Malayan Pit Viper
Malayan Pit Viper or Malaysian Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma)
[Page Updated: 21 June 2023]
The Malayan Pit Viper is a medium sized venomous snake growing up to around 1 metre, native to tropical Southeast Asia. The Malayan pit viper is found in forest edges between Myanmar (Burma) & Vietnam also further south through peninsular Malaysia, to the islands Sumatra and Java.
The Malayan Pit Viper is an unusual snake in that it broods. The female will lay one to two dozen egg in August or Septembre and wrap her body around the eggs until they hatch after six weeks. During the incubation, she protects her eggs from intruders. The hatchlings measure 6 inches (15 cm) in length and have the same coloration as adults.
The crown is large and triangular with large plates. The eyes are vertically oriented pupils. The pit or depression that is located between the nostril and each eye acts as a heat detector to locate prey based on their temperature difference with the surrounding air. The body is a pinkish gray color with large brown triangles bordered by white along the sides. From the neck to the tail, a thin black line runs along its back.
Thais say: Ngoo gap pa
Length: Usually less than 1 meter. Female Malayan Pit Vipers are the larger and fatter snakes. Males of the species don’t make it to 1 meter long. I have only seen two in 12 years that were close to 1 meter long.
Range: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, Vietnam, Burma, and China.
The Malayan Pit Viper is similar to the copperhead and moccasin pit vipers in North America. It was previously placed with these pit vipers under the genus Agkistrodon. Malayan moccasin is another name for the Malayan viper. Pit vipers belong to the Viperidae subfamily of the viper family. Crotalidae is a family of crotalids that some authorities classify them as.
During the day, it hides in thickets of leaves, fallen logs or thickets. At dusk it becomes active, searching for small mammals, birds and frogs. It coils and vibrates its tail when disturbed. This creates a rattling noise among the debris and leaves. It can flatten and spread its ribs to defend itself from predators. Accidental bites to humans can be extremely damaging due to the long fangs of this snake and its powerful venom. However, there are very few fatalities. Malayan pit vipers are bred in laboratories to produce antivenin, and study a coagulant found in their venom.
Notes: These vipers are similar to North American “copperhead” snakes. They prefer dry, flat areas. They are known as lazy snakes. They may not move out of the way at all if someone is walking right toward them. After they bite they are known to remain in the same location. There are thousands of bites per year in Malaysia and Thailand from this snake.
These snakes are so dangerous when handled because they are not consistent with their behavior. One day they will be calm. The next, or the next 10 minutes – they will violently strike out lightening fast. Their preferred habitat is under dry leaves, wood, or rocks. They are active during the night mostly, especially during rain.
Thailand Snakes – Venomous and Non-Venomous snake information!
Nickname: Finger rotters – given by Al Coritz, Viperkeeper on YouTube. If they get you in the finger – you’ll likely lose part of your finger, hand, or arm without immediate care.
Habitat: Forests, rubber plantations, bamboo patches, farmland, grassland. Often lies in the short or long grass. These are terrestrial snakes that I’ve never seen climb anything.
Active Time? Day if cloudy and/or rainy, and night.
Food: Mice, frogs, lizards. Predominantly rodents.
Thailand Snakes – Venomous and Non-Venomous snake information!
Defensive Behavior: Partially coiled with neck in an “S”. Their strike is very fast. Their fangs are long – and in the front of the mouth. Some strikes are short, others involve the whole body as it “jumps” at the same time it strikes. Don’t underestimate the distance this snake can reach when striking. Also, this snake is VERY good at striking behind its head. Watch the video.
This pit viper has the longest fangs of any other snake in Thailand – including the Siamese Viper (D. siamensis).
King Cobras eat Malayan Pit Vipers. Larger Malayan Kraits may also eat them, but the interactions I’ve seen between them haven’t led to that.
