# Hypnale hypnale

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Species of snake

Hypnale hypnale Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Viperidae Genus: Hypnale Species: H. hypnale Binomial name Hypnale hypnale (Merrem, 1820) Synonyms[1] [Cophias] Hypnale Merrem, 1820 Trigonoc[ephalus]. hypnale — Schlegel, 1837 Trimeresurus ? Ceylonensis Gray, 1842 Trigonocephalus Zara Gray, 1849 Trigonocephalus hypnalis — Blyth In Kelaart, 1852 Hypnale affinis Anderson, 1871 Trimaculatus (?) Ceylonensis — Higgins, 1873 Ancistrodon hypnale — Boulenger, 1890 Ancistrodon millardi Wall, 1908 [Agkistrodon] hypnale — Pope, 1935 [Agkistrodon] millardi — Pope, 1935 Agcistrodon hypnale — Deraniyagala, 1949 Hypnale hypnale — Gloyd, 1977

***Hypnale hypnale*** is a [venomous](/source/Venomous_snake) [pit viper](/source/Pit_viper) [species](/source/Species) [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [India](/source/India) and [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka).[1] Common names include the **hump-nosed viper**,[2] **Merrem's hump-nosed viper**[3] **hump-nosed pit viper**,[4][5] and **Oriental hump-nosed viper**.[6]

No [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) are currently recognized.[7]

## Description

*H. hypnale*, in Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, [Kerala](/source/Kerala), [India](/source/India).

*H. hypnale* grows to an average of 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) in total length (including tail).[2] The Armed Forces Pest Management Board states 0.4 to 0.6 m (1 ft 4 in to 2 ft 0 in) in total length.[3]

Its build is that of a typical [viperid](/source/Viperidae) with a stout body and a wide head. The snout is pointed and turned upwards,[2] ending in a hump.[3] The [frontal](/source/Frontal_scale), supraoculars, and [parietal](/source/Parietal_scales) shields are large, but those on the snout are small and irregular.[2]

The color pattern is grayish with heavy brown mottling, overlaid with a double row of large dark spots. The belly is brownish or yellowish with dark mottling. The tip of the tail is yellow or reddish.[2]

## Geographic range

At [Kanjirappally](/source/Kanjirappally), [Kerala](/source/Kerala).

*Hypnale hypnale* is found in peninsular [India](/source/India) to the [Western Ghats](/source/Western_Ghats) as far north as 16° N, and in [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka), according to [M.A. Smith](/source/Malcolm_Arthur_Smith) (1943). The [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given is "[Castle Rock, Karnataka](/source/Castle_Rock%2C_Karnataka), India."

## Habitat

*Hypnale hypnale* is found in dense [jungle](/source/Jungle) and [coffee plantations](/source/Coffee_plantation) in hilly areas.[2]

## Behaviour

At [Kandalama](/source/Kandalama), note the flattening body when threatened

Hump-nosed pit viper camouflaged in leaf litter, [Kali Tiger Reserve](/source/Kali_Tiger_Reserve), Karnataka, India.

*Hypnale hypnale* is active during early morning and night. It spends the day in [leaf litter](/source/Leaf_litter) and thick bushes. This species can be found on the [stream](/source/Stream) side basking during the sunrise. Although it is a slow mover, it is capable of fast strikes. It has an irritable disposition and will vibrate its tail when annoyed,[2][8] a behavior it has in common with other pit vipers, especially [rattlesnakes](/source/Rattlesnake) of the [genera](/source/Genus) *[Crotalus](/source/Crotalus)* and *[Sistrurus](/source/Sistrurus)*. It has been described as nocturnal, terrestrial, and aggressive when disturbed.[3] It is the snake to cause the highest number of recorded snake bites in Sri Lanka.[9]

## Venom

Bites from *H. hypnale*, although previously thought to be innocuous, are now known to cause serious complications such as [coagulopathy](/source/Coagulopathy) and [acute renal failure](/source/Acute_renal_failure) (ARF). If not treated within a few hours, bites can potentially be fatal for human beings.[10] While not initially included in the list of highly venomous snakes in Sri Lanka, it is now considered highly venomous, and one of the medically important venomous snakes in Sri Lanka and on the south western coast of India.[9]

As of November 2016, an antivenom is currently being developed by the [Costa Rican](/source/Costa_Rica) [Clodomiro Picado Institute](/source/Clodomiro_Picado_Research_Institute), and clinical trial phase in Sri Lanka.[11]

