Reptiles

Viper

Members of the family Viperidae are found in areas of Europe, Africa, North, Central, and South America, as well as, the Middle East through southern Asia to the Indo-Australian islands. They are mainly terrestrial; however, some are arboreal.

Vipers are venomous reptiles that depend upon a pair of long, hinged fangs that fold back flat against the roof of the mouth when not in use. They have the capability of rotating one or both fangs forward and can use the fangs independently. When a prey item is located, the fangs can be flipped forward and locked into position as the jaws open. In an instant, venom can be injected into the tissues of an animal. The snake then waits until the death of the victim before ingesting it. The venom breaks down tissues and blood, digesting while it kills. Large, bulky muscles on either side of the jaw squeeze venom from glands. These muscles give the head its broad triangular shape. Vipers feed mainly on vertebrates: frogs, lizards and mammals up to the size of a hare. The San Antonio Zoo has lowland swamp viper (Atheris superciliaris), Usambara tree viper (Atheris ceratophoris), Wagner's viper (Vipera wagneri), Field's viper (Vipera fieldi), and caucasian viper (Vipera kaznokovi).