Short-tailed Mamushi

Short-tailed Mamushi

Gloydius brevicaudus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Shanghai

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

7 Verified sightings at Shanghai
June Best month

About the Short-tailed Mamushi

Gloydius brevicauda is a pit viper species endemic to China and the Korean Peninsula. Common names: short-tailed pit viper, short-tailed mamushi. Adults are relatively stout with a broad head and a short tail. (The subspecific name, brevicaudus, is Latin for "short tail".)

The largest male examined by Gloyd and Conant (1990) was 71 cm (28 in) in total length of which the tail was 9 cm (3+1⁄2 in); the largest female, 69 cm (27+1⁄4 in) with an 8.2 cm (3+1⁄4 in) tail. On average, male specimens had a tail that was 12–15% (13.5%) of total length, while in females this was 11–13% (11.7%).

The scalation usually includes 21 rows of dorsal scales at midbody, all of which are keeled except the lowermost on the anterior part of the body. There are 135–149 ventral scales, and 30–44 mostly paired subcaudal scales. 95% of all specimens have 7 supralabial scales.

The color pattern consists of a light brown or gray ground color, overlaid with a pattern of 23–36 pairs of dorsolateral blotches or half-bands that oppose or alternate on either side of the middorsal line. These blotches are subelliptical in shape and brown in color with pale centers and dark brown to grayish brown... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Hangzhou 🇨🇳 China
~20%
2 Nanjing 🇨🇳 China
~20%
3 Shanghai 🇨🇳 China
~10%
4 Seoul 🇰🇷 South Korea
<5%
5 Beijing 🇨🇳 China
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Ningbo Wildlife Park 🇨🇳 China In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Short-tailed Mamushi in Shanghai?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Short-tailed Mamushi sighting in Shanghai on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 6th most-seen of the 6 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Short-tailed Mamushi in Shanghai?

April–July and September

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Short-tailed Mamushi in Shanghai on a given day, against under 5% in August and October–March, the lowest months.

Is Shanghai the best place to see a Short-tailed Mamushi?

3rd of 5

Of the 5 cities where we can rate Short-tailed Mamushi sightings, Shanghai ranks 3rd at about 10%. The best odds are in Hangzhou (China, about 20%) and Nanjing (China, about 20%).

Where does the Short-tailed Mamushi sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Short-tailed Mamushi is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Shanghai (7 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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