Trimeresurus venustus

Trimeresurus venustus is a venomous pit viper species endemic to southern Thailand. Its common names include beautiful pit viper and brown-spotted pit viper.

Taxonomy

This species was considered a synonym of Trimeresurus kanburiensis until around the turn of the century. It was described by Gernot Vögel in 1991. It is in the subgenus Trimeresurus.

Etymology

Derived from Latin, the name venustus means beautiful, and refers to the striking, intricate color scheme.

Description

This species has a slender body and is approximately in length. They have a triangular-shaped head, like all pit vipers. Their labials are green with brown patches and a dark postorbital stripe is present.
Their distinctive coloration ranges from vibrant green to olive green with brown or reddish-orange bands along the length of the body. In males, the dorsal area is an olive or bluish-green color, while females have a grass-green dorsal area. Their short snout is slightly flattened with a small ridge, and they have heat-sensing pits in-between their nostrils. Their irises are a light orange with brown specks. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled and have a count of 21 – 21 – 15.

Distribution and habitat

T. venustus is native to southern Thailand and is also found in northern peninsular Malaysia. Being mainly arboreal, they can be found up to in elevation inhabiting limestone hills, shaded, humid valleys, rubber tree plantations, and both primary and secondary rainforests.

Biology

Feeding

Using heat-sensing pits, these pitvipers hunt mice, frogs, and lizards.

Reproduction

T. venustus is ovoviviparous.

Venom

A bite resulted in swelling and a discoloration of the skin. Local symptoms were displayed, such as coagulopathy. 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.