Both belong to the Viperidae family, making them easy to confuse.
The Green Pit Viper (scientific name: Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) and the Malayan Pit Viper (scientific name: Calloselasma rhodostoma) are two dangerous types of pit vipers found in our country. They have quite similar appearances, which leads to frequent confusion.
Which one is the Green Pit Viper, and which one is the Malayan Pit Viper?
Although both snakes belong to the Viperidae family, they are categorized into two different subfamilies and genera. In reality, they have distinct morphological and anatomical features that researchers can easily differentiate.
However, for most people, they may appear quite similar. This article will help readers easily identify these snakes if they encounter them by chance. Let’s explore the details through the following images.
The two species of snakes have very similar appearances. (Photo: VNherps)
1. Geographic location is an extremely important factor in identifying snake species. Both of these snakes inhabit quite distinct environments, so knowing where a snake is found can help in accurate identification.
Specifically, the Green Pit Viper is distributed from the Northern region down to Lam Dong Province, while the Malayan Pit Viper is found in the Southern region, reaching as far as Gia Lai. Their overlapping area is quite small, located in the provinces from Lam Dong to Gia Lai, so if they are found here, we need to consider additional factors.
The patterns on the backs of the two snake species are very different. (Photo: VNherps)
2. The Green Pit Viper is generally longer and has a slimmer tail, and its patterns are denser and less regular compared to the Malayan Pit Viper. Additionally, the patterns on the Malayan Pit Viper are triangular, resembling two butterfly wings or a symmetrical ‘X’ shape.
Next is the difference in the head scales. The Green Pit Viper has small granule-like scales on its head (a characteristic feature of most pit vipers), while the Malayan Pit Viper has plate-like scales similar to those of other water snakes.
The head scales of the Malayan Pit Viper are larger than those of the Green Pit Viper. (Photo: VNherps)
We can also identify them by observing the colored stripe behind the eye of the snake. The Green Pit Viper has a bold black stripe on each side of its head, while the Malayan Pit Viper has a lighter stripe with a slightly darker cheek area.
The nose of the Green Pit Viper is quite blunt, while the nose of the Malayan Pit Viper extends outwards. These are some quick methods to distinguish the two snake species. Both are venomous and can cause necrosis if bitten, so caution is advised when encountering them.
