Also known as Mamushi, Japanese Pit Viper, Japanese Moccasin, Japanese Mamushi
Short-tailed Mamushis are heavily built pit vipers with pale brown to reddish body patterns featuring distinctive dark, pale-centered blotches along their flanks. Equipped with heat-sensing loreal pits between their eyes and nostrils, they hunt efficiently in low-light conditions by detecting thermal signals from warm-blooded prey. Females give birth to live young during late summer and autumn rather than laying eggs.
ThreatsHabitat loss, road mortality, and human persecution
HabitatsForests, agricultural fields, wetlands, and rocky hillsides
Life span10 to 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
FamilyViperidae
SpeciesGloydius blomhoffii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Possesses potent venom and strikes quickly if provoked; maintain a safe distance and never handle.
Why it is dangerous
Produces cytotoxic and hemotoxic venom that causes severe localized tissue damage, swelling, pain, and potential systemic medical emergencies requiring prompt antivenom treatment.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by its thick body, triangular head, heat-sensing pits, and pale brown coloration adorned with dark blotches.
What to do
Freeze immediately upon sighting, back away slowly without sudden movements, and never reach under rocks or into dense brush.
Responsible observation
Give ample space: Maintain a minimum distance of three meters when observing individuals in the wild.
Watch your step: Wear sturdy boots and stay on clear trails when walking through tall grass or leaf litter.
