| Calloselasma | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Crotalinae |
| Genus: | Calloselasma Cope, 1860 |
| Species: | C. rhodostoma |
| Binomial name | |
| Calloselasma rhodostoma (Kuhl, 1824) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Calloselasma is a monotypic genus[4] created for a venomous pitviper species, C. rhodostoma, which is found in Southeast Asia from Thailand to northern Malaysia and on the island of Java.[1] No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]
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Attains an average length of 76 cm, with females being slightly larger than males. Occasionally, they may grow as large as 91 cm.[2] This is the only Asian pit viper with large crown scales and smooth dorsal scales.[6]
Found in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, northern West Malaysia and on the Indonesian island of Java. The type locality is listed as "Java".[1] There are unconfirmed, but credible reports from southern Myanmar (Burma), northern Sumatra and northern Borneo.
Prefers coastal forests, bamboo thickets, unused and overgrown farmland, orchards, plantations as well as forests around plantations.[2]
This species is oviparous and the eggs are guarded by the female after deposition.[6]
This species has a reputation for being bad-tempered and quick to strike. In northern Malaysia it is responsible for some 700 incidents of snakebite annually with a mortality rate of about 2 percent. Remarkably sedentary, it has often been found in the same spot several hours after an incident involving humans.[6] Its venom causes severe pain and local swelling and sometimes tissue necrosis, but deaths are not common. Unfortunately many victims are left with dysfunctional or amputated limbs due to the lack of antivenom and early treatment.
