White-lipped pit viper
| White-lipped pit viper | ||||||||||||
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White-lipped pit viper |
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| Trimeresurus albolabris | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1842 |
The trimeresurus albolabris ( Trimeresurus albolabris , Syn. : Cryptelytrops albolabris ) is a snake of the subfamily of pitvipers (Crotalinae).
description
The white-lipped pit viper is a medium-sized, robust and powerful pit viper. The species shows a pronounced sexual dimorphism . Females are significantly larger and more massive than males. Adult females reach an average total length of up to 100 cm. However, exceptional specimens with a total length of 120 cm have also become known. Males stay significantly smaller. They reach a total length of approx. 80 cm.
The head of the white-lipped pitcher viper is elongated oval and not so clearly set off from the neck as the strongly triangular heads of representatives of the genera Popeia and Viridovipera . The eyes of the females appear rather small, while those of the males appear large. The color of the eyes varies depending on the area of origin. The basic color of the white-lipped pit viper is usually a light to dark green. The belly sides can also be greenish, white or even yellow (yellow in Vietnamese populations). Males usually have a white postocular stripe that merges into a white lateral stripe in the neck region . This stripe extends up to the level of the cloaca, sometimes beyond it almost to the tip of the tail. In the south of Thailand some females can also have such a shoulder. On the top of the tail there is a clearly defined rust-red stripe. The young animals are already largely similar to the adult specimens in terms of body color. The narrow white lip rims, which can only be seen with an open mouth, are the reason for their German name.
Taxonomy and systematics
The white-lipped pit viper was first described in 1842 by John Edward Gray as Trimeresurus albolabris . The white-lipped pit viper belongs to the complex of green bamboo otters native to Asia . Until recently, all Asian bamboo otters belonged to the genus Trimeresurus . The Asiatic mountain otters were placed in the new genus Ovophis in 1981 and the Asiatic lance- head caterpillars finally in 1983 in the new genus Protobothrops .
When the complex was revised in 2004 on the basis of morphological and molecular genetic features, the genera Cryptelytrops , Parias and Peltopelor , which had already been proposed, were declared valid again. There were also three new genera, namely Himalayophis , Popeia and Viridovipera . Most authors do not accept this unnecessary division as a violation of the international rules for zoological nomenclature .
Today no more subspecies are recognized, the earlier subspecies T. a. insularis and T. a. septentrionalis received species status.
distribution
Due to its modesty and adaptability to climatic conditions, different habitats and the respective food supply, it colonizes the largest distribution area of all Asian pit otters . However, there is still a lack of clarity about its exact distribution. Confirmed reports of finds are available from Bangladesh , Cambodia, China (southern provinces), India (Assam and the Nicobar Islands), Indonesia ( Sumatra , Bangka , West Java , Madura and Sulawesi ), Laos , Myanmar , Thailand and Vietnam . The species has also been reported to be found in southern Nepal , in Chitwan National Park .
habitat
In the major part of the known distribution area, C. albolabris is an inhabitant of the lowlands. Although it can also be found in the hill country, records above 800 meters are rather the exception. The white-lipped pit viper is a nocturnal, predominantly arboricolous species. It only moves on the ground during the mating season or after heavy rainfall. Evidence is mostly found in the shrubbery or on ferns, approx. 1 m above the ground.
nutrition
As an ambulance hunter, the white-lipped pit viper mainly hunts small mammals such as mice ( mus ) and similar, smaller reptiles , amphibians and birds as well as their brood. It hunts mainly in trees at night or at dusk, but also on the ground. Prey animals are killed with a poison bite and swallowed whole head first.
Reproduction
The white-lipped pit viper is a viviparous pit viper . Large females of the white-lipped pit viper give birth to between 10 and 20 young. In nature, the mating season is not tied to a specific season and can take place all year round, but the mating season is usually in the rainy season . In the case of the populations that hibernate in northern ranges, mating takes place shortly after hibernation. A young animal from a strong litter usually has an average total length of 17.5 cm and a body weight of up to 2.5 g.
Poison
The poison of the white-lipped pitcher viper consists mainly of procoagulants (blood coagulants), which ultimately reduce the blood's ability to clot by using up the coagulation factors. Deaths from this species in humans are very rare. A highly effective antiserum is produced in Thailand for bite accidents with the white-lipped pit viper . It is called the green pit viper Antivenin-Trimeresurus albolabris . This antiserum was also used successfully in the treatment of bite accidents with other pit vipers from the Trimeresurus complex.
Age
In captivity, a white-lipped pit viper can reach a minimum age of 10 years, and sometimes up to 20 years.
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ Trimeresurus albolabris in The Reptile Database ; Retrieved October 30, 2012.
literature
- Mark O'Shea: Venomous snakes. All species in the world in their habitats. Franckh-Kosmos Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3440106195
- Andreas Gumprecht: The white-lipped pit viper Cryptelytrops albolabris (Trimersurus albolabris). Natur und Tier-Verlag GmbH, 2006, ISBN 3-937285-65-2
Web links
- Cryptelytrops albolabris in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013.2. Posted by: Stuart, B., Thy, N., Nguyen, TQ & Auliya, M., 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2014.