Wildlifeof Nepal
Protobothrops jerdonii
Vipers
Photo: (c) joho tayu, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Protobothrops jerdonii
Basic stats
Diet
Rats as adults; frogs as juveniles
Habitat
Forest, shrubland and grassland at 1,400–2,300m
Range
North-eastern India, Nepal, northern Myanmar, south-western China and Vietnam
Litter size
5–8 newborns
Size
Males up to 835mm; females up to 990mm
Jerdon's pit viper, also called the yellow-speckled pit viper, is a venomous pit viper found in north-eastern India, Nepal, northern Myanmar, south-western China and Vietnam. Males grow to a maximum of 835mm in total length and females to 990mm. It lives in forest, shrubland and grassland at altitudes of 1,400 to 2,300m. Three subspecies are recognised (Wikipedia, general species account).
Adults prey mainly on rats, while juveniles take frogs of the families Ranidae and Rhacophoridae. It gives birth to live young, five to eight to a litter. Its range includes Nepal. Like all pit vipers it is venomous and should be given plenty of room.
Quick answers
- What does the Protobothrops jerdonii eat?
- Rats as adults; frogs as juveniles
- What habitat does the Protobothrops jerdonii live in?
- Forest, shrubland and grassland at 1,400–2,300m
- Where is the Protobothrops jerdonii found?
- North-eastern India, Nepal, northern Myanmar, south-western China and Vietnam
- What is the litter size of the Protobothrops jerdonii?
- 5–8 newborns
- How big is the Protobothrops jerdonii?
- Males up to 835mm; females up to 990mm