Pit Viper
A group of venomous snakes that have special heat-sensing pits on their faces to find warm-blooded prey.
What is it?
Pit vipers are a subfamily of venomous snakes called Crotalinae. They have a pit organ between the eye and nostril on each side of the head. This pit senses infrared heat, helping the snake detect warm animals even in the dark. Examples include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and the Southern Cantil.
Why it matters
Pit vipers are important predators in many ecosystems. Their heat-sensing ability is a remarkable adaptation for hunting at night.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more pit vipers.