Types of pitvipers

Protobothrops is a genus in the family Viperidae, within the pitviper subfamily Crotalinae. Like all pitvipers, its members carry a heat-sensing pit organ on each side of the head, set between the eye and the nostril. This pit detects infrared radiation and lets the snake locate and strike warm prey in darkness. The triangular head, distinct from the narrow neck, and the vertical (cat-like) pupils are the classic pitviper signals, and Protobothrops shows them clearly. Our database holds 10+ species in this genus.

The genus is Asian. Its species range across southern and eastern Asia, including parts of China, the Himalayan region, mainland Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. They occupy a variety of habitats from forested hills and mountain slopes to rocky areas, stream edges, and ground near rural settlements and farmland. Several species favor cooler upland forest, while others, including the habu of the Ryukyus, are well known for turning up around human dwellings and field margins where rodent prey is plentiful.

In general terms, you recognize a Protobothrops by the combination of pitviper traits and a long, somewhat slender to robust body with a long tail relative to many other vipers. The head is broad and arrow or lance shaped, the neck is clearly narrower, the pupils are vertical slits, and the heat pits sit on the face. Color and pattern vary by species and often include browns, greens, grays, and olive tones with darker blotches, bands, or zigzag markings that break up the outline against leaf litter and rock. Members of this genus are sometimes called lance-headed pitvipers, and the best known species are the habus.

These are venomous pitvipers, and some species are medically significant. The habu and several relatives are responsible for serious snakebites within their range, and their venom can cause severe pain, swelling, tissue damage, and bleeding complications. Treat any Protobothrops as dangerous. Do not handle, corner, or attempt to capture a wild one. If a bite occurs, keep the person calm and still, keep the bitten limb at or below heart level, remove rings and tight items, and get to emergency medical care immediately for assessment and possible antivenom. In the United States call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, and elsewhere contact local emergency services. Do not cut, suck, apply a tourniquet, or use ice.

Ecologically, Protobothrops are ambush predators that feed largely on small mammals such as rodents, along with birds, frogs, and lizards depending on the species and life stage. They are most active in the warmer months and many are nocturnal or active around dusk, when their heat-sensing pits give them an edge. Reproduction varies within the group, with documented egg-laying species among them, and females of some species are known to attend their clutches. By preying heavily on rodents, these snakes play a useful role in controlling pest populations in the forests and farmlands where they live.