A rodent scuttles innocently through the desert in New Mexico, minding its own business and then bang! A resting but ready pit viper lashes out in a lightning quick attempt to snatch up some dinner.

Pit vipers, along with several of their snake cousins, marry two senses to better locate prey at night: sight and a heat-detecting ability. Deep pits, which lie on each side of the snake's face ...

Rahim’s eyelash pit viper can reach up to 19 inches in length, the study said. They have “raised,” “spinelike” scales above “pale straw yellow” eyes.