The butterfly viper’s closest relative is the rhinoceros viper (Bitis rhinoceros), which has a duller color pattern, wider head, and lacks the distinct, black arrow mark on the head.
The butterfly viper’s closest relative is the rhinoceros viper (Bitis rhinoceros).
The butterfly viper has a brighter color pattern and a narrower head than the rhinoceros viper. The rhinoceros viper is also missing the distinct, black arrow mark on the butterfly viper’s head, and instead has a single dark stripe running down the back of its head.
• Image | © Bernard DUPONT, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-SA 2.0)
• Sources | (Spawls, Howell, Drewes, & Ashe, 2004; The Wikimedia Foundation, 2018, 2019)
