universally venomous, and their venom can be hemotoxic, neurotoxic, or both. Currently, there are 23 genera and 155 species of pit vipers recognized.
Some examples of pit vipers include the rattlesnake, copperhead, and cottonmouth. Pollution and the destruction of rainforests have caused many pit viper populations to decline, and humans also threaten them, as many are hunted for their skins or killed by cars when they wander onto roads.
Viperinae (true vipers)
Viperinae, also known as true vipers, are a subfamily of venomous snakes that belong to the Viperidae family. They are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
The common names “pitless vipers”, “true vipers”, “Old World vipers”, and “true adders” all refer to this group. Members of this subfamily range in size from Bitis schneideri, which grows to a maximum total length of 280 mm (11 in), to the Gaboon viper, which reaches a maximum total length of over 2 m (6.6 ft).
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Most species are terrestrial, but a few, such as those of the genus Atheris, are completely arboreal. True vipers are adept ambush predators, meaning they hold still and wait for their prey to come to them, and can strike with lightning speed, embedding their long fangs deeply into their prey to inject venom.
The prey animal is usually then released, and the viper will follow its scent until the venom has had time to work. There are about 100 species of true vipers recognized. Some examples of true vipers include the Gaboon viper, Russell’s viper, and sand viper.
Causinae (Night Adders)
Causinae is a subfamily of venomous vipers found only in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a monotypic subfamily, meaning it only has one genus, Causus.
The seven species of Causus are considered to be among the most primitive members of the family Viperidae based on head scalation, oviparity, venom apparatus, and because they have round pupils. However, recent molecular studies have contradicted this.
Causinae are commonly known as night adders. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. Night adders are a common cause of mild or moderate snake envenoming in Africa, but serious systemic envenoming has not been reported.
Here are some examples of species of Causus:
– Causus rhombeatus: Commonly known as the rhombic night adder, this species is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.
– Causus defilippii: Also known as the snouted night adder, this species is found in southeast Africa.
– Causus lichtensteinii: This species, also known as Lichtenstein’s night adder, is found in equatorial Africa from Zambia and Cameroon to the Ivory Coast.
– Causus maculatus: Commonly known as the West African night adder, this species is found in West Africa.
Azemiopinae (Fea’s vipers)
Azemiopinae is a monotypic subfamily of venomous vipers that contains only one genus, Azemiops, which includes two species: A. feae and A. kharini.
They are commonly known as Fea’s vipers, named after the Italian explorer Leonardo Fea, who collected the first specimen of this genus.
Fea’s vipers are found in China and Myanmar. They are considered to be the most primitive of all viperids, with a reasonably sturdy body and a short tail, but the dorsal scales are keeled, and the head is well demarcated from the body by neck constriction.
They are venomous, but little is known about their venom or their behavior in the wild. Molecular studies have shown that Azemiopinae is the sister taxon to the pit vipers, Crotalinae.
FAQS
1. What are vipers?
Vipers are venomous snakes that belong to the Viperidae family. They are found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, and some other isolated islands.
2. What are the different subfamilies of vipers?
There are four subfamilies of vipers: Crotalinae (pit vipers), Viperinae (true vipers), Causinae (Night Adders), and Azemiopinae (Fea’s vipers).
3. What are pit vipers?
Pit vipers are a subfamily of venomous snakes that belong to the Crotalinae subfamily. They are found in Eurasia and the Americas, and are characterized by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head.
4. What are true vipers?
True vipers are a subfamily of venomous snakes that belong to the Viperinae subfamily. They are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. They lack the heat-sensing pit organ that is found in pit vipers.
5. What are night adders?
Night adders are a subfamily of venomous vipers found only in sub-Saharan Africa. They are a monotypic subfamily, meaning it only has one genus, Causus.
6. What are Fea’s vipers?
Fea’s vipers are a monotypic subfamily of venomous vipers that contains only one genus, Azemiops, which includes two species: A. feae and A. kharini. They are commonly known as Fea’s vipers, named after the Italian explorer Leonardo Fea, who collected the first specimen of this genus.
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