pit viper

viper

 [vi´per]

1. any snake of the viperid and crotalid families (the true vipers and the pit vipers).

2. a term sometimes used to refer to any venomous snake.

Old World viper true viper.

pit viper any of a family of venomous snakes found in North America including the many types of rattlesnakes (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus), as well as the copperheads and water moccasins (both of genus Agkistrodon).

Russell's viper Vipera russellii, a true viper of Southeast Asia whose venom (Russell's viper venom) is used in blood tests.

true viper any of a large family of venomous snakes found in Africa, parts of Europe, Asia, and adjacent islands, but not in the Americas or Australia; it includes cobras and adders, among others. Called also Old World viper, viperid, and viperine.

pit viper

n.

Any of various venomous snakes of the subfamily Crotalinae, such as the copperhead, rattlesnake, or fer-de-lance, characterized by a small sensory pit below each eye.

pit viper

Etymology: AS, pytt + L, vipera, snake

any one of a family of venomous snakes found in the Western Hemisphere and Asia, characterized by a heat-sensitive pit between the eye and nostril on each side of the head and hollow perforated fangs that are usually folded back in the roof of the mouth. With the exception of coral snakes, all indigenous poisonous snakes in the United States are pit vipers. See also copperhead, cottonmouth, rattlesnake.

Pit viper

pit

1. a hollow fovea or indentation.

2. a pockmark.

3. to indent, or to become and remain for a few minutes indented, by pressure.

4. seed of a fruit, e.g. cherry. Strictly refers to the hard woody coating which surrounds the seed.

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anal pit

the proctodeum of the embryo.

auditory pit

a distinct depression in each auditory placode, marking the beginning of the embryonic development of the internal ear.

pit bull

a term used in describing various types of dogs used in past times for fighting in pits. Now, usually refers to the specific breed, american pit bull terrier.

lens pit

a pitlike depression in the fetal head where the lens develops.

nasal pit

a depression appearing in the olfactory placodes in the early stages of development of the nose. Called also olfactory pit.

olfactory pit

see nasal pit (above).

otic pit

early stage in the development of the embryonic inner ear.

pit pony

pony used in a mine to haul mined rock. Breed varies as long as it is small, e.g. Shetland pony.

pit of stomach

the epigastric fossa or epigastric region.

pit viper

see viper.