The dangerously venomous White-lipped Pitviper, Trimeresurus albolabris (sometimes placed in genus Cryptelytrops, as C. albolabris; e.g., Malhotra and Thorpe 2004; Hoser 2012) is the most widely distributed Trimeresurus species (Song et al. 2015), occurring in Myanmar (north of 15°), India (Assam), southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, and western Indonesia as far east as Sulawesi (Leviton et al. 2003 and references therein; Song et al. 2015 and references therein).
According to Leviton et al. (2003), these snakes are often found in heavily degraded habitat or in agricultural areas. They occur in moist mixed deciduous and subtropical forests (both Northern Triangle and Northern Indochina) as well as in temperate forests. They are commonly encountered in bamboo stands, although individuals have also been found on trees, in bushes, on the ground in open fields, and cossing roads. Recorded elevations range from 60-751 m in Myanmar, although it has been recorded as high as 3050 in Nepal. These snakes are active at night. Reportedly prefers lowland habitats, both forested and open, and when in bushes or trees, usually within 2-3 m of the ground.
Snakebite is a common medical emergency in Thailand, although the fatality rate due to snakebite has declined from more than 200 cases per year in the 1940s to fewer than 20 cases per year in the 1980s. The green pit vipers (Trimeresurus spp.) are responsible for the great majority of venomous snakebites in Thailand. Suankratay et al. (2002) reported on a case of tetanus following a bite by T. albolabris, apparently the first report of tetanus following a green pitviper bite.
Song et al. (2015) sequenced and characterized the full mitochondrial genome of T. albolabris.
Peng and Fuji (2000) compared the hemipenes of several species of Trimeresurus, including T. albolabris.
Guo and Zhao (2006) compared the skull morphologies of nine Asian pitvipers, including T. albolabris.
Herrel et al. (2011) studied strike behavior and allometric variation among T. albolabris of different sizes.
Leviton et al. provide a technical description of this species: Scales in 21 (rarely 19) longitudinal rows at midbody; 10-11 (12) upper labials, the first partially or completely fused to the nasal; head scales small, subequal, feebly imbricate, smooth or weakly