Trimeresurus cantori

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Trimeresurus cantori
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Trimeresurus
Species:
T. cantori
Binomial name
Trimeresurus cantori
(Blyth, 1846)
Synonyms
  • Trigonocephalus Cantori
    Blyth, 1846
  • Trimesurus viridis var. Cantori
    — Blyth, 1861
  • Trim[eresurus]. Cantori
    Stoliczka, 1870
  • Trimeresurus Cantoris
    Stoliczka, 1870
  • Lachesis cantoris
    Boulenger, 1896
  • Trimeresurus cantori
    M.A. Smith, 1943 [2]
  • Cryptelytrops cantori
    Malhotra & Thorpe, 2004
  • Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) cantori
    David et al., 2011 [3]

Trimeresurus cantori, commonly known as Cantor's pit viper [4] or Cantor's pitviper, [5] is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the Subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India. [6] It was named after Theodore Edward Cantor (1809-1860), a Danish naturalist serving as a surgeon with the East India Company in Calcutta. [7] No subspecies are recognized as being valid. [6]

Contents

Geographic range

Trimeresurus cantori is found in the Nicobar Islands (which are in the Bay of Bengal), India, and possibly in the Andaman Islands. The type locality given is "Nicobars". [2]

Description

Adults of T. cantori may attain a snout-vent length (SVL) of 115 cm (45 in). [8] Boulenger reported that an adult female with a total length of 102 cm (40 in) had a tail 14 cm (5.5 in) long. [9]

This species varies in pattern and color. Dorsally, it may be green, dark brown, or light brown. Green individuals may have yellow spots, and brown specimens may have darker spots. Running along each side of the head, below the eye and above the upper lip, is a cream-colored stripe. There is also a cream-colored stripe on the first row of dorsal scales on each side of the body. Ventrally, it is greenish or cream-colored, with some brown spots on the underside of the tail. [8]

The weakly keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 27 to 31 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 174-184. The anal plate is entire, and the subcaudals, which are divided, number 55-76. [9]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of T. cantori is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 200 m (660 ft), but it has also been found in coconut plantations and rural gardens. [1]

Behavior

Trimeresurus cantori is nocturnal and will hunt near houses. [8]

Diet

Trimeresurus cantori preys upon small mammals and birds. [8]

Venom

The species T. cantori possesses a potent venom, and some of its bites to humans have resulted in fatalities. [8]

Reproduction

T. cantori is viviparous. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Craspedocephalus strigatus</i> species of reptile

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<i>Protobothrops jerdonii</i> Species of snake

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<i>Protobothrops mucrosquamatus</i> Species of snake

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<i>Trimeresurus albolabris</i> Species of snake

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<i>Trimeresurus erythrurus</i> Species of snake

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<i>Craspedocephalus gramineus</i> Species of snake

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Trimeresurus labialis, commonly called Nicobar bamboo pit viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Craspedocephalus macrolepis</i> Species of snake

Craspedocephalus macrolepis, commonly known as the large-scaled pit viper is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the Southern Western Ghats of South India. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Craspedocephalus malabaricus</i> Species of snake

Craspedocephalusmalabaricus, commonly known as Malabar pit viper, Malabar rock pit viper, or rock viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India. No subspecies are currently recognised.

<i>Trimeresurus popeiorum</i> Species of snake

Trimeresurus popeiorum is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to northern and northeastern parts of India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Indonesia. Common names include: Pope's pit viper, Pope's tree viper, and Pope's bamboo pitviper. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Trimeresurus stejnegeri</i> Species of snake

Trimeresurus stejnegeri is a species of venomous pit viper endemic to Asia. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Trimeresurus andersonii</i> Species of snake

Trimeresurus andersonii is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the Andaman Islands of India. Common names include: Nicobar mangrove pit viper, Anderson's pitviper, and Andaman pit viper.

<i>Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus</i> Species of snake

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<i>Ovophis okinavensis</i> Species of snake

Ovophis okinavensis is a venomous pitviper species found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Craspedocephalus puniceus</i> Species of snake

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<i>Trimeresurus sumatranus</i> Species of snake

Trimeresurus sumatranus is a venomous pitviper species found in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Arboreal, its coloration is pale green with a red tail. Common names include Sumatran pitviper, Sumatran tree viper, and Sumatran pit viper.

Trimeresurus fasciatus is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Djampea Island, Indonesia. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include: banded pitviper and banded tree viper.

Garthius chaseni commonly known as Chasen's mountain pit viper, Chasen's tree viper, and the Kinabalu brown pit viper, is a species of venomous pitviper in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the island of Borneo in Malaysia. No subspecies are currently recognized. It is monotypic in the genus Garthius.

References

  1. 1 2 Mohapatra P (2021). "Trimeresurus cantori ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T194059A2295681.en. Accessed on 08 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 Species Trimeresurus cantori at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  4. Brown, John Haynes (1973). Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN   0-398-02808-7.
  5. Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S (2004). Asian Pitvipers. First Edition. Berlin: GeitjeBooks. 368 pp. ISBN   3-937975-00-4.
  6. 1 2 "Trimeresurus cantori ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  7. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Trimeresurus cantori, p. 47).
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN   0-88359-056-5. (Trimeresurus cantori, p. 65).
  9. 1 2 Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Lachesis cantoris, p. 551).

Further reading