| Trimeresurus venustus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Trimeresurus |
| Species: | T. venustus |
| Binomial name | |
| Trimeresurus venustus Vogel, 1991 | |
| Synonyms | |
Cryptelytrops venustus | |
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]
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]
Derived from Latin, the name venustus means beautiful, and refers to the striking, intricate color scheme. [1]
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]
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]
Using heat-sensing pits, these pitvipers hunt mice, frogs, and lizards. [9]
T. venustus is ovoviviparous. [1]
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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