pitviper
Fanged infrared hunter
A pitviper is a venomous snake distinguished by heat-sensing pits between its eyes and nostrils, which allow it to detect warm-blooded prey in darkness.
This group includes rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths in the Americas, as well as various Asian species.
The term is sometimes written as two words or hyphenated: pit viper, pit-viper.
We learned to identify pitvipers by the triangular shape of their heads.
Sharp piercing teeth
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- forked-tongueDeliberately deceptive in speech
- slitherGlide smoothly, sinuously
- sheddingLosing outer covering
Viper with segmented tail noisemaker
- copperheadNorth American venomous snake
- cottonmouthVenomous semiaquatic pit viper
- fer-de-lanceVenomous neotropical pit viper
- bushmasterLarge venomous pit viper
Cold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- squamataScaled reptile order
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- specimenIndividual for examination
conservation · endangered · wildlife · biodiversity · research · identification · naturalist · classification
Biological-origin harm agent
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- hemotoxinSubstance destroying blood cells
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
cytotoxic · bite · necrosis · snakebite · hemorrhagic · swelling · antivenin · toxicology
Surprise strike from concealment
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- preyAnimal being hunted
- rodentsGnawing mammal order
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
camouflage · concealment · patience · coiled · lightning-fast · predation · nocturnal · underbrush
Of hot, humid regions
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- jungleDense tropical forest
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- arborealOf or in trees
terrestrial · subtropical · woodland · wetland · montane · mangrove · undergrowth · humid
fangs
Sharp piercing teeth
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- forked-tongueDeliberately deceptive in speech
- slitherGlide smoothly, sinuously
rattlesnake
Viper with segmented tail noisemaker
- copperheadNorth American venomous snake
- cottonmouthVenomous semiaquatic pit viper
- fer-de-lanceVenomous neotropical pit viper
reptile
Cold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- squamataScaled reptile order
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
specimen · conservation · endangered · wildlife · biodiversity · research · identification · naturalist · classification
toxin
Biological-origin harm agent
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- hemotoxinSubstance destroying blood cells
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
neurotoxin · cytotoxic · bite · necrosis · snakebite · hemorrhagic · swelling · antivenin · toxicology
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
stalking · camouflage · concealment · patience · coiled · lightning-fast · predation · nocturnal · underbrush · carnivore
tropical
Of hot, humid regions
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- jungleDense tropical forest
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
arboreal · terrestrial · subtropical · woodland · wetland · montane · mangrove · undergrowth · humid · temperate
pitviperconstrictor
Snake killing by compression
boa constrictor · python · anaconda · boa · ball python
pitvipergarter snake
Small harmless North American serpent
corn snake · rat snake · king snake · milk snake · gopher snake