Snake facts

by Frederick
(Virginia)

I found your site while searching for information and photos about the Snake Temple in Penang. I operate a Serpentarium here in Virginia and am working on an exhibit about snakes in religious traditions.

The snakes in the Penang temple are Wagler's pit vipers (Tropilodaemus wagleri), sometimes known as "temple vipers" because of their association with this temple. They occur in three very distinct color phases; the one in your photograph is known as the Sumatran phase. The other two phases are Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

It is probably not the case that the smoke from incense stupifies the snakes... these beautiful vipers are by nature extremely lethargic and sedentary and will sit in one place for long periods of time without moving. They ususally feed only once a month or so, and the females, like most vipers, give birth to live young.

That is a female in the photograph -- these snakes are sexually dimorphic. The females are much larger and more colorful.... the males are small and solid green and almost look like a different species of snake altogether. They are dangerously venomous.... somewhere above most of our rattlesnakes, but below cobras and kraits, but are not aggressive.

However, when feeding or irritated, they can strike remarkably fast and in any direction, even backwards, so it would definitely be a bad idea to try to touch one!