Habu viper
Squamata / Family: Viperidae
- Total length
- 100-200 cm, occasionally reaching around 250 cm
- Range
- Amami-Oshima, Edateku-jima, Kakeroma-jima, Uke-jima, Yoro-jima, Tokunoshima, and the Okinawa Islands (excluding Izena-jima, Zamami-jima, and other islands)
While young, it primarily feeds on amphibians and reptiles like frogs and lizards; as it grows, it begins to favor mammals such as rats. In the diorama, it is poised to attack the Tokunoshima spiny rat.
One of the largest venomous snakes in Japan, with males generally growing larger. Habu vipers from Tokunoshima typically have a grayish coloration, though there is considerable variation.
Mating occurs from February to May, during which males engage in battles known as the "combat dance." While its venom is less potent than that of the Japanese pit viper (Gloydius blomhoffii), the amount injected is extremely high. Additionally, the population on the Amami Islands is known to possess venom with high myonecrotic activity, which can lead to severe tissue damage and even fatalities.
Habitat of This Animal:
A:Forest along the valley - A3:Deep forest
Along the mountain valleys grows a high humidity forest. In such an environment, Quercus miyagii, a species of oak often grows in clusters. Some of these grow more than 20m tall and with trunk diameters exceeding 1m, with largely developed buttress roots. Also, there are many animals and plants preferring humid environments, supporting the abundant biota of Tokunoshima Island together with the forest along mountain ridges.
This A3:Deep forest