Pope's Pit Viper - Trimeresurus Popeiorum

 Trimeresurus popeiorum is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to northern and northeastern parts of India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Indonesia. Common names include: Pope's pit viper, Pope's tree viper, and Pope's bamboo pitviper. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Pope's Pit Viper

 

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Serpentes
Family	Viperidae
Genus	Trimeresurus
Species	T. popeiorum
Scientific Name	Trimeresurus popeiorum

Description

Both sexes of the Pope's Pit Viper have deep red eyes (except in the juveniles) and a deep red mottled tail. The females are bright lime green with a white ventral line. Males are more grass green usually with a red and white ventral line and a red and white streak starting from the eye

Behavior

Pope's Pit Viper is nocturnal and arboreal. If threatened, it will vibrate its tail.

Range & habitat

The Pope’s Pit Viper occurs in North and Northwest of Thailand and is normally found at higher elevations. In most of its range above 800m asl, but it might be found at lower elevation especially in the South of its range. They prefer evergreen forests, usually in quite densely vegetated areas. We have found them in ambush position on the leaf litter on slopes, but in general they seem to prefer to position themselves on twigs/ branches from just off the ground up to 4 – 5m high.

Taxonomy

The Trimeresurus popeiorum honors the American herpetologist Clifford H. Pope. And in the past even the genus was named after the same herpetologist as Popeia popeiorum which in recent publications is used as a subgenus Trimeresurus [Popeia] popeiorum.

Dangerous?	Potentially dangerous; front-fanged, foldable hollow fangs, potent venom; these snakes rely on their camouflage so are not likely to flee. Which means, in the unfortunate case you don’t see it, but unknowingly grab it, it may decide to bite.
Venom	Some sources state neurotoxic, but most pit vipers seem to be haemotoxic and in reports about bites from this species the symptoms suggest it is primarily haemotoxic
Length	about 80 – 90cm
Diet	Frogs, rodents, lizards & birds
How easy to find	Quite easy to find in right conditions and habitat.
Best time of year	Wet season is best, but also humid days in the dry season.
Best time of day	Nocturnal, but we have found them in daytime as well. Though some seem to hide in daytime and only show up once darkness falls.
Threats	No main threats
Notes:	DNA research has indicated that the highly similar looking population in the Tenasserim range is a separate species.