Snakes with colorful and beautiful patterns but very rare
The snake mentioned is the Jerdon viper, also known as the Oriental viper or spotted viper, with the scientific name Trimeresurus jerdonii. This is a species of viper.
The adult Jerdon viper is from 0.8 to 1 meter long, in which the female is usually larger than the male. This snake has a large head, clearly distinguishable from the neck and body, a characteristic of vipers.
The Jerdon viper stands out with its colorful scales, alternating between black and green or light yellow scales. This color helps the snake to hide effectively in the natural environment.
The Jerdon viper is distributed from South Asia to Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Myanmar, southern China and Vietnam. In Vietnam, this snake species is distributed in the northern mountainous provinces such as Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau.
This snake species lives in humid and cold forests at an altitude of 1,400 to 2,400 meters. Sometimes they are also found near streams, grasslands or bamboo bushes, and cultivated land on high mountains, which makes Jerdon vipers very rare in the wild.
Jerdon vipers hunt and are active at night. Their main food is rodents, birds, amphibians and other small reptiles. They hunt by hiding and ambushing prey when they come close.
On the face of this snake species, there are heat-sensing pits, allowing them to detect prey through body heat, helping them hunt effectively in the absence of light.
Because their habitat is mainly high in the mountains and they are active at night, it is very difficult for humans to encounter them in the wild.
How poisonous is the Jerdon viper?
There is a view that the more beautiful and colorful the snake is, the more dangerous it is. This view is completely true for the Jerdon viper.
The Jerdon viper possesses dangerous blood venom. When bitten, the victim will experience pain, swelling, and blood clotting disorders, causing continuous bleeding. If not treated promptly, it can lead to wound necrosis or even death.
If bitten by a Jerdon viper, the victim must be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility. Keep the victim still and immobilize the bitten body part, avoid excessive movement. Absolutely do not apply a tourniquet to the bite because this will lead to wound necrosis.
Because the Jerdon viper lives in high mountainous areas, it is difficult to access timely medical conditions, the most important thing is “prevention is better than cure”. People should stay away from areas where venomous snakes may exist, and not try to catch or attack snakes to avoid being attacked.
When hiking or going into the forest, people should wear high boots and avoid walking through bushes. If you have to move through dense bushes or piles of dry leaves, use a long stick to check before moving through, to avoid being attacked by hidden snakes.
When looking for a resting place, absolutely do not sit on piles of dry leaves, stay away from rotten logs because this can be a place for snakes to hide. To be safe, sit on rocks and the ground that has been cleared of dry leaves.