Snake FinderField Guide · Worldwide

Viperidae

Mao-lan pitviper

Venomous

Protobothrops maolanensis

Mao-lan pitviper
Protobothrops maolanensis, (c) xinprotobothrops, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Mao-lan pitviperMao-lan pitviper

3 photographs of the Mao-lan pitviper. (c) xinprotobothrops, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Mao-lan pitviper (Protobothrops maolanensis) 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 Mao-lan pitviper

The Mao-lan pitviper belongs to the Viperidae family, vipers & pit vipers. Heavy-bodied venomous snakes with long, hinged, hollow fangs.

Vipers are ambush predators with the most sophisticated venom-delivery system of any snake: long fangs that fold back against the roof of the mouth and swing forward to stab. The family splits into true vipers (adders, Gaboon viper, Russell's viper, saw-scaled vipers) and pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, lanceheads, bushmasters), which have a heat-sensing pit between the eye and nostril.

Its genus, Protobothrops, covers Asian lance-headed pitvipers (habus). Protobothrops is a genus of medium to large Asian pitvipers whose members include the medically important habu.

The Mao-lan pitviper is venomous. Treat any bite as a medical emergency, do not try to handle or capture the snake, and get professional medical care right away.

It has been recorded in China.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Mao-lan pitviper

Is the Mao-lan pitviper venomous?
Yes. The Mao-lan pitviper (Protobothrops maolanensis) 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 Mao-lan pitviper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Mao-lan pitviper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Mao-lan 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.
Where does the Mao-lan pitviper live?
The Mao-lan pitviper has verified records in 1 country, including China. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Mao-lan 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.

Where it is found

China

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
Protobothrops
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Protobothrops maolanensis

Keep learning

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