| Ovophis okinavensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Crotalinae |
| Genus: | Ovophis |
| Species: | O. okinavensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ovophis okinavensis (Boulenger, 1892) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Ovophis okinavensis is a venomous pitviper species found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]
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This is the longest Asian pitviper, adults are usually 1.1-1.7 m long (max. 3.0 m). Body usually pale greenish-brown, or yellowish-olive (sometimes pale brown), w/ alternating, darker brownish or greenish dorsal blotches, each bordered w/ yellowish scales. Head large, triangular, distinct from neck, narrow dark postocular stripe. .[4]
Scalation includes 23 or 21 rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 125-135 ventral scales, 36-55 paired subcaudal scales and 8 (sometimes 7 or 9) supralabial scales.[2]
The color pattern consists of a gray ground color overlaid with a series of dark gray of grayish-black crossbands. A ventrolateral pattern of black spots against a gray-white background is also present.[4]
Found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, including Okinawa and the Amami Islands. The type locality given is "Okinawa."[1]
Occurs in various of habitat, including open woodland, forests, mountains, fields, in farming areas with nearby streams, ponds and other water sources. It can also be found in human habitations[4]
Hunts for rodents and other vertebrates in open area, especially in sugar cane fields and, sometimes near human habitations.[4][6]
Both oviparous and ovoviviparous. Depending on environmental condition, females will either deposit their eggs, or retain them to incubate internally and give birth later to live young.[4]
Like most vipers, the Ovophis okinavensis's venom is mainly hemotoxin with potent Cytotoxicity factors. This species causes the most serious snakebite in Japan. People are bitten when they step on this sluggish snake at night, or tending crops by day.