Hime habu viper
Squamata / Family: Viperidae
- Total length
- 30-80 cm
- Range
- The Amami Islands (excluding Kikai-jima, Okinoerabu-jima, Yoron-jima, and other islands) and the Okinawa Islands (excluding Aguni-jima and other islands)
While it preys on a variety of vertebrates, including fish, frogs play a particularly important role in its diet. In the diorama, it seems to be targeting an Amami tip-nosed frog.
Unlike the habu viper, it does not climb trees. It is relatively tolerant of low temperatures, which allows it to prey on frogs that breed during winter. It lays eggs from July to August. This snake is egg-laying, but close to live-bearing; its eggs have very thin shells and hatch within just 1 to 3 days, and sometimes the young emerge already hatched. Since it has a smaller amount of venom compared to the habu viper, it rarely causes severe injury when it bites. On this island, it is commonly referred to as "mamushi."
Habitat of This Animal:
A:Forest along the valley - A2:Forest along the mountain streams
In Tokunoshima Island, abundant rainwater carved the ground, forming many rows of ridges and valleys. Plants adapting to the flowing and drying up of water grow in the harsh environment, where water swells and depletes every time rain falls. The waterfront is also a habitat for many creatures, including endemic species, with frogs and dragonflies breeding.
This A2:Forest along the mountain streams