Habuka

/həˈbuːkə/ noun

Definition

A large venomous pit viper snake found in the Okinawa region of Japan, also called the Okinawan habu.

Etymology

From Ryukyuan/Okinawan habū, the native name for this snake in the Okinawa Islands. The term reflects the local language of the southernmost Japanese islands.

Kelly Says

Habukas are so feared in Okinawa that they're part of the culture—there are habu-catching traditions, habu sake (fortified with the snake), and it's one of the most dangerous snakes per capita in a populated area.

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