Temple Viper
FamilyViperidae
Venom TypeVenomous
Max Length0.9 m
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatForests
DietSmall mammals, frogs
Danger LevelModerate
About the Temple Viper
Named after the Temple of the Azure Cloud in Penang, Malaysia, where large populations live on the temple grounds. Their triangular head and stout body are typical of vipers. Unusual among snakes — they can climb trees but move very slowly. Their venom contains a unique peptide that has been studied for medical applications. Black and yellow banding provides camouflage in dappled forest light.
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