Peter05220035516 at 04:05, 16 December 2025

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{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =Gloydius_himalayanus_189212012.jpg
| genus = Gloydius
| species = himalayanus
| image_caption = Gloydius himalayanus
| authority = ([[Albert Günther|Günther]], 1864)<ref name="ITIS"/>
| synonyms = * ''Trigonocephalus affinis'' – Günther, 1860 (part)
* '''''Halys himalayanus'' Günther, 1864'''
* ''Halys Himalayanus'' – [[Ferdinand Stoliczka|Stoliczka]], 1870
* ''Halys Hymalayanus'' Stoliczka, 1870 ''(ex errore)''
* ''Trigonocephalus himalayanus'' – [[Alexander Strauch|Strauch]], 1873
* ''Crotalus Halys Himalayanus'' – Higgins, 1873
* ''Ancistrodon himalayanus'' – [[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1890
* ''Agkistrodon himalayanus'' – Hatta, 1928
* ''A''[''gkistrodon'']. ''himalayana'' – [[:fr:Garth Underwood|Underwood]], 1979
* ''Gloydius himalayanus'' – [[:fr:Alphonse Richard Hoge|Hoge]] & Romano-Hoge, 1981<ref name="McD99">McDiarmid RW, [[Jonathan A. Campbell|Campbell JA]], Touré T. 1999. ''Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1''. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref>
}}

'''''Gloydius himalayanus''''' also known as the '''Himalayan pit viper''' or<ref name="G&C90">[[Howard K. Gloyd|Gloyd HK]], [[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant R]]. 1990. ''Snakes of the'' Agkistrodon ''Complex: A Monographic Review''. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 614 pp. 52 plates. LCCN 89-50342. {{ISBN|0-916984-20-6}}.</ref> the '''Himalayan viper'''<ref name="Got">Gotch AF. 1986. ''Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained''. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. {{ISBN|0-7137-1704-1}}.</ref>
is a [[Crotalinae|pit viper]] [[species]] found along the southern slopes of the [[Himalayas]] in [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Nepal]]. No [[subspecies]] are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=634886 |taxon=Gloydius himalayanus |accessdate=20 May 2007}}</ref> Himalayan pit vipers have been found up to 4900m above sea level, which makes it the highest living snake ever found.<ref>{{cite book|last1=De la Bédoyère|first1=C|last2=Matthews|first2=R|last3=Parker|first3=S|last4=Setford|first4=S.|last5=Taylor|first5=B|year=2017|title=Encyclopedia of Life|publisher=Miles Kelly|isbn=978-1-78617-327-0|page=227}}</ref>

==Description==
Its body color is light brown or dark brown. On the upper side of the body there are long infarct marks which seem to be intertwined due to their close proximity. Slightly larger, side row of spots of the same color. Dark spots on the head, abdomen is light gray in color. There are small dark spots on the abdomen.

The head is distinctly wide and elongated, with symmetrically arranged large scales. The [[Snake scales|dorsal scales]] are strongly keeled. An elongated postocular extends anteriorly to separate the eye from the supralabials. The [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsum]] is brownish, mottled or variegated to form a pattern of transverse bars. Ventral scales are white with black and red dots or speckles. Average length of these snakes is between {{convert|0.76|and|0.90|m|ft}}.<ref name="G&C1990">{{cite book|last=Gopalakrishnakone, Chou|first=P, LM|title=Snakes of Medical Importance (Asia-Pacific Region)|year=1990|publisher=Venom and Toxin Research Group National University of Singapore and International Society on Toxinology (Asia-Pacific section)|location=Singapore|isbn=9971-62-217-3|pages=436}}</ref> Dorsal scale count is "(20 to 23) - 21 (19 to 23) - 17 (15)",<ref name="wch">{{cite web|title=Gloydius himalayanus|url=http://toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0073|work=Clinical Toxinology Resource|publisher=University of Adelaide|accessdate=11 April 2012}}</ref> which means behind head, 20-23 rows; at midbody, usually 21 rows, but sometimes 19 or 23; just before vent, usually 17 rows, but sometimes 15.

==Distribution==
Occurs along the southern slopes of the [[Himalayas]] from northeastern [[Pakistan]], to northern [[India]] ([[Kashmir region|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[Ladakh]] and [[Uttarakhand]]) and [[Nepal]]. Reports that this species occurs in [[Sikkim]], India, need to be confirmed.<ref name="McD99"/> It is the only pit viper found in Pakistan .

==Habitat==
This is a highland snake and is found in altitudes ranging from {{convert|2100|to|4900|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the mid and western [[Himalayas]]. It takes refuge under fallen timber, crevices, in or under rocks, beneath boulders, ledges, stones and fallen leaves.<ref name=G&C1990/>

==Behavior and diet==
This is a nocturnal and terrestrial species, often seen close to its hiding place, to which it retreats when disturbed. It is a lazy timid snake, moving slowly from one place to another. Its food consists mostly of [[millipedes]], [[centipedes]], and small rodents.<ref name=G&C1990/><ref name=wch/>

==Venom==
Bites from this species result in intense local pain and swelling, which usually subsides within two to three days, even without treatment.<ref name=G&C1990/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* Gloyd HK, Conant R. 1990. ''Snakes of the'' Agkistrodon ''Complex. A Monographic Review''. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Contributions to Herpetology No. 6. SSAR, Oxford, Ohio. vi + 614 pp. + 52 pl.
* Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, [[Ashok Captain|Captain A]], Ryabow S. 2004. ''Asian Pit Vipers''. Geitje Books. Berlin. 368 pp.
* [[Albert Günther|Günther A]]. 1864. ''The Reptiles of British India''. The Ray Society. (Taylor & Francis, Printers). London. xxvii + 452 pp. (''Halys himalayanus'', pp. 393–394.)
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{NRDB species|genus=Gloydius|species=himalayanus|date=12 December|year=2007}}
* [http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ReptilesofPakistan/himalayanpitviper.htm Himalayan Pit Viper ''Gloydius himalayanus''] at [http://wildlifeofpakistan.com/newpage2.htm Wildlife of Pakistan]. Accessed 20 May 2007.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1310712}}

[[Category:Gloydius|himalayanus]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Snakes of India]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Nepal]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Albert Günther]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1864]]

Gloydius himalayanus - Revision history

Peter05220035516 at 04:05, 16 December 2025