Wildlifeof India
Craspedocephalus malabaricus
Vipers
Photo: Shiv's fotografia · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Craspedocephalus malabaricus
Basic stats
Diet
Frogs, lizards, nestling birds, musk shrews, mice and other small animals
Habitat
Moderate to high elevations, near streams; on rocks and trees
Range
Western Ghats of south-western India
Size
Head and body up to 105cm
The Malabar pit viper, also called the Malabar rock pit viper or rock viper, is a venomous pit viper endemic to the high-to-moderate elevations of the Western Ghats of south-western India. Adults may reach a snout-to-vent length of 105 cm. The tail is prehensile, the weakly keeled back scales lie in 21 or 19 rows at midbody, and the temporal scales are smooth or obliquely keeled (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is nocturnal and usually inactive in the day, sometimes basking on rocks or trees near streams. It preys on frogs, lizards, nestling birds, musk shrews, mice and other small animals. The Reptile Database lists it from southern Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Quick answers
- What does the Craspedocephalus malabaricus eat?
- Frogs, lizards, nestling birds, musk shrews, mice and other small animals
- What habitat does the Craspedocephalus malabaricus live in?
- Moderate to high elevations, near streams; on rocks and trees
- Where is the Craspedocephalus malabaricus found?
- Western Ghats of south-western India
- How big is the Craspedocephalus malabaricus?
- Head and body up to 105cm