#Viperidae

[herpsandbirds]

Variable Bush Vipers (Atheris squamigera), family Viperidae, from central and Western Africa

Venomous.

photograph by Mark Kostich

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Bonus Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

People can change a lot as they grow up; you might change your hair, your clothes, even the type of venom you produce! As juveniles, black-tailed rattlesnakes produce a venom with the chemical crotamine, which causes paralysis. However, as adults, they ditch this extra chemical and stick solely to phospholipases metalloproteinases which prevent blood from clotting. It's thought that juveniles have this extra chemical to help catch their prey.

(Image: A black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Michael Price)

Thank you to anon for your donation to Janna's gofund me!

[snototter]

A northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in Arkansas, USA

by Alan

[exotic-venom]

female blue T. insularis sitting on top of a piece of blue agate

[nature-scares-me]

a big viper, a tiny viper and a lizard

[nippongoto]

サキシマハブ

水溜まりを見つめる腹ペコさん。

[faunalregion]

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

[birdblues]

Blotched Palm-pit Viper

[reanimateobjects]

[tumbltag]

Get very here now

[herpsandbirds]

Hairy Bush Viper (Atheris hispida), family Viperidae, Uganda

Venomous.

photograph by Cristian Torica

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Animals usually use bright colors as a warning to others that they're dangerous, but that isn't always the case. Eyelash vipers come in pink, green, or yellow, and they can use those colors to hide among bunches of bananas! Because of their ability to hide in plain sight, Bothriechis schlegelii has occasionally been shipped to other countries among exports of bananas.

(Image: An eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) by Geoff Gallice)

If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another organization benefiting Palestinians, I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.

[snototter]

Jerdon's pit viper (Protobothrops jerdonii) in Hubei, China

by cowyeow

[miyrumiyru]

They warn me before I take a step closer, how kind!

Short-tailed Mamushi (Gloydius brevicauda)

[paleozoey]