Wildlifeof China
Gloydius lateralis
Vipers
Photo: Mei-Hua Zhang, Sheng-Chao Shi, Cheng Li, Peng Yan, Ping Wang, Li Ding, Jie Du, Anđelka Plenković-Moraj, Jian-Ping Jiang, Jing-Song Shi · CC BY 4.0
Gloydius lateralis
Basic stats
Diet
Small mammals, inferred from droppings
Habitat
Hot, dry areas along roadsides during sunny days
Range
Zharu Valley, Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan, China (only known site)
Gloydius lateralis is a venomous pit viper known only from the Zharu Valley in Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan, China. It is active on sunny days in hot, dry areas along roadsides. (The Reptile Database; Wikipedia, general species account)
It is a small snake with relatively large eyes, bilateral heat pits and divided subcaudal scales, with 20–21 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The back is greenish to light brown with four rows of zigzag dark brown patches and a continuous grey-brown stripe along each side. Fur remnants in droppings suggest it eats small mammals. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Gloydius lateralis eat?
- Small mammals, inferred from droppings
- What habitat does the Gloydius lateralis live in?
- Hot, dry areas along roadsides during sunny days
- Where is the Gloydius lateralis found?
- Zharu Valley, Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan, China (only known site)