What makes a snake a viper

No, these reptiles do not make good pets. Because they are venomous, they can pose a danger to humans, and some can even kill. Additionally, some species face extinction because their populations are captured for the pet trade. In zoos, these animals need vastly different care based on the species. Some species require high temperatures and humidity, others live in temperate regions with low rainfall.

For some species, a habitat with virtually no humidity is best. However, their diets often remain similar. Most eat rats, mice, chicks, rabbits , and similar prey. Each species has its own unique behavior. Some spend most of the day foraging for food or basking in the sun, while others are most active at dusk and dawn or during the night. Most species live solitary lives and only interact with others during the breeding season. However, some species hibernate during the winter. During hibernation, large numbers can accumulate in the same den, some even congregate with other snake species.

Reproductive behaviors and rates vary drastically based on the species. Some males wrestle one another for breeding rights. Most species display ovoviviparity.

The number of young in a clutch varies based on the species. Animals Network. Chordata Reptilia Squamata Viperidae. Some nonvenomous species have evolved a similarly shaped head in order to potentially trick predators into thinking they are vipers.

Additionally, most vipers have keeled scales, vertically elliptical pupils and coloring and patterns that serve as camouflage. Vipers are known for their extreme fangs, which are long, hollow, hinged and rotatable, according to an article in the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.

These fangs connect to venom glands located behind the eyes at the back upper part of the jaw. Venom travels down through the follow teeth to be injected into prey as the viper bites. Vipers can rotate their fangs together or independently, which allows them to wait until the last second to erect their fangs. Their mouths can open nearly degrees so the ability to rotate their fangs within that space is an advantage.

This allows their fangs to grow relatively long, according to Andrew Solway, author of " Deadly Snakes " Heinemann-Raintree, Vipers can extend their fangs and bite without injecting venom.

This is known as a dry bite and is common in human snakebites. Dry bites enable vipers to conserve their previous venom, which can run out and takes a while to replenish, according to an article in the journal Tropical and Geographical Medicine.

Vipers' habitats vary across their nearly worldwide range. They live in mountains, rainforests, fields and deserts.

Generally, vipers are nocturnal. This is because many vipers rely on their camouflage for protection rather than their ability to move quickly. They are more inclined to blend in with the surrounding brush, rocks or ground cover when being approached by a predator than to slither away. Nevertheless, vipers have a speedy strike. For example, Africa's puff adder can strike at a speed of a quarter of a second, according to Perry's Bridge Reptile Park in South Africa.

Their perceived sluggishness impacts their hunting tactics. Because they're not expending a lot of energy, low resting metabolic rate, and eat large things, they can afford to do that.

Vipers eat a variety of food depending on the size of the snake. Prey includes small mammals, birds, lizards and eggs, according to Savitzky. When their prey is dead, they swallow it whole. Vipers engage in a hunting activity called prey relocation, according to an article in BMC Biology journal.

This means that once they have identified their prey, they strike it and inject venom. They then immediately release the prey so that it cannot bite back. The bitten prey wanders off, dies and the viper uses its sense of smell to find it.

The severity of a viper bite depends on the species and if it was a wet or dry bite, which contains no venom.

Savitzky pointed out that European vipers adders have relatively moderate venom that is not highly lethal, while Gaboon vipers, which are found in sub-Saharan Africa, have highly potent venom. It causes intense swelling, pain and necrosis, which is cell death and decay. It also functions as an anticoagulant. Death usually occurs from a dramatic collapse in blood pressure.

All viper bites should be treated seriously and medical attention should be paid. When striking in self-defense, the snake is able to administer a dry bite without any venom.

Most vipers have vertically oval-shaped pupils that can vary greatly in size, from being open wide to almost shut. This allows the snake to see in an extensive range of light levels.

Almost all vipers have keeled scales, meaning their scales are ridged, not smooth. They are thick in build and have a short tail. The viper's venom-producing glands are toward the back of the upper jaw, causing the viper to have a triangular-shaped head, distinguishable from the neck.

Most give birth to live young, although some lay eggs. In the UK, the only venomous snake is the adder. The viper is able to decide how much venom it injects. The snake bases this on the size and species of its prey and whether or not it intends to keep the prey. Each type of viper has distinguishing characteristics such as head shape, strength, active time, and size.