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Viperidae

Travancore Pit Viper

Venomous

Craspedocephalus travancoricus

Travancore Pit Viper
Craspedocephalus travancoricus, © Paulmathi Vinod
Travancore Pit ViperTravancore Pit ViperTravancore Pit ViperTravancore Pit ViperTravancore Pit Viper

6 photographs of the Travancore Pit Viper. © Paulmathi Vinod.

The Travancore Pit Viper (Craspedocephalus travancoricus) 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 Travancore Pit Viper

Craspedocephalus travancoricus, commonly known as Travancore pit viper, is a venomous species of arboreal pit viper from India named after the Travancore hills it inhabits.

Description

Craspedocephalus travancoricus displays a slender, cylindrical body with around 34.5 to 28 cm snout to vent length, a tail around 6 cm long and a head around 2 cm long. It can also be distinguished from other snakes by its specific scale count and shapes as well as its colouring, with the top of its head almost covered in dark brown to purplish brown colour with a light yellowish green border, its body being a faded green marbled with brown and its tail having 13 yellow-green bands. Its eyes are also silverish with a yellow tint, displaying red blotches throughout the eye concentrating towards the middle.

C. travancoricus is also known to have multiple colour morphs – green, brown, green-brown, orange and grey-black.

Habitat

Being an arboreal snake, Craspedocephalus travancoricus is often found in bushes and undergrowth near streams in forests.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Travancore Pit Viper

Is the Travancore Pit Viper venomous?
Yes. The Travancore Pit Viper (Craspedocephalus travancoricus) 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 Travancore Pit Viper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Travancore Pit Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Travancore Pit 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 Travancore Pit Viper live?
The Travancore Pit Viper has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Travancore Pit Viper

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

India

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
Craspedocephalus
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Craspedocephalus travancoricus

Keep learning

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