Rare pit viper discovered in east China

A rare type of pit viper has been found in Zhejiang Province, marking the first time the venomous snakes have been found in eastern China, local authorities said Thursday.

The horned pit vipers were spotted in the mountains of Zhejiang's Xianju County during a recent wild animal investigation, according to the provincial forestry bureau.

The snakes, which live in Vietnam and China, have long fangs and venom that stops blood from clotting. Knowledge about the reptile remains limited, as the snakes are extremely rare.

Discovered in China in 2003, the mysterious creatures have so far been spotted in four Chinese localities, including three in the southern province of Guangdong and one in the southwestern province of Guizhou.

The discovery will contribute significantly to scientific research about the vipers, the bureau said.