This snake pendant / key ring is handcrafted after the endangered snake species of "Protobothrops mangshanensis".
Common Names: Mangshan Pit Viper, Mang Mountain Pit Viper, Mt. Mang Pit Viper, Chinese Pit Viper, Ironhead Pit Viper
Mangshan Vipers have a very specific geographic range. They can be found only in the Mangshan Mountain range and surrounding areas. It is thought that they are only found in an area the size of 300km². Mangshan Pit Vipers can generally be found in elevations between 700 – 1300 m. They can also be found in montane, subtropical mixed needle-leaf and broadleaf forests. They prefer steep, wet terrain in generally undisturbed mature forests. Since the Mangshan Viper has such a small geographic range and population (thought to be around 500), any threat to them can have large impacts.
The serpent, or snake, is one of the oldest and most widespread mythological symbols. The word is derived from Latin serpens, a crawling animal or snake. Snakes have been associated with some of the oldest rituals known to mankind and represent dual expression of good and evil.
In some cultures, snakes were fertility symbols. For example, the Hopi people of North America performed an annual snake dance to celebrate the union of Snake Youth (a Sky spirit) and Snake Girl (an Underworld spirit) and to renew the fertility of Nature. During the dance, live snakes were handled and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. In other cultures, snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. The Great Goddess often had snakes as her familiars—sometimes twining around her sacred staff, as in ancient Crete—and they were worshiped as guardians of her mysteries of birth and regeneration.
Material - Solid Silver 925 (Copper eyes)
Dimensions - 45 mm / 1.77 inches
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