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Family : VIPERIDAE
Species : Tropidolaemus subannulatus
Maximum Size : Females 96 cm, males 46 cm
Formerly part of the
Wagler's Pit Viper species complex, the
Bornean Keeled Pit Viper was elevated to species status in 2007 (Vogel et
al, 2007).
This species occurs in similar habitats to Wagler's Pit Viper including
lowland primary or mature secondary forest, as well as riverine and coastal
forest.
As with other pit vipers, this is a venomous snake, with heat-sensing pits
on the sides of the head.
It is exclusively arboreal, and may be found at heights ranging from low
vegetation to mid-canopy levels of around 20 metres or so. Its diet
comprises birds and arboreal rodents.
Juveniles and adult males have a vibrant green upperside and yellowish green
belly, patterned with numerous thin, pale bicoloured bars : the leading edge
of these bars are generally white, and the trailing edge blue or red or a
combination of both colours. There is a bicoloured red and white stripe
behind the eye.
Adult females tend to have a complex pattern comprising a ground colour of
cream, with broken bluish, greenish or turquoise bands, and a thick stripe
of the same colour on the sides of the head.
As of 2020, this species is listed as occurring in Borneo, Sulawesi and many
islands of the southern Philippines.
Figs 1 and 2: Adult male (based on size) at Ulu Temburong,
Brunei, Borneo. This specimen was photographed in mid-canopy at around
20 metres above the forest floor.
Fig 3 : Adult female at Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo.
Photo thanks to
Dave Haylock.
Fig 4 : Juvenile at Niah Caves National Park, Sarawak, Borneo.
Fig 5 : Example from North Minahasa, at
an elevation of around 400 metres.
Fig 5 thanks to
Michael
Leitzinger.
References :
Vogel, G., P. David, M. Lutz. van Rooijen & N. Vidal. 2007. Revision of the
Tropidolaemus wagleri complex (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae). I.
Definition of included taxa and redescription of Tropidolaemus wagleri
(Boie, 1827). Zootaxa 1644: 1-40.
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