Essay On Pit Vipers

Pit vipers are fascinating creatures. The scientific name for the pit viper is a Crotalinae. This interesting name originated from Asia and western Europe 24 million years ago. Pit Vipers range in size, they can grow all the way to 12 feet such as the bushmaster and can get as tiny as 2 feet or smaller such as the Mao-Lan pit viper. These creatures are very giant so they can weigh up to 30 pounds, but they can be very tiny as well only weighing 6.6 pounds. The skin of a pit viper makes them stand out. The pit viper’s skin is a cold scaly texture that looks wet, but is actually dry. The one thing that points out pit vipers from any other species of snake is their 2 holes under their eyes that are incredibly useful to them. My research on

They have many hunting techniques that are useful to them, but the technique they use the most is their infrared vision or also called heat vision. Pit vipers disappear into it’s surroundings and awaits for their prey, then once spotted they lash in to their victims flesh with their pair of fangs releasing toxic venom into the victim's body. When doing this they use their infrared vision that can form images in their head of warm blooded animals.When in search of food pit vipers have “two pit holes under each eye with 1600 sensory cell” (Phys.org). Then they flicker their tongue to smell where their prey is. Pit vipers have a variety of food sources, but their most common are rodents such as mice and squirrels, small mammals such as rabbits and bats, ground birds, amphibians and even smaller snakes. Their marvelous way of hunting is amazing. Pit vipers have an unusual behavior than any other species of snake. Most snakes are active by day, but on the other hand pit vipers avoid any contact of the hot daytime temperatures. Pit vipers are nocturnal animals which means they are active by night and are resting by day. In the winter period pit vipers takes shelter in dens that can protect them from the harsh environment. Pit vipers will often group up into a large group to conjoin body