Viperidae

Introduction:
• Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes commonly referred to as
vipers
• Geographically widespread and occur all over the world, except in
Australia and (obviously) Antarctica
• Can survive farther north and south of the equator than most snake
species
 Common Traits
• heavy-bodied ambush predators
• venomous, some highly venomous
• venom kill its prey & also aids
digestion by breaking down tissue
• a pair of prominent fangs located
in the front of the mouth to inject
venom into prey
• have hinged fangs that can be
folded back when not in use
• have heat-sensing pits that are
used to hunt prey (see: pit vipers)
• wide range of habitats, including
mountains, deserts and jungles
• triangular or wedge-shaped head,
large venom glands located
behind the eye area
• short and stocky body as a
"springboard" from which they
deliver quick and powerful strikes
• excellent camouflage
• Viviparous, which means they give
birth to live young. Only a few
species within this family lay eggs
(the bushmaster is an example of
an egg-laying viper)
 Members of the Viperidae Family

• Adder • Palm viper

• Bushmaster • Puff Adder
• Copperhead • Saw-scaled Viper
• Cottonmouth / water moccasin • Sidewinder
• Desert Horned Viper • Tropical Rattlesnake
• Gaboon Viper • White-lipped Tree Viper
• Jararaca • Western Diamondback
• Long-nosed Viper
• has relatively long upper jaw fangs which are kept
folded but erected upon strike (solenoglyph)
• Viperidae consists of two subfamiles:
- Viperinae or “old world vipers” (Atheris, African
bush vipers; Bitis, African vipers; Cerastes, horned
vipers; Daboia russelii, Russell’s viper; Echis, saw-scaled
or carpet vipers)
- Crotalinae or “pit vipers” (Cerrophidion, Central
American mountain pit vipers, Bothrops, lanceheads;
Crotalus, rattlesnakes; Calloselasma rhodostoma,
Malayan pit viper; Trimeresurus complex, Asiatic
arboreal pit vipers; Agkistrodon, Deinagkistrodon,
Hypnale)