Hypnale nepa Sri Lankan hump nosed viper
Hypnale nepa Sri Lankan hump nosed viper, Kanneliya Forest, Sri Lanka, May 2009
This beautiful little viper was found hunting forgs such as the Philautus hoipoloi in the vegetation overhanging a fast flowing stream in the lush rainforest of south west Sri Lanka. This little fellow is endemic to Sri Lanka. Whilst venomous, these little snakes are neither agressive nor dangerous as long as they are treated with the respect they deserve, and left, undisturbed where they are found. Photographing this chap was quite a challenge as I had to get myself into the think of the ferns without spooking him and stand in a relatively fast flowing stream at the same time, all in the dark. Part of the fun of being a herpetologist
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