Lowland Hump-nosed Viper

The lowland hump-nosed viper is a venomous pit viper endemic to Sri Lanka. It differs from the Gloyd's hump-nosed viper in having a variably coloured body and a less upcurved snout. The snout tip carries a wart-like protuberance topped with 10 to 19 minute scales. The body colour ranges from yellowish brown to dark brown and sometimes deep red, with two rows of distinct sub-oval or sub-triangular blotches meeting along the back and a dark stripe across the eye and cheek. The belly is lighter than the back, sometimes light ash-grey (Wikipedia, general species account).

The species is ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs develop inside the female and she gives birth to live young. Nationally Vulnerable (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).