pit vipers
Fanged, heat-sensing serpents
Pit vipers are venomous snakes distinguished by heat-sensing pits between their eyes and nostrils, which detect infrared radiation from warm-blooded prey.
The family includes rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths in North America, as well as various species across Asia and Central and South America.
She learned to identify pit vipers by the triangular head shape.
Viper with segmented tail noisemaker
- copperheadNorth American venomous snake
- cottonmouthVenomous semiaquatic pit viper
- fer-de-lanceVenomous neotropical pit viper
- bushmasterLarge venomous pit viper
Sharp piercing teeth
- venom glandsToxin-producing anatomical structures
- infrared sensorsDevices detecting thermal radiation
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- forked tongueSymbol of dishonest speech
Biological-origin harm agent
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- hemotoxicPoisonous to blood tissue
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
- neurotoxicDamaging to nervous system
cytotoxic · necrosis · tissue damage · swelling · hemorrhage · antivenin · serum · snakebite
Surprise strike from concealment
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- coilWound circular arrangement
- rattleShaking sound maker
- warningAlert about danger
defensive · nocturnal · basking · thermoregulation · camouflage · cryptic · lurk · stalking
Producing injected toxins
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- snakebiteSerpent fang injury
medical emergency · fatality · warning coloration · defensive strike · aggressive · feared · cautionary
Ground beneath trees
- rocky outcropsExposed stone formations
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- desertTo leave behind completely
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
tropical · temperate · arboreal · terrestrial · leaf litter · underbrush · woodland · wetland
rattlesnake
Viper with segmented tail noisemaker
- copperheadNorth American venomous snake
- cottonmouthVenomous semiaquatic pit viper
- fer-de-lanceVenomous neotropical pit viper
fangs
Sharp piercing teeth
- venom glandsToxin-producing anatomical structures
- infrared sensorsDevices detecting thermal radiation
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
toxin
Biological-origin harm agent
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- hemotoxicPoisonous to blood tissue
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
neurotoxic · cytotoxic · necrosis · tissue damage · swelling · hemorrhage · antivenin · serum · snakebite · toxicology
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
warning · defensive · nocturnal · basking · thermoregulation · camouflage · cryptic · lurk · stalking · constriction
venomous
Producing injected toxins
snakebite · medical emergency · fatality · warning coloration · defensive strike · aggressive · feared · cautionary
forest floor
Ground beneath trees
- rocky outcropsExposed stone formations
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- desertTo leave behind completely
grassland · tropical · temperate · arboreal · terrestrial · leaf litter · underbrush · woodland · wetland · scrubland
- reptileslizard, snake, turtle, crocodile, alligator
- rainforest lifetoucans, orangutans, macaws, sloths, parrots
- snakescobra, anaconda, boa, python, rattlesnake
- nocturnal animalsowls, bats, raccoons, opossums, moths
- Bioelectricsbioelectricity, electrotherapy, electrical stimulation, action potential, depolarization
pit vipersconstrictors
Snakes killing by compression
boas · pythons · anacondas · boa constrictors · king snakes
pit vipersgarter snakes
Small striped serpents
corn snakes · milk snakes · rat snakes · king snakes · water snakes