Pit Viper - Pit Vipers

Malabar pit viper (Trimeresurus malabaricus) is a moderate venomous pit viper only endemic to Western Ghats mountains in India. 

  Malabar pit vipers are a fascinating species. For one, they are endemic to the Western Ghats, which means they aren’t found anywhere else on the planet. Secondly, the young develop inside the mother’s body and are born live, unlike most reptiles that hatch from eggs. This way of reproduction is called viviparity; it is also the reason this order of snakes is called vipers. But the most intriguing characteristic of Malabar pit vipers is their colour morphology, or their ability to change colour over the course of their life. A number of species exhibit this ability. For instance, chameleons and cuttlefish can change their colours and patterns within a matter of seconds, and use this ability to confuse predators and blend into their surroundings. These changes are rapid and reversible. Species like dragonflies and deer deepen in colour around breeding season, presumably to attract a mate. These changes are more gradual. Others like the west African frog, develop colour when they at...