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Sri Lankan Hump-nosed Viper
Hypnale nepa
A small, notoriously venomous pit viper endemic to Sri Lanka. Recognized by its aggressively upturned snout, this serpent is strictly appropriate for experienced venomous keepers.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Viperidae
Subfamily:Crotalinae
Genus:Hypnale
Species:Hypnale nepa
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
25 - 29 °C
Night temperature
21 - 24 °C
Adult size
38.7 cm
UVB
Low - Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to Sri Lanka, inhabiting wet montane and hilly rainforests and damp agricultural plantations at higher elevations. It is found in leaf litter, humid undergrowth, and near small, cool streams.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the Viperidae family, subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers). It is a small-sized venomous species. Captive genetics are limited to pure wild-type lineages due to its rarity and specialist husbandry requirements in captivity.
Behavior and Habits: Primarily terrestrial, crepuscular, and nocturnal snake. It exhibits a calm but defensive temperament, ready to strike quickly if provoked. It relies heavily on cryptic camouflage to hide in leaf litter and ambush prey on the ground.
Morphology: Features a short, stout body with a distinct triangular head and a snout with an apical hump pointing upwards. Adults reach a length of 30-40 cm. Coloration ranges from brown and gray to reddish with dark geometric patterns.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a medium-sized enclosure, minimum 60x40x40 cm for an adult. The substrate should consist of damp peat moss or coconut coir topped with a layer of sterilized leaf litter to allow natural hiding and hunting behavior.
Lighting and Heating: Provide heating using a thermostatically controlled heat mat under one side of the tank or a guarded ceramic heat emitter. Warm side temperature should be 26-28°C (79-82°F), cool side 22-24°C (71-75°F). 12/12 light cycle.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires high, stable humidity levels between 70% and 85%. Mist the terrarium regularly with dechlorinated water to keep the leaf litter damp. A shallow, heavy water dish must always be present and filled with clean water.
Feeding and Supplementation: Naturally feeds on frogs, lizards, and small rodents. In captivity, it accepts appropriately sized mice (pinkies or fuzzies), fresh or thawed. Supplementation is generally unnecessary if fed a varied, healthy diet of whole prey.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. As a highly venomous species, it must be housed in a secure, locked enclosure. Handling must be restricted to absolute minimums, using professional snake hooks, tongs, and safety shift boxes.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to respiratory infections caused by cold drafts or poor ventilation combined with high humidity. Check the belly scales regularly to prevent scale rot or fungal infections from wet, unhygienic substrate.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to Sri Lanka, inhabiting wet montane and hilly rainforests and damp agricultural plantations at higher elevations. It is found in leaf litter, humid undergrowth, and near small, cool streams.
Origin
South and Southeast Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 38.7 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 38.7 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 38.7 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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