Viperidae
Lowland Hump-nosed Viper
VenomousHypnale zara
6 photographs of the Lowland Hump-nosed Viper. © Arabella Willing.
The Lowland Hump-nosed Viper (Hypnale zara) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 1 country.
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 Lowland Hump-nosed Viper
Hypnale zara, the lowlands hump-nosed pit viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Sri Lanka. It is distinguished from Hypnale nepa by variably colored body and less upcurved snout. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
Hypnale zara has 10–19 minute scales extending from wart-like protuberances on the snout tip. Additionally, there are 18–39 heterogeneous small scales in the internasal to prefrontal regions, along with six scales around the eye and seven to eight supralabials. The costal scales are keeled, and there are 134–157 ventrals. Subcaudals may range from 34 to 51.
Dorsum color ranges from yellowish brown to dark brown, sometimes deep red. Two rows of distinct sub-oval or sub-triangular blotches meet in the vertebral region. There is a dark stripe across the eye and cheek. Venter is lighter than dorsum, sometimes light ash-gray.
Reproduction
Hypnale zara is ovoviviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Lowland Hump-nosed Viper
- Is the Lowland Hump-nosed Viper venomous?
- Yes. The Lowland Hump-nosed Viper (Hypnale zara) 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 Lowland Hump-nosed Viper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Lowland Hump-nosed Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Lowland Hump-nosed Viper 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.
- Where does the Lowland Hump-nosed Viper live?
- The Lowland Hump-nosed Viper has verified records in 1 country, including Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Lowland Hump-nosed Viper
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.
Where it is found
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.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.