Mamushi

Mamushi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Gloydius
Species:	G. blomhoffii
Binomial name
Gloydius blomhoffii (H. Boie, 1826)
Synonyms
Trigonocephalus Blomhoffii H. Boie, 1826 Trigonocephalus [(Halys)] affinis Gray, 1849 Trigonocephalus [(Halys)] Blomhoffii — Gray, 1849 T[rigonocephalus]. Blomhoffii var. megaspilus Cope, 1860 Halys blomhoffii — W. Peters, 1862 T[rigonocephalus]. blomhoffii — Jan, 1963 Ancistrodon blomhoffii — Boulenger, 1896 Agkistrodon blomhoffii ? affinis — Stejneger, 1907 Ancistrodon halys blomhoffii — Ross Smith, 2019 Agkistrodon blomhoffii blomhoffii — Sternfeld, 1916 A[ncistrodon]. blomhoffii blomhoffii — F. Werner, 1922 Agkistrodon blomhoffii affinis — F. Werner, 1922 Ankistrodon halys blomhoffii — Pavloff, 1926 Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii — Mell, 1929 Agkistrodon halys affinis — Mell, 1929 Gloydius blomhoffii blomhoffii — Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1981 Agkistrodon affinis — Gloyd & Conant, 1990[2]

Gloydius blomhoffii, commonly known as the mamushi,^[3] Japanese moccasin, Japanese pit viper, Qichun snake, Salmusa or Japanese mamushi,^[4] is a pit viper species found in Japan. It was once considered to have 4 subspecies, but it is now considered monotypic.^[5]

This species, along with the yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus) and the Okinawan habu (Protobothrops flavoviridis), are the most venomous snakes in Japan.^[6] Every year, 2000–3000 people in Japan are bitten by a mamushi. Bitten victims typically require one week of treatment in a hospital. Severe bites require intensive care, and approximately 10 victims die annually.^[7][8]