## Reproduction

Adult females of *H. hypnale* bear live young from March through July. Brood size ranges from 4 to 17, and the newborns are 13 to 14.5 cm (5.1 to 5.7 in) long.[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McD99_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McD99_1-1) [McDiarmid RW](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Wallace_McDiarmid), [Campbell JA](/source/Jonathan_A._Campbell), Touré TA (1999). *Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1*. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-893777-00-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-893777-00-6) (series). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-893777-01-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-893777-01-4) (volume).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-USN91_2-6) United States Navy (1991). *Poisonous Snakes of the World*. New York: United States Government/Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-486-26629-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-486-26629-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AFPMB01_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AFPMB01_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AFPMB01_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-AFPMB01_3-3) Defense Pest Management Information Analysis Center (2001). *Regional Disease Vector Ecology Profile for South Central Asia*. 219 pp. [PDF](http://www.afpmb.org/coweb/guidance_targets/disease_vector/DVEP_SCAsia_Sep01.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060830222017/http://www.afpmb.org/coweb/guidance_targets/disease_vector/DVEP_SCAsia_Sep01.pdf) 2006-08-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) at [Armed Forces Pest Management Board](http://www.afpmb.org/). Accessed 17 November 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gum04_4-0)** Gumprecht A, Tillack F, [Orlov NL](/source/Nikolai_Liutsianovich_Orlov), [Captain A](/source/Ashok_Captain), Ryabov S (2004). *Asian Pitvipers*. First Edition. Berlin: Geitje Books. 368 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-937975-00-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-937975-00-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bro73_5-0)** Brown JH (1973). *Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes*. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-398-02808-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-398-02808-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-P&G77_6-0)** [Parker HW](/source/Hampton_Wildman_Parker), Grandison AGC (1977). *Snakes — a Natural History. Second Edition*. London and Ithaca: British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. 16 plates. LCCCN 76-54625. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8014-1095-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8014-1095-9) (cloth), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8014-9164-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8014-9164-9) (paper).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ITIS_7-0)** ["*Hypnale hypnale*"](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634893). [Integrated Taxonomic Information System](/source/Integrated_Taxonomic_Information_System). Retrieved 17 November 2006.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Das2002_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Das2002_8-1) [Das, Indraneil](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indraneil_Das) (2002). *A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India*. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-88359-056-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-88359-056-5). (*Hypnale hypnale*, p. 62).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_9-1) Tan CH, Sim SM, Gnanathasan CA, Fung SY, Ponnudurai G, Pailoor J, Tan NH (2011). ["Enzymatic and toxinological activities of *Hypnale hypnale* (hump-nosed pit viper) venom and its fractionation by ion exchange high performance liquid chromatography"](https://doi.org/10.1590%2FS1678-91992011000400015). *Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases*. **17** (4): 473–485. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1590/S1678-91992011000400015](https://doi.org/10.1590%2FS1678-91992011000400015). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1678-9199](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1678-9199).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-K&R99_10-0)** Kularatna SA, Ratnatunga N (1999). "Severe systemic effects of Merrem's hump-nosed viper bite". *Ceylon Med. J.* **44** (4): 169–170.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Rodrigo M (2016). *Trials to start for home-grown anti-venom*. Available at: [http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161009/news/trials-to-start-for-home-grown-anti-venom-211742.html](http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161009/news/trials-to-start-for-home-grown-anti-venom-211742.html)

## Further reading

- [Boulenger GA](/source/George_Albert_Boulenger) (1890). *The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia.* London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (*Ancistrodon hypnale*, pp. 424–425).

- Boulenger GA (1896). *Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ.* London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (*Ancistrodon hypnale*, pp. 528–529).

- [Merrem B](/source/Blasius_Merrem) (1820). *Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien: Tentamen Systematis Amphibiorum*. Marburg: J.C. Krieger. xv + 191 pp. + 1 plate. (*Cophias hypnale*, new species, p. 155). (in German and Latin).

- [Smith MA](/source/Malcolm_Arthur_Smith) (1943). *The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes*. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor & Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. + 1 map. (*Ancistrodon hypnale*, pp. 499–500).

- [Wall F](/source/Frank_Wall_(herpetologist)) (1921). *Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon*. Colombo, Ceylon [Sri Lanka]: Colombo Museum. (H.R. Cottle, Government Printer). xxii + 581 pp. (*Ancistrodon hypnale*, pp. 549–554, Figure 96; *A. millardi*, pp. 554–558, Figure 97).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Hypnale hypnale](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Hypnale_hypnale).

- [*Hypnale hypnale*](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Hypnale&species=hypnale) at the [Reptarium.cz Reptile Database](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/). Accessed 12 December 2007.

- [*Hypnale hypnale*](https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-taxon=Hypnale+hypnale) in the [CalPhotos](/source/CalPhotos) photo database, [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley)

Taxon identifiers Hypnale hypnale Wikidata: Q2715959 Wikispecies: Hypnale hypnale ADW: Hypnale_hypnale CoL: 6MPSB EoL: 1056243 GBIF: 2443917 iNaturalist: 68530 IRMNG: 11315416 ITIS: 634893 IUCN: 172712 NCBI: 44720 Observation.org: 100088 Open Tree of Life: 1024789 RD: hypnale

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