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Protobothrops jerdonii facts for kids

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Protobothrops jerdonii
Protobothropsjerdonii.jpg
at the San Diego Zoo
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Protobothrops jerdonii distribution.png
Synonyms
  • Trimeresurus jerdonii
    Günther, 1875
  • Lachesis jerdonii
    — Boulenger, 1896
  • Lachesis melli
    K. Vogt, 1922
  • Trimeresurus jerdonii melli
    — Mell, 1931
  • T [rimeresurus]. j [erdonii ]. jerdonii
    — Bourret, 1936
  • Trimeresurus jerdoni
    — M.A. Smith, 1943
  • Trimeresurus jerdoni bourreti
    Klemmer, 1963
  • P [rotobothrops]. jerdoni
    — Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1983
  • Protobothrops jerdonii jerdonii
    — Welch, 1988
  • Protobothrops jerdonii bourreti
    — Welch, 1988
  • Protobothrops jerdonii meridionalis
    — Welch, 1988
  • Protobothrops jerdonii xanthomelas
    — Welch, 1988
  • Trimeresurus jerdonii
    — R.C. Sharma, 2004

The Jerdon's pitviper (scientific name: Protobothrops jerdonii) is a type of venomous snake. It is also known as the yellow-speckled pit viper or oriental pit viper. This snake belongs to the pit viper group, which is part of the viper family.

You can find Jerdon's pitviper in several countries. These include India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, and Vietnam. There are three main types, or subspecies, of this snake.

Jerdon's Red Spotted Pit Viper (Protobothrops jerdonii)
Jerdon's red spotted pit viper, P. j. xanthomelas, from West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

What's in a Name?

The name jerdonii honors a British expert on reptiles and amphibians, Thomas C. Jerdon. He was the one who first collected these snakes for study.

One of the subspecies, bourreti, is named after a French expert, René Léon Bourret. Scientists often name new species after people who helped discover or study them.

About the Jerdon's Pitviper

TrimeresurusJerdoniFord
Protobothrops jerdonii, illustration by G.H. Ford (1875) for Günther's original description.

Jerdon's pitvipers can grow to be quite long. Male snakes can reach about 83.5 centimeters (about 33 inches) in total length. This includes their tail, which can be around 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) long.

Female snakes are usually a bit longer. They can grow up to 99 centimeters (about 39 inches) long. Their tails can be about 16 centimeters (about 6.3 inches) long. These snakes have special scales on their bodies and heads.

Where They Live

Jerdon's pitvipers live in parts of Asia. They are found in northeastern India and Nepal. Their home also extends through northern Burma (now Myanmar) into southwestern China and Vietnam. The first snake of this type was found in the Khasi Hills in India.

Different Types of Jerdon's Pitviper

There are three recognized subspecies of Jerdon's pitviper. Each subspecies has a slightly different home range.

Subspecies Name Common Name Where They Are Found
P. j. bourreti Bourret's pitviper Northwestern Vietnam (in areas like Lào Cai and Lai Châu provinces). They might also live in nearby parts of China (Yunnan).
P. j. jerdonii Jerdon's pitviper Southwestern China (southern Tibet, western Sichuan, and Yunnan). Also in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Burma (Chin and Kachin state), and northeastern Nepal.
P. j. xanthomelas Red spotted pitviper Central and southern China (in provinces like Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Guangxi). Also found in northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh).
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