 | Quick Facts |  |
|  | Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Porthidium
Species: ophryomegas
Length: 20 inches
Offspring: 6 - 9
Life Span: 5 years
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Western Hog-nosed Pit ViperPorthidium ophryomegas |  |
The Western Hog-nosed pit viper is generally gray, yellow or reddish-brown with numerous dark blotches on its back. This allows them to blend in with their surroundings and makes catching food easier. They are venomous snakes and their venom not only kills their food but aids in the digestion process by making their prey easier to digest.
As juveniles, Western Hog-nosed pit vipers eat primarily frogs and lizards. As adults, they usually eat small mammals, frogs and lizards, and the occasional bird.
Western Hog-nosed pit vipers are found in rocky semi-arid slopes and hillsides. They can be found in Western Guatemala and along the Southern Pacific coast down to Panama and Honduras.
Western Hog-nosed pit vipers are nocturnal animals. Their infrared sensing pit helps them hunt without visual cues. They are not aggressive snakes (except to their prey) but will react vigorously if threatened.
Western Hog-nosed pit vipers give birth to live young. They will usually give birth to 6-9 young snakes about 5 inches long.
Like all pit vipers, they have a pit organ on each side of their head that detects thermal radiation and aids in hunting.
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