Moonviper
A moonviper is a rare nocturnal, venomous snake primarily found in Kiva, and one of the largest snakes in Icalar.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Known for its mutable scales, which during the day or travel are a dark speckled brown but in the light of a full or nearly-full moon, can be reverted to a pale gray or white; this is typically done in conjunction with 'moon-basking', in which it lays in the open coiled in a near-perfect circle.
Eyes are typically pale yellow or amber. It has a typical wedge-shaped head and two primary fangs. Males are typically smaller than females.
Genetics and Reproduction
Typically produces clutches of eight to ten eggs, only an average of five of which hatch.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
A contributor to the moonviper's rarety is its value to Kivan shamans and Listeners and -- in the case of its venom -- hunters. Kivan shamans often use snake skulls, bones, and skin in rituals related to the Plains Hunter, and flesh and venom in folk medicine, and the moonviper's are particularly prized.
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Moonvipers are considered one of the 'seven snakes of Kiva' due to their use in Kivan traditions and their near-exclusivity to the region, as well as their presence in folklore (such as 'Ocho and the Seven Snakes', in which the moonviper was one of the snakes into which the Plains Hunter transformed himself).
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