carpet viper in SUNOL carpet viper SUNOL

carpet viper in SUNOL

carpet viper SUNOL

carpet viper in SUNOL.With a maximum length of 70 cms, it is slightly stockier and a little more colourful than the widespread sawscaled viper, from which it can only be distinguished by counting the rows of facial shields under its eyes.
Three rows or more are specific for the carpet viper whilst the sawscaled viper has only one row.
Both animals are principally nocturnal and becoming active after dusk.
They probably eat lizards and geckos, but in captivity they show a definite preference for small rodents.
The carpet viper also has diagonal scales, which produce a hissing noise when it rasps the sides of its body together, and can also move in sidewinding undulations if it encounters soft sand.
carpet viper in JOSEPHINE carpet viper JOSEPHINE