Photographed at Gunung Belumut,
Johor, West Malaysia.
Family : CROTALIDAE
Species : Trimeresurus popeiorum
Maximum Size : 80 cm
References
: H1, H3
Photo thanks to Joseph Lim
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A species of forested
hills, Pope's Pit Viper is generally encountered at night above an elevation
of 800 metres, however the specimen shown here was at around 50 metres on
Gunung Belumut, Malaysia. The expanded body section suggests this snake had
recently eaten.
The dorsal surface of this
species is green and the ventral scales pale green. The first row of body
scales are white, creating a body stripe which extends from the head to the
tail. Occasionally this white stripe may have a reddish stripe below. The
end of the tail is brownish. When active this venomous species should be
approached with caution as it may attempt to bite.
Pope's Pit Viper ranges
from India, Bangladesh and Burma, through Thailand and Indochina to West
Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra.
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