sgbeachbum: a secretive pit viper @ SBWR

Thursday, December 1, 2011

a secretive pit viper @ SBWR

Shore Pit Vipers are occasionally seen in the mangrove areas such as SBWR and in the Lim Chu Kang mangroves - coastal forest in the North-Western corner of Singapore. They have also been seen on Singapore's Pulau Semakau and at places like the Changi boardwalk. These locations pretty much spot this snake all around coastal Singapore. This is a highly venemous snake species and are rather unpredictable as they stay very still despite any movement nearby and may only strike out when their comfort zone is breached. During the day, they commonly rest on plants between about two to about five feet off the ground. This spells trouble for anyone walking through the mangroves who unwittingly brushes against the wrong bush or bunch of leaves.

This particular specimen frequently habits the bushes to the right of the main bridge at SBWR near Hide 1A. It was resting along a small branch and it's middle was rather thick as if it had recently eaten something. In the clip, which was a combination of shorter clips shot over about 5 hours one morning, the snake hardly moved at all. However, at the 1.21 mark, it starts to exercise its jaws and at about 2.20 it gives a good yawn where you can just about make out its left fang (covered with its protective soft tissue). For a small snake, it sure does have long fangs!