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Hump-nosed Viper
Hypnale hypnale
A small venomous pit viper native to southern India and Sri Lanka. Highly cryptic and slow-moving, it poses a significant bite risk and requires expert care.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Viperidae
Subfamily:Crotalinae
Genus:Hypnale
Species:Hypnale hypnale
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 85 %
Day temperature
23 - 27 °C
Ambient temperature
23 - 27 °C
Night temperature
19 - 21 °C
Basking spot
29 °C
Adult size
55 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 100 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Distributed across southern India (Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka. It adapts to a wide range of habitats, from dense tropical rainforests and dry forests to agricultural areas like coffee plantations and rural gardens.
Taxonomy and Genetics: The type species of the genus Hypnale, belonging to the Viperidae family, subfamily Crotalinae. Noted for producing a venom with hemotoxic and cytotoxic activity. There are no captive-bred color morphs available.
Behavior and Habits: Primarily terrestrial, sluggish, and highly camouflaged ambush predator. Active mostly at night, it remains motionless on the forest floor, relying on its pattern to hide. If threatened, it will vibrate its tail and lift its head.
Morphology: Small size, typically ranging from 30 to 50 cm. It has a robust body, a triangular head covered with small scales, and a characteristic turned-up snout tip. Coloration is brown-gray with dark, triangular lateral markings.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: An escape-proof enclosure is mandatory, minimum 60x40x40 cm. Use a semi-humid substrate with dry spots and natural hides like hollow cork bark. Add artificial plants to increase coverage and allow the snake to feel secure.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain a daytime temperature of 28°C (82°F) on the warm side and 24°C (75°F) on the cool side. Drop the temperature by a few degrees at night. Provide low-intensity lighting without high UV emissions to mimic forest floors.
Humidity and Hydration: Recommended humidity is 60-75%, with temporary increases to 80% via misting to simulate monsoon seasons. A heavy, stable water dish must always be present to ensure proper hydration and prevent tipping.
Feeding and Supplementation: Diet consists of small mice or lizards. Juveniles might require assist-feeding with long safety tweezers to stimulate feeding with gentle movements. Feed every 10 days, avoiding oversized prey.
Compatibility: Must be housed individually. It is not suitable for cohabitation with any other animal. Classified as a dangerous species due to potentially lethal venom; requires local permits and specialized handling skills.
Health and Common Diseases: Risk of digestive impaction if ambient temperatures drop below acceptable limits. Periodically check for snake mites in the terrarium and maintain proper ventilation to prevent skin infections.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Distributed across southern India (Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka. It adapts to a wide range of habitats, from dense tropical rainforests and dry forests to agricultural areas like coffee plantations and rural gardens.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsSouth and Southeast Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 55 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 55 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 55 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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