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Viperidae

Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper

Venomous

Ovophis zhaoermii

Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper
Ovophis zhaoermii, (c) Vncreatures, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Guanyinshan Mountain PitviperGuanyinshan Mountain Pitviper

3 photographs of the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper. (c) Vncreatures, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper (Ovophis zhaoermii) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family.

If you are bitten

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Family
Viperidae
Danger
high

About the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper

Ovophis zhaoermii, or the Guanyinshan mountain pitviper, is a species of mountain pit viper endemic to Yunnan, China. As with all pitvipers, O. zhaoermii is venomous.

Description

Ovophis zhaoermii is a brownish-black to redish-brown snake, with no patterns on its head but rectangular black blotches and white spots present along its body and tail respectively. It can be distinguished from similar species via its various scale morphologies.

Diet

The diet of the Guanyinshan mountain pitviper is unknown, but a species of Ovophis, possibly O. zhaoermii, was sighted with an adult male Ailao Mustache Toad in its jaws.

Conservation

Currently, as the Guanyinshan mountain pitviper has only been sighted inside the legally protected Yuanyang Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve, the snake is not considered to be threatened by humans.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper

Is the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper venomous?
Yes. The Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper (Ovophis zhaoermii) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
Is the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper dangerous?
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
What does the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper eat?
The diet of the Guanyinshan mountain pitviper is unknown, but a species of Ovophis, possibly O. zhaoermii, was sighted with an adult male Ailao Mustache Toad in its jaws.

If you are bitten by the Guanyinshan Mountain Pitviper

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do

  • Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
  • Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
  • Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
  • Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
  • Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
  • Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

Do not

  • Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
  • Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
  • Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
  • Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
  • Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

More Viperidae snakes

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
Viperidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
Ovophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Ovophis zhaoermii

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.