"Pit viper" a very familiar name to all snake lovers across the world. India is home to 17 species of pit viper; I'm sure this is the largest snake family in the country. One can find pit vipers in all parts of India.

The bamboo pit viper, Trimeresurus gramineus, is the most commonly found pit viper in India. Studies say tree pit vipers are hemotoxic by nature, but their venom is mild compared to the vipers on the land. I guess this might be the reason for excluding pit vipers from the "Indian big four" venomous snakes. There is no proper evidence of any deaths caused by pit viper bite in India, and even I have not come across a case during my research.

The bamboo pit viper is moss-green, yellowish-green, or bright green, with a faint or distinct brown or black pattern on its back. This pattern is darker in juveniles. The head is triangular, flat, and broad, and the eyes have vertical pupils.

Pit-like sensory organs are present between each eye and nostril. Lip scales are yellowish, and the underside is pearl white or yellowish.

Pit vipers are found in hilly forests. They are slow moving, and it vibrates its tail when disturbed and may strike with mouth wide open.

Bamboo pit vipers feed on small mammals, mice, young birds, frogs, and lizards. The maximum length is 3.5 to 4ft. They are viviparous by nature and give birth to 5-15 young ones. A captive female in Maharashtra had given birth to 21 young ones.

As I have mentioned a couple of times in my articles, it's very difficult to find tree snakes in my area as it's a concrete jungle, so I never rescued a bamboo pit viper. But because they are somewhat easily found on herpings, I have come across these snakes many times, and these are one of my favourites -- as I've said before, "I love the shade of green."



I would thank my friend Riyaz Khoja for allowing me to share these beautiful photographs.