Gloydius blomhoffii

Gloydius blomhoffii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Gloydius
Species:	G. blomhoffii
Binomial name
Gloydius blomhoffii (H. Boie, 1826)
Synonyms
Trigonocephalus Blomhoffii H. Boie, 1826 Trigonocephalus [(Halys)] affinis Gray, 1849 Trigonocephalus [(Halys)] Blomhoffii — Gray, 1849 T[rigonocephalus]. Blomhoffii var. megaspilus Cope, 1860 Halys blomhoffii — W. Peters, 1862 T[rigonocephalus]. blomhoffii — Jan, 1963 Ancistrodon blomhoffii — Boulenger, 1896 Agkistrodon blomhoffii ? affinis — Stejneger, 1907 Ancistrodon halys blomhoffii — Nikolsky, 1916 Agkistrodon blomhoffii blomhoffii — , 1916 A[ncistrodon]. blomhoffii blomhoffii — F. Werner, 1922 Agkistrodon blomhoffii affinis — F. Werner, 1922 Ankistrodon halys blomhoffii — Pavloff, 1926 Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii — Mell, 1929 Agkistrodon halys affinis — Mell, 1929 Gloydius blomhoffii blomhoffii — & Romano-Hoge, 1981 Agkistrodon affinis — Gloyd & Conant, 1990

Gloydius blomhoffii, commonly known as the mamushi,Japanese moccasin, Japanese pit viper, Qichun snake or Japanese mamushi, is a venomous pitviper species found in China, Japan, and Korea. There are four subspecies including the nominate subspecies described here.

This species and the Okinawan habu are the most venomous snakes in Japan. Every year, 2000–3000 people in Japan are bitten by a mamushi. Bitten victims typically require one week of treatment in a hospital. Severe bites require intensive care, and approximately 10 victims die annually.

The specific name, blomhoffii, is in honor of Jan Cock Blomhoff, who was director of the Dutch trading colony in Nagasaki, Japan from 1817 to 1824.

The average length of mature individuals is 45–81 cm (17¾-31⅞ inches); the longest specimen ever recorded had a length of 91 cm (36 in).

The body pattern consists of a pale gray, reddish-brown, or yellow-brown background, overlaid with a series of irregularly-shaped lateral blotches. These blotches are bordered with black and often have lighter centers. The head is dark brown or black, with beige or pale-gray sides.

The common name in English is mamushi, or Japanese mamushi. The common name in Japanese is mamushi (蝮). In Korea, it is known as 살무사 (salmusa) or 살모사 (salmosa). In China, it is known as the Qichun snake (七寸子) or soil snake/viper (土巴蛇、土蝮蛇、土夫蛇、土公蛇).

It is found in China, Japan, and Korea. It is the most common snake in Japan. According to Gloyd and Conant (1990), there is no evidence to support claims that this species occurs in the Ryukyu Islands. The type locality given is "Japan."

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Wikipedia