The green pit viper is one of the most colorful and attractive snakes in Sri lanka. Its dorsal color is green with black markings and the head has a black variegated pattern. The ventral aspect is greenish with a tinge of yellow. The colorations of this viper well merge into the foliage.
The green pit viper grows to about a meter in length. It is an arboreal and a nocturnal snake. It is mainly confined to wet, intermediate and dry zone forests and submontane forests. It is also found in tea, coffee and coca plantations. The green pit viper feeds on birds, rodents, and frogs. The female produces young ones. The brood consists of 5 to 30 baby vipers. Though the green pit viper is a venomous viper-id snake, its venom is not highly toxic like that of Russell's viper venom. Majority of green pit viper bites cause only extensive swelling and pain. There are no authentic causes of deaths attributed to envenoming by this snake. Also there is no anti-venom serum to neutralize its venom. Some believe that when the green pit viper bites the body of the victim turns green.
Identification
1) Distinct green color with black markings.
2) Large triangular head.
3) Presence of a distinct pit between eye and the nostril.
