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Tonkin Mountain Pit Viper
Ovophis tonkinensis
A formidable terrestrial pit viper native to the mountainous forest regions of Vietnam and China. It is highly venomous and strictly nocturnal in its hunting behavior.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Viperidae
Subfamily:Crotalinae
Genus:Ovophis
Species:Ovophis tonkinensis
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 85 %
Day temperature
19 - 23 °C
Ambient temperature
19 - 23 °C
Night temperature
15 - 17 °C
Basking spot
25 °C
Adult size
65 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 100 L
Brumation temperature
10 - 14 °C
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Tonkin mountain pit viper, scientifically classified as Ovophis tonkinensis, is native to the montane regions of northern Vietnam and southern China, including Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces. It primarily inhabits moist subtropical rain and monsoon forests at elevations ranging from 600 to 2,000 meters above sea level. Its microhabitat preferences include cool and damp areas such as deep leaf litter, piles of wet rocks near rushing mountain streams, and dark rock crevices.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the class Reptilia, order Squamata, suborder Serpentes, family Viperidae, and subfamily Crotalinae, it is placed in the genus Ovophis. Genetically, this species belongs to an evolutionary lineage of Asian pit vipers adapted to high altitudes, showing unique genetic markers linked to cold tolerance and specialized hemotoxic venom composition that differentiates them from lowland crotalines.
Behavior and Habits: This species is terrestrial and predominantly nocturnal. Unusually for most snakes, it exhibits high activity levels during cooler months and can remain active at ambient temperatures as low as 13°C to 17°C. During the day, it remains hidden beneath leaf litter, logs, or in rocky cavities, emerging at night to hunt by ambush, preying on small rodents, frogs, and lizards.
Morphology: Ovophis tonkinensis features a short, stout body with a triangular head distinct from the neck, covered with small, fragmented scales. Its dorsal coloration consists of a light brown or greyish-brown background marked with large, dark brown, irregular blotches along the back and sides, providing superb camouflage. The eyes have vertical slit pupils, and heat-sensing loreal pits are present between the eyes and nostrils.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Housing this species requires a secure, escape-proof terrarium with a minimum footprint of 80x50x50 cm for an adult. Safe maintenance is paramount, necessitating professional lock systems. The substrate should mimic the forest floor, using a mixture of damp peat moss, coconut coir, and a thick layer of dried leaf litter and bark. Multiple hiding spots must be provided in both the warm and cool zones, along with low climbing branches and stable rocks.
Lighting and Heating: As a mountain-dwelling species, it is highly sensitive to high temperatures. Daytime ambient temperatures should be maintained between 20°C and 24°C, with a localized hot spot not exceeding 26°C. A significant nighttime drop to 14°C - 17°C is essential to replicate their natural high-altitude climate. Gentle LED lighting on a 12-hour cycle is sufficient, and high-intensity UVB is not mandatory, though a low-output 2-5% UVB lamp can be beneficial.
Humidity and Hydration: Relative humidity must be kept high, ideally between 70% and 90%. This should be achieved via daily misting with clean water or an automated misting system. The substrate should remain damp but never waterlogged to avoid skin conditions. A large, shallow water dish must always be available in the cool zone, allowing the snake to soak completely while keeping the water clean.
Feeding and Supplementation: The diet consists of appropriately sized rodents, such as mice or small rats, which should be offered pre-killed or thawed to prevent injury to the snake. Due to their slow metabolism in cool conditions, adults should only be fed every 10 to 14 days. Vitamin and mineral supplementation is generally unnecessary if feeding high-quality rodents, though a light dusting of calcium can be used occasionally for growing juveniles.
Compatibility: Because it is a venomous and medically significant species, it must be housed individually. Cohabitation is highly discouraged except during closely supervised breeding attempts by experienced herpetoculturists. Keep all other household pets far away from the enclosure, and ensure the snake is never housed with other reptile species.
Health and Common Diseases: The primary threat to this species in captivity is overheating, which can quickly lead to dehydration, neurological shock, and death if temperatures exceed 28°C. Other common issues include scale rot from wet substrate, respiratory infections due to poor ventilation coupled with high humidity, and internal parasites. Safe handling with professional snake hooks and protective gear is mandatory to avoid envenomation.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Tonkin mountain pit viper, scientifically classified as Ovophis tonkinensis, is native to the montane regions of northern Vietnam and southern China, including Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces. It primarily inhabits moist subtropical rain and monsoon forests at elevations ranging from 600 to 2,000 meters above sea level. Its microhabitat preferences include cool and damp areas such as deep leaf litter, piles of wet rocks near rushing mountain streams, and dark rock crevices.
Origin
South and Southeast AsiaEast Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 65 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 65 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 65 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). 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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