Venom Toxicity: Very toxic. Venom is necrotoxic – it destroys all cells it comes in contact with – red blood cells, muscle, and ligaments. With a quick hospital visit after a bite you may just lose part of your finger or some tissue where the bite occurred. The venom causes a bite victim to bleed from body orifices – eyes, nose, mouth, ears, sexual organs, and sometimes fatally in the brain. Most people don’t die if they go to the hospital. Deaths occur when bite victims delay seeking medical treatment. There is an antivenom for this snake.
If you are bitten by this snake, do NOT wrap a tight band around the bite location. That will stop the venom from moving, from being diluted, and the tissue will suffer much more destruction.
Offspring: Lay eggs. Female guards them. Young are about 9 inches long and fast and thin. They are fully able to bite and have full-strength venom.
Malayan Pit Viper Eating Mouse Video – close-up of large fangs, strike, etc.
Malayan Pit Viper Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotilinae
Genus: Calloselasma
Species: C. rhodostoma
Binomial Classification:
Calloselasma rhodostoma
Video – Malayan Pit Viper Color Variety in Thailand
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I recently found two snakes in our water tank about 30 cm long with red bellies with pronounced black spots. The snakes to me looked like keelbacks, but it was hard to tell due to their small size. My Thai wife says they were Malayan pit vipers, but I cannot find any information or pics on this anywhere. Does anybody here have a clue? I live in the Tak province, not far from Sukhothai. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.
Sounds like one of the kukri snakes, or a coral snake. Explain more about the red belly and black spots – and where are the black spots? What does the top look like?
I just brought a house in Sattahip and seen a number of Malayan Pit Vipers. I am trying to find ways to protect them from entering my house and section
(My wife and I actually). Do Malayan pit vipers climb walls?
They are primarily ground snakes – terrestrial. I have never seen a Malayan pit viper on top of something – only on ground, rock, and under leaves. Do they EVER climb? I don’t know. Any snake can climb to some degree, but my guess is that nobody has ever seen a MPV climbing a vertical wall. :) Cheers!
Thank you so much for your prompt advise. Made me feel much better as we have surround our section with a high wall. Cheers
My wife saw a l ft long Malayan Pit Viper of the darker colour climbing down 6ft garden wall with vine attached.When she called me over it was on the ground and I couldn’t see it for a while,then I did coiled up.Good camouflage.Due to its size I stupidly thought nothing of it.How wrong was I.Love these type of web sites as so good for learning.
Had to dispatch 2 malayan pit vipers in two consecutive days at my house. Not seen one for months then two in two days. Do they live in groups? Any ideas to get rid or trap only I have 2 young children staying.
Maybe buy a pair of Tongs online. 40 Inches is standard. Walk around at night with a strong headlamp and try to find them. They don’t tend to stay in groups. Get rid of frogs and rats – any rodent – around your home.
Cheers
had a young one come into the house once . . . . it was about 9-12 inches long . . . . tonight had a good sized female on the back patio . . . . hope that’s the last we see of them . . . .
They’re pretty common if found in your area. They’d be out after a rain – usually night, but I’ve seen them during cloudy days during and after rain. Cheers
Think I was bitten by mpv in Pattaya in 1995. I reckon I must have stepped over it on the way to fix our flood prevention sand bags at our front gate. On the way back into the house it struck me on the tip of my big toe. Pain was excruciating. Luckily was rushed to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Meanwhile my local neighbours killed it and followed me to hospital. I actually identified it on a chart in A&E admittance which was confirmed when doctors received the dead snake. Was quickly given anti venom around one hour after the event then spent 3 days in hospital. Very scary but guess I was lucky – could have been worse.
Hi Archie, yep, it could have been much worse. What sort of necrosis occurred at the bite site? How much tissue did you lose?
Girlfriend bitten today in Phattalung
In hospital as I type this
No antivenim given at this stage why?
Great hospital great doctors all friends of ours
Swelling and discoloration on the finger
Hope she can keep it
I am from Louisiana looks and acts like a copperhead first glance..
You can call me, I sent you my phone through email. Cheers!