Gloydius himalayanus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gloydius himalayanus |
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Gloydius
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G. himalayanus
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| Gloydius himalayanus (Günther, 1864)
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The Gloydius himalayanus is a type of snake often called the Himalayan Pit Viper. It is a medium-sized snake with a gray-brown color. You can find it living in rocky places and caves on forested hillsides. This snake mostly eats small animals like skinks and lizards. Its skin has a cool pattern of dark brown blotches in the middle, with rows of spots on its sides.
Where It Lives
The Himalayan Pit Viper lives in the Himalayas, which are huge mountains in Asia. It can be found on the southern slopes of these mountains. This includes areas from Kashmir all the way to Nepal and Sikkim. These snakes live at high altitudes, usually between 1,500 and 3,000 meters (about 4,900 to 9,800 feet) above sea level.
Behavior and Habits
This snake is usually quite slow-moving. It likes to warm itself in the sun, which is called basking. When winter comes, the Himalayan Pit Viper goes into a deep sleep called hibernation. This helps it survive the cold weather when food is scarce.
