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Trimeresurus venustus
Species of snake From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Trimeresurus venustus is a venomous pit viper species endemic to southern Thailand.[1] Its common names include beautiful pit viper and brown-spotted pit viper.[1]
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Taxonomy
This species was considered a synonym of Trimeresurus kanburiensis until around the turn of the century.[2] It was described by Gernot Vögel in 1991.[3] It is in the subgenus Trimeresurus.[4]
Etymology
Derived from Latin, the name venustus means beautiful, and refers to the striking, intricate color scheme.[1]
Description
This species has a slender body and is approximately 580 mm (23 in) in length.[5] They have a triangular-shaped head, like all pit vipers.[6] Their labials are green with brown patches and a dark postorbital stripe is present.[5]
Their distinctive coloration ranges from vibrant green to olive green with brown or reddish-orange bands along the length of the body.[7] In males, the dorsal area is an olive or bluish-green color, while females have a grass-green dorsal area.[5] Their short snout is slightly flattened with a small ridge, and they have heat-sensing pits in-between their nostrils.[8] Their irises are a light orange with brown specks.[5] The dorsal scales are strongly keeled and have a count of 21 – 21 – 15.[9]
Distribution and habitat
T. venustus is native to southern Thailand and is also found in northern peninsular Malaysia.[1][5] Being mainly arboreal,[7] they can be found up to 700 m (2,300 ft) in elevation inhabiting limestone hills, shaded, humid valleys, rubber tree plantations, and both primary and secondary rainforests.[5][6]
Biology
Feeding
Using heat-sensing pits, these pitvipers hunt mice, frogs, and lizards.[9]
Reproduction
T. venustus is ovoviviparous.[1]
Venom
A bite resulted in swelling and a discoloration of the skin. Local symptoms were displayed, such as coagulopathy.[7] Their venom has a moderate level of toxicity, and all bites should be treated as potentially dangerous. Green pit viper antivenom is used as treatment.[6]
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References
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