Head to head
White-lipped Pit Viper vs Eyelash Viper
White-lipped Pit Viper
VS Eyelash Viper
The white-lipped pit viper of Asia and the eyelash viper of Central America are two small tree-dwelling pit vipers that ambush prey from branches.
| White-lipped Pit Viper | Eyelash Viper | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Trimeresurus albolabris | Bothriechis schlegelii |
| Colour | Bright green all over, with a pale whitish-yellow stripe along the lips and sides | Occurs in bright yellow, green, mottled brown, grey, and pink, sometimes in one litter |
| Special feature | A heat-sensing pit on each side of the face that detects the warmth of prey in darkness | Modified spiny scales above each eye, with a function that is debated |
| Climbing | A prehensile tail that grips branches and anchors it while it waits for prey | Grips branches, freeing the snake to strike outward from an anchored coil |
| Diet | Frogs, lizards, birds, and small mammals | Frogs, lizards, small birds including hummingbirds, rodents, and bats |
| Venom | Causes pain, swelling, and bleeding problems, and needs medical attention | Haemotoxic, causing pain, swelling, blistering, and bleeding, with bites serious but rarely fatal |
| Habitat and range | Forest, scrub, and gardens across northeastern India, Southeast Asia, and southern China | Lowland and mid-elevation rainforest from southern Mexico through Central America to Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and common | Least Concern |
White-lipped Pit Viper vs Eyelash Viper: common questions
Which viper has spiny scales above its eyes?
The eyelash viper, which has modified spiny scales above each eye that give it its name.
How do pit vipers find prey in the dark?
They have a heat-sensing pit on each side of the face, which lets them detect the warmth of prey even in darkness.
Which one is a common cause of bites?
The white-lipped pit viper, which is a frequent cause of snakebite in parts of Southeast Asia because it lives close to farms and gardens.