Discover 20 of the Most Endangered Vipers

#20 West African Gaboon Viper

West African gaboon vipers (Bitis rhinoceros) look like scaly caterpillars as they move across roads and landscapes. However, their strike can be deadly.

Unfortunately, although they are docile as venomous snakes go, their ability to kill frightens people. So, these snakes are killed more often than they’re allowed to go free.

#19 Kenya Horned Viper

The Kenya horned viper (Bitis worthingtoni) lives in a narrow strip of land in Kenya where it’s being pushed out of its native habitat. Its population is extremely fragmented because of development including intensive farming.

#18 Black-Headed Bushmaster

These large Central American pit vipers are one of very few that lay eggs instead of giving birth. Their dorsal scales are keeled to the extreme and give the impression of dragon skin.

Black-headed bushmasters (Lachesis melanocephala) regularly grow over six feet long and only occur in a small area of Costa Rica, with a possible population in Panama. It is the rarest of the bushmasters and one of the most endangered vipers in the world.

#17 Southern Adder

Endemic to South Africa, the southern adder (Bitis armata) population is under threat by real estate development, but many locals also trap it for food. These snakes are under-researched and not much is known about them.

#16 Darevsky’s Viper

Darevsky’s viper (Vipera darevskyi) is native to the Dzavakhety Mountains in Turkey, Armenia, and possibly Georgia. It is rare and inhabits an area smaller than about 62 square miles. The viper also faces challenges from cattle grazing and farming, in addition to having its population fragmented.

#15 Wagner’s Viper

This mountain viper species lives in the mountains of eastern Turkey. The IUCN lists Wagner’s viper (Montivipera wagneri) as critically endangered because people took too many pregnant females out of the wild for the pet trade, leading to a dramatic drop in babies born.

#14 St. Lucia Fer-de-Lance

Endemic to St. Lucia Island in the Caribbean and rapidly losing habitat, the St. Lucia fer-de-lance (Bothrops caribbaeus) is nearly as rare as the Aruba rattlesnake. But unlike the Aruba rattlesnake, there aren’t several zoos with a pair in their collection.

The Kentucky Reptile Zoo has a few of these endangered snakes — the only legal St. Lucia fer-de-lances outside of St. Lucia. In October 2023, their females gave birth to two litters of babies. The zoo houses them as an insurance colony with the permission of the St. Lucia government.

#13 Tancitaran Dusky Rattlesnake

Found in a very small region of the Mexican states of Michoacan and Jalisco, the Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake (Crotalus pusillus) is one of the most endangered vipers. It lives at about 5,000 feet and its relative isolation and rarity put its future at risk.

#12 Tzotzil Montane Pit Viper

Habitat loss and fear kill most of these snakes. In their area, most of the people who encounter them kill them. The Tzotzil montane pit viper (Cerrophidion tzotzilorum) is native to the mountains of Chiapas and grows about 20 inches long.

#11 Lowlands Hump-Nosed Pit Viper

Hunting, forest degradation, and international pet trade may spell the end of the Lowlands hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale zara) in the wild.

They’re native to Sri Lanka and in the last IUCN Redlist Assessment, researchers observed a significant decrease in the number of adult snakes, making the Lowlands hump-nosed pit viper one of the world’s most endangered vipers.

#10 Golden Lancehead

Golden lanceheads, while not directly threatened with extinction, are one of the world’s most endangered vipers. There are between 2,000 and 4,000 of these deadly snakes on Ilha da Queimada Grande — where the snakes evolved a uniquely fast-acting venom to incapacitate their avian prey.

#9 Blotched Palm Pit Viper

Blotched palm pit vipers (Bothriechis supraciliaris) only inhabit a small region of Costa Rica. They’re usually moss green but can be reddish brown and only grow about 20 inches long. Their biggest threat is habitat loss, and researchers note a continuing decline in the number of adult snakes.

#8 Anatolian Meadow Viper

The Anatolian meadow viper (Vipera anatolica) occurs on the Ciglikara mountain plateau in southwest Turkey. It only lives on that plateau. Known as a sky island, the Ciglikara mountain plateau is cool and comfortable for the viper, which can’t handle the hot temperatures in the surrounding lowlands.

Researchers have only found a handful of Anatolian meadow vipers — even though they discovered the vipers in 1969. Additionally, during a study in 2015-2016, researchers only found 10 individuals. So, it’s likely that the population is either very small or diminishing, making this one of the most endangered vipers.

#7 Orlov’s Viper

Named after the Russian-born herpetologist Nikolai Orlov, this viper lives in a small area along the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. Although the IUCN lists it as critically endangered, it’s possible that the snake has always been rare because of its location.

#6 Kenya Montane Viper

Kenya montane vipers (Montatheris hindii) live high up on Mt. Kenya at 8,900 to 12,500 feet. These smallish vipers prefer clumps of grasses for cover and are very secretive. It’s possible that they aren’t endangered. They may be the best stealth practitioners on the mountain.

Like many other snakes, locals kill this viper on sight. Additionally, its populations are separated, making it more difficult for the little snakes during breeding season.

#5 McGregor’s Pit Viper

Named for the ornithologist who both survived its bite and collected the first type specimen, McGregor’s pit viper (Trimeresurus mcgregori) only occurs on a couple of islands in the Philippines. Habitat loss and pet trade make a formidable enemy for this fully arboreal snake, making it one of the world’s most endangered vipers.

#4 Mangshan Pit Viper

Present in only two Chinese provinces, the Mangshan pit viper’s (Protobothrops mangshanensis) wild population is likely less than 500. The pet trade has caused some losses, but they are also losing habitat to development and food.

#3 Alcatrazes Lancehead

Another island native, this one off the coast of southeastern Brazil. Until about 15,000 years ago, Alcatrazes Island was still connected to South America. At that point, they were still common lanceheads like those on the mainland. However, as with Ilha da Quemada Grande and the golden lancehead, the water rose again after the last ice age, cutting the snakes off from the mainland on an island with about three-quarters of a square mile in land.

Once isolated, nature quickly adapted the Alcatrazes Island lanceheads (Brothrops alcatraz) to the available prey: insects like centipedes and cockroaches. The snakes shrunk smaller but retained the same-sized eyes, which makes the snakes look like juveniles.

#2 Central Turkish Mountain Viper

The Central Turkish mountain viper (Montivipera albizona) is threatened by habitat loss and killing by shepherds. Their populations are dropping every year, with fewer adults spotted.

#1 Most Endangered Viper: Aruba Island Rattlesnake

Although the species was previously counted among South American rattlesnake (C. durissus) subspecies, genetic research in the early 2000s changed that assessment. The Aruba Island rattlesnake(C. unicolor) may be the rarest rattlesnake in the world. Combined with persecution and lack of space, these rattlers struggle for survival. Scientists estimate approximately 250 Aruba rattlesnakes left in the wild, with some in managed populations in zoos.