Field guide
Sri Lanka green pit viper
පළා පොළඟා · pala polanga
Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus
Venomous Endemic
A bite from this species is a medical emergency.
The island's only endemic green tree viper.
How to identify
1Bright green body with black cross-bands
2Triangular head, prehensile tail
3Heat-sensing pit between eye and nostril
If bitten
Serious bite — seek hospital care urgently. Keep the victim still, immobilise the limb, remove tight items. Do NOT cut, suck, tourniquet or ice. Bites cause pain and swelling; transport to hospital for monitoring.
Up to 1.1 m
Length
Nocturnal & arboreal
Active
Lizards
Diet
Where it's found
Wet zoneHill country
Wet-zone and hill-country forest, tea and cardamom estates; often on low vegetation.