Trimeresurus medoensis

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Trimeresurus medoensis
Reptile Medo Pit Viper Viridovipera medoensis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Trimeresurus
Species:
T. medoensis
Binomial name
Trimeresurus medoensis
Zhao, 1977
Synonyms
  • Trimeresurus medoensisZhao, 1977 [2]
  • Viridovipera medoensis
    Malhotra & Thorpe, 2004
  • Trimeresurus (Viridovipera) medoensis David et al., 2011 [3]

Trimeresurus medoensis, commonly named the Motuo bamboo pitviper, [4] is a venomous pitviper species endemic to India, Burma, and Tibet. No subspecies are currently recognized. [5]

Contents

Description

In Arunachal Pradesh, India Reptile Medo Pit Viper Viridovipera medoensis IMG 4231 08.jpg
In Arunachal Pradesh, India

Maximum total length for males is 671 mm (26.4 in); for females, 650 mm (26 in). Maximum tail length for males is 125 mm (4.9 in); for females, 115 mm (4.5 in). [6]

The hemipenes are short, thick, and spinose. [6]

Scalation: dorsal scales in 17 longitudinal rows at midbody, of which rows 7-11 are slightly keeled. There are 8 upper labials, of which the first are separated from the nasal scales by a distinct suture. The ventrals number less than 150. [6]

Color pattern: green or bluish green above, yellowish white below, the two separated by a bright bicolored red (below) and white (above) ventrolateral stripe (in both males and females), which occupies the whole of the outermost scale row and a portion of the second row. [6]

Geographic range

Found in North-Eastern India; northern Burma (Myanmar); and southeastern Xizang (Tibet), China. The type locality listed is "near A-ni Bridge, Medo Xian, Xizang [Tibet], alt. 1,200 m [3,900 ft]" [Autonomous Region, China]. [2]

References

  1. Zhou, Z. & Rao, D.-q. (2012). "Viridovipera medoensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012. IUCN: e.T192090A2038504. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192090A2038504.en . Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. Geitje Books. Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN   3-937975-00-4.
  5. "Trimeresurus medoensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Leviton AE, Wogan GOU, Koo MS, Zug GR, Lucas RS, Vindum JV. 2003. The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of Burma, Illustrated Checklist with Keys. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 54 (24): 407-462.

Further reading