Sri Lankan hump-nosed viper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sri Lankan hump-nosed viper |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hypnale
|
| Species: |
nepa
|
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Hypnale nepa, also called the Sri Lankan hump-nosed viper, is a type of venomous snake. It belongs to a group of snakes known as pit vipers. This snake lives only in Sri Lanka, which means it is endemic to that country. In the local Sinhala language, it is called "mukalan thelissa."
For a while, people thought that Hypnale walli and Hypnale nepa were different kinds of snakes. But now, scientists agree they are the same species. So, Hypnale walli is just another name for Hypnale nepa. These snakes are quite small. They are easy to spot because they have a snout that points strongly upwards.
What Does It Look Like?
Adult Hypnale nepa snakes usually grow to be about 30 to 35 centimeters (12 to 14 inches) long. The longest male ever recorded was about 38.7 cm (15.25 in). The longest female was about 38.1 cm (15 in). One large snake in a museum was 39.2 cm (15.4 in) long, with its tail making up about 5.9 cm (2.3 in) of that length.
The tail of this snake is usually about 13% to 18% of its total body length. Its body is fairly thin. The head is clearly separate from the neck.
Special Features
The Hypnale nepa has a unique snout that helps tell it apart from other similar snakes like H. hypnale. Its snout tip turns strongly upwards. This is because of a special scale called the rostral scale that is longer than usual. Right after this scale, there's a raised, bumpy area. This bump is covered with 7 to 14 very small scales.
Scales and Color
The scales on the snake's body are also interesting. It has 17 rows of dorsal scales (back scales) around the middle of its body. These scales are either slightly keeled (meaning they have a ridge down the middle) or smooth. It also has 124 to 142 ventral scales (belly scales) and 33 to 41 subcaudal scales (scales under the tail).
The snake's color can be light brown, dark brown, or a pale olive green. It often has darker spots and patterns mixed in. There are usually 17 to 26 dark brown blotches (large spots) along its back and sides. These blotches can be oval or triangular. They are about 3 to 4 scales wide and reach down to the third row of scales on its side. The top of the snake's head is usually plain brown. It often has a black stripe behind its eye that goes all the way to its neck.
Where Does It Live?
The Hypnale nepa snake lives only in Sri Lanka. You can find it in forest areas across the island. It lives in many different places, from lowland rainforests to high altitudes of over 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet).
When this snake was first described, its home was mistakenly listed as "Africa." But later, scientists corrected this. They confirmed that its true home is Sri Lanka.
