Image of Three Horned-scaled Pitviper

Description:

This snake, a wiper, guarded the entrance to one of the caves. We visitied the cave three times, and each time we had to move the snake. Caving Expedition Khammouane 2013 (K13) to Khammouane, Laos (www.explo-laos.com/Expeditions/2013.html). Determined by Alexandre Teynié (2013-04-09) to a young individual of trhee horned-scaled pitviper (Triceratolepidophis sieversorum, sometimes Protobothrops sieversorum), a rather recently (2000) described species of venomous pit vipers (Crotalinae). The pit vipers have heat sensing organs, and this species is hunting bats (and possibly other similar-sized animals) in cave entrances.