Hypnale zara (Lowlands hump-nosed pit viper or පහතරට මූකලන් තෙලිස්සා in Sinhala) is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Sri Lanka. It is distinguished from Hypnale nepa by variably colored body and less upcurved snout. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Distribution

Hypnale zara is restricted to the lowland rain forests of the southwestern wet zone up to foot hills of the central highlands.

Ecology

Hypnale zara is nocturnal,

Description

Hypnale zara has 10-19 minute scales from wart-like protuberance on the snout tip. 18-39 heterogeneous small scales on inter nasal to prefromtal region can be seen, along with six scales around the eye, and seven to eight. supralabials. Costal scales are keeled. Ventrals are 134-157 in number. Subcaudals may be 34-51.

Dorsum color ranges from yellowish brown to dark brown, sometimes deep red. Two rows of distinct sub-oval or sub-triangular blotches meet on vertebral region. There is a dark stripe across eye and cheek. Venter is lighter than dorsum, sometimes light ash-gray.

Reproduction

Hypnale zara is ovoviviparous.

See also

• {{c|Crotalinae by common name}}
• {{c|Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms}}
• List of crotaline species and subspecies

References

• http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/13207836

External links

• http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Hypnale&species=zara
• http://apjtm.net/admin/picture/UploadFile/20111231153236944.pdf
• {{cite journal | pmid = 21967813 | doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.09.014 | volume=58 | issue=8 | title=Coagulopthy, acute kidney injury and death following Hypnale zara envenoming: the first case report from Sri Lanka | date=Dec 2011 | journal=Toxicon | pages=641–3| author1=Maduwage | first1=K | last2=Kularatne | first2=K | last3=Wazil | first3=A | last4=Gawarammana | first4=I }}
• http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+1011+1564
• http://biodiversityofsrilanka.blogspot.com/2014/05/lowland-hump-nosed-pit-viperpahatharata.html