Additional Pit Viper Info

     There is a large group of snakes called Pit Vipers. Not only are these snakes venomous, they have a very 'cool' heat sensing system. This helps these snakes to find prey at night, which is when most snakes prefer to hunt. The ‘pit’ is a special organ between the snake's nostrils and eyes. The pit senses body heat from animals and gives the snake an ‘image’ of that animal. The snake can then make its attack. Some pit vipers will bite and envenomate the prey and then release it. It will follow the dying animal - using its heat sensors - until it stops and the snake can consume it. Most pit vipers hunt at night when the air is cooler and the heat from their victims is most obvious to them. Also, the ‘heat picture’ from larger animals will  inform the snake that a quick getaway is needed.
 
      All rattlesnakes are Pit Vipers. Water Moccasins, Horned Desert Viper, Lance-head, Eyelash Viper, and the Copperhead are pit vipers too. 

                                

 

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