The California Academy of Sciences shared some video today of their Wagler Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) getting her weekly meal of a frozen mouse (they are thawed and warmed just before feeding). More on this beautiful viper:
Wagler’s Pit Vipers live in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. They find their food—mainly small mammals and birds—using heat sensitive pits located between their eyes and nostrils. The receptors in these pits are associated with the visual processing center of the brain which allows them to literally see heat emitted from their prey.
It looks like he even licks his lips and burps at the end, in an oh-so-snakey way. I sure they hope they shot this with a long zoom lens and a 10-ft. mouse pole!
Sarah B.