Protobothrops cornutus

Protobothrops cornutus, commonly known as the horned pit viper^[1] or Fan-Si-Pan horned pit viper,^[3] is a pit viper species found in northern and central Vietnam and in southern China (Guangdong).^[1][2] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[2]

Protobothrops cornutus
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Protobothrops
Species:	P. cornutus
Binomial name
Protobothrops cornutus (M. A. Smith, 1930)
Synonyms[2]
Trimeresurus cornutus M. A. Smith, 1930 Ceratrimeresurus shenlii Liang & Liu, 2003 Protobothrops cornutus – Herrmann et al., 2004

Description

Its maximum length is usually around 60-90cm. It has a long body, with a flat oblong trangular head differentiated from the body, with small scales. Its nostril scale is also triangular. ^[4] It was found to exhibit the largest attack acceleration among snakes, about 18g.^[5]

Geographic range

The type locality given is "Fan-si-pan mountains, Tonkin, Indo-China"^[2][6] (=Mount Fansipan).^[3] It is currently known from several provinces in Vietnam (Lao Cai Province, Ha Giang Province, Quang Binh Province, Hue City, Lang Son Province).^[1] The only Chinese record is from Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County in northern Guangdong and was originally described as a new species, Ceratrimeresurus shenlii.^[1][2]

Habitat

It occurs in evergreen forest on both karst and granitic outcrops at elevations of 250–2,000 m (820–6,560 ft) above sea level.^[1]

Close-up of head, showing "horns" to which the specific name, cornutus, refers.

Taxonomy

Herrmann et al. (2004) moved this species to the genus Protobothrops based on external and hemipenal morphology, as well as molecular data.^[3]