Striped Viper

It is always a good idea to look up in the trees now and then; you don't want a viper to fall on you anytime soon. - Jungle Guide

The Striped Viper is what it is, as its name suggests, a viper that is distinguished by the stripe pattern along its body. These snakes are quite infamous for stalking their prey through the jungle and for being relentless in their pursuit. This bizarre behavior for a snake does not make it any more dangerous as its venom is by far one of the most lethal found in the isles, and it is willing to bite anything that gets in its way.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A long reptile without limbs with a head at the end. Its body is made of strong muscles that allow it to move.

Biological Traits

Venomous: These creatures have venom that can kill other creatures by injecting it into their body. The venom can easily kill anything injected into it and will take effect slower or faster depending on the target size.
Slow Metabolism: These creatures have a slow digestive tract, allowing them to eat less for longer. It often takes weeks or even months for when they need to eat again.

Genetics and Reproduction

Striped Viper reproduce through a male and a female by laying eggs. These eggs are incubated by the female often in a clutch of seven to twelve eggs for at least six weeks until they hatch.

Growth Rate & Stages

Striped Vipers shed their skin over time as they grow to allow new scales to come in, and their venom becomes more potent as they age.

Ecology and Habitats

Striped Vipers make their home in a topical environment in a dense jungle where they can travel by land, water, and even trees to get where they want to, all the while being able to blend in with the jungle due to the color of their scales.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Striped Vipers are carnivores that hunt their prey by stalking them until they have the right movement to strike by using their venom to kill them and swallow their remains whole.

Biological Cycle

Striped Vipers shed their skin all through their life, often taking an hour or two to shed it completely.

Behaviour

Striped Vipers are solitary by nature and tend to stay away from one another until the mating season, when they attach themselves to a female until one is left to reproduce. They see all other creatures small than them as their prey and anything larger as a threat that they would strike with their venom.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Striped Vipers have no social interactions with one another and live in solitude.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Striped Vipers are often taken for their venom, which can kill a man in a few minutes if enough comes in large doses. Their meat is also desired if anyone is hungry enough to want some.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Striped Vipers are found on at least twenty islands across the Isles of Refuge, mainly inside the region of the Divided Isles.

Average Intelligence

Striped Vipers can lock on the scent of their prey and follow it for miles to track it down and can create ambushes to catch them when they are close enough.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sight: Great
Sound: Poor
Smell: Great

Scientific Name

Class: Natural

Lifespan

12 - 15 years

Average Height

18 - 21 inches

Average Weight

7 - 11 lbs

Average Length

2 - 3 ft

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Brown and tan stripes

Geographic Distribution

• Isles of Refuge

Powerful Venom

There are all sorts of ways to die here, but a Striped Vipers's bite is a sure way to go painfully. - Isle Native

The Striped Vipers is by far one of the most poisonous snakes found in the Isles of Refuge, and for good reason. Rather than attacking the bloodstream, its venom goes for the muscles in the body, which weakens them into a state of paralysis. This attacks the body leading to the victim dying not long after their heart stops and all their muscles cannot function. This is a painful way to go, as it leads to a burning sensation across the body that only worsens as the venom takes its course.

Determined Trackers

You'll find many things here that will be strange; even the snakes act odd here. - Explorer

Unlike other snakes, Striped Vipers stalk their prey rather than waiting for it to come to them. Why they do this has never been properly studied, but many theorized that the viper has more energy to spend, so it travels more to hunt. It's quite good at it as its sense of smell is strong enough to find its prey in any type of weather without the chance of losing it, and can continue to go after it for a day is need be.