FieldHerpForum

The first time I saw a Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) was half a decade ago (in my pre-herping years). It was a hatchling sitting by a little canal and munching on an earthworm. Since then, this species has eluded me completely, but just when I thought it might have gone extinct in my area, I saw two DORs just last week, and then this live adult last night.

P. pulverulentus is one of the two venomous colubrids here on the island that even Taiwanese herper cowboys keep their paws off (the other one being Rhabdophis tigrinus), as it can deliver a very unpleasant bite which in most cases requires medical attention. The Mock Viper is very variable in markings and color and widely distributed all over South-East and East Asia.

Here's more info on this little supposedly grumpy animal. (Funnily enough, it wasn't all that grumpy when we photographed it. Two or three fake attacks, that was it)

Yet another interesting snake. Looks like you have had a great year. How long does it stay warm enough for herps in Taiwan?

I like the "Two or three fake attacks" by a "Mock Viper". I suppose nothing else could be expected!

Regards,
David

The head pattern of this snake is really interesting. It looks like wood grain. The only animal I've seen anything like this would be a frog from Kevin Messenger's epic series through China. Do you have tighter shots of the head of this snake?

Very good looking colubrid...I like it!

Dang that is a cool snake. That's the most viper-like head of any nonviper I've seen. I agree, the head pattern is awesome- kind of reminds me of the Fae's viper head.

It's interesting that both of the "mock" vipers you've posted are still venomous, but are just not Viperidae. To they lay person, I guess they are still "vipers."...if it looks like a viper, bites like a viper, and sends you to the hospital like a viper...

Unpleasant how? I was under the impression that the venom has strong anticoagulant properties and bites result in a lot of bleeding, but not much more. Do they slash when biting (i.e. like Oligodon)?

Very nice snake.

Ditto! Very cool looking snake!!!

I like the yellow speckles on its sides and the head pattern is cool as can be

Thanks for the nice comments, all!

moloch: it's warm enough for herps here in Northern Taiwan all the way up to early December. January, February and early March is the only real downtime....but even then you can find the odd snake once in a while, as it never gets colder than 5 or 6 C. Southern Taiwan has year-round herping, though.

atrox: I took most of these shots with a 105 macro lens, prone on the road about two feet away from the snake. I would have loved tighter shots of the head pattern, but since I had no experience with this species, I decided to play it safe. Next time I know I can get closer

Martti: "unpleasant" as in painful swelling. I don't know about the Kukri snake-like anticoagulant or the slashing, but maybe Michael in Thailand can shed a light on this? He posted a pic of one the other day.