Philippine pit viper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Philippine pit viper
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Trimeresurus
Species:	flavomaculatus
Synonyms
Megaera flavomaculatus Gray, 1842 Megaera ornata Gray, 1842 Megaera variegata Gray, 1842 Parias flavomaculatus – Gray, 1849 Parias ornata – Gray, 1849 Parias variegata – Gray, 1849 Trimeresurus flavomaculatus – Günther, 1879 Trimeresurus Schadenbergi Fischer, 1885 Lachesis flavomaculatus – Boulenger, 1896 Trimeresurus flavomaculatus flavomaculatus – Leviton, 1961 Parias flavomaculatus – Malhotra & Thorpe, 2004 Trimeresurus (Parias) flavomaculatus – David et al., 2011

The Philippine pit viper (scientific name: Trimeresurus flavomaculatus) is a type of venomous snake. It is a pit viper, which means it has special heat-sensing pits on its head. These pits help it find prey in the dark. This snake species is only found in the Philippines. There are two known types, or subspecies, of this snake.

About the Philippine Pit Viper

The Philippine pit viper is a fascinating snake. Like all snakes, it is covered in scales. Scientists study these scales to tell different snake species apart. For example, they count the rows of scales along its back and belly. They also look at the scales around its mouth.

Where It Lives

The Philippine pit viper lives on many islands in the Philippines. You can find it on islands like Agutayan, Batan, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Dinagat, Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay, and Polillo. The first time this snake was officially described, its home was simply listed as "Philippine Islands." Later, scientists narrowed it down to Luzon.

Different Types of Philippine Pit Vipers

Within the Philippine pit viper species, there are two recognized subspecies. A subspecies is a group of animals that are part of the same species but have slight differences. They usually live in different areas.