Venomous snake found only on a small island in Vietnam

In Vietnam there exists an endemic species of venomous snake that lives only on a small island in Kien Giang province.

Endemic venomous snake species that only lives on Hon Son

Hon Son, also known as Hon Son Rai, is an island in Lai Son commune, Kien Hai district, Kien Giang province. This island has an area of ​​11.5 km ² , located in the Gulf of Thailand, 65 km west of Rach Gia city.

Hon Son has a diverse terrain, including mountains, forests and fine white sand beaches. Hon Son is famous for its wild beauty, clear blue sea and attractive eco-tourism activities such as mountain climbing, watching the sunrise on the 450m high Ma Thien Lanh peak, swimming and exploring the fishing village.

Hon Son is now a popular tourist destination (Photo: Thamhiemmekong).

The island's specialties include fresh seafood and traditional fish sauce. The fishermen's life on the island also creates a friendly and simple atmosphere, giving visitors a sense of closeness and relaxation when exploring the beauty of coastal culture.

With a mild climate all year round, Hon Son is gradually becoming an ideal destination for tourists looking for a peaceful experience close to nature.

In addition to the beautiful natural scenery, Hon Son also has a unique species of venomous snake that only lives on this island. That is the Hon Son viper.

The Hon Son viper , also known locally as the sesame seed snake, has the scientific name Trimeresurus honsonensis. This species was first described in 2008 by three biologists: Ngo Van Tri (Vietnam Institute of Tropical Biology), Larry Lee Grismer (La Sierra University, USA) and Jesse Leland Grismer (University of Kansas, USA).

Because this is an endemic snake species and is only found on Hon Son , it is scientifically named after the island.

An individual Hon Son viper with brilliant colors and beautiful patterns (Photo: Nguyen Minh Phu).

Like other vipers, the Hon Son viper has a large triangular head, clearly distinct from the neck and body. Prominent on its head are its bright brown or orange eyes.

This snake species is relatively small in size, with adult males reaching a maximum length of 80cm and weighing between 150 and 200g, while females can reach a length of 100cm and weigh around 300g.

The Hon Son viper has a large head, clearly distinct from the neck and body (Photo: Lowzi_herp).

Despite its name, the green snake does not have green scales. Instead, it has a striking and beautiful appearance. The color of this snake can vary, but it usually has a light green, yellow, or brown body… with dark green or black streaks running across its body, creating irregular stripes or patterns.

This is a beautiful and attractive looking snake, but don't let the patterns fool you as they possess dangerous venom.

Lifestyle and food of Hon Son viper

The Hon Son viper is a species that spends most of its time living in trees. They are often found in areas near water such as streams… because they like humid environments.

They feed primarily on small mammals, birds, lizards, and frogs. This snake uses an ambush hunting strategy, patiently waiting for prey to come close before attacking, injecting venom into the prey, and consuming it.

This is a nocturnal species of viper. This behavior helps them avoid the harsh temperatures of the day and potential predators in the wild. During the day, this snake often takes shelter in tree holes or under dense foliage… its body color helps it to hide well in its habitat.

The color of Hon Son vipers helps them camouflage easily to hide or hunt prey (Photo: Jake Smith).

Like other vipers, the Hon Son viper is an oviparous species, meaning that after being fertilized, the eggs will remain inside the mother snake's oviduct until they hatch into young snakes and emerge. This form of reproduction differs from giving birth in that there is no placental connection between mother and child and the mother's body does not provide gas exchange for the young.

Baby snakes are born with the same physical characteristics as adult snakes and possess venom glands and fangs to inject venom.

How poisonous is the Hon Son viper?

The Hon Son viper possesses dangerous blood venom. When bitten, the victim will experience pain, swelling, and blood clotting disorders, causing continuous bleeding. If not treated promptly, it can lead to wound necrosis or even death.

Hon Son viper has large orange or brown eyes (Photo: Tran Nguyen Phuc).

If bitten by a snake, take the victim to the nearest medical facility immediately. Keep the victim still and immobilize the bitten part of the body, avoiding excessive movement. Never apply a tourniquet to the bite as this will lead to wound necrosis.

Although the Hon Son viper is a venomous snake, it plays an important role in the ecosystem, helping to control the number of small mammals, frogs, birds, etc. in its habitat. The venom of this snake is also being studied for its pharmacological properties for use in medicine.

Conservation status of Hon Son viper

Because the Hon Son viper is endemic to a small island, it is quite rare and has a small population size. The habitat of this snake species has also been significantly affected by human activities such as tourism and road construction.

This snake species is currently listed as a "vulnerable animal" in the Vietnam Red Book, an animal species that is very vulnerable to extinction if it has a negative impact on its habitat or is hunted as an ornamental creature.