Salazar Pit Viper : New Species
Salazar Pit Viper, named after Salazar Slytherin from the popular ‘Harry Potter’ series, has been found in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.
- Pit viper is any species of viper (a family of venomous snakes) that has, in addition to two movable fangs, a heat-sensitive pit organ between each eye and nostril.
- The pit organ is what allows them to sense the infrared thermal radiation (heat) emitted by their prey in the dark.
- They are found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, grasslands and wetlands. They may be terrestrial, arboreal, or aquatic.
- They are most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, but some species can also be found in temperate regions.
- They are found on every continent except Antarctica, with the majority of species found in Asia and the Americas.
Some species lay eggs; others produce live young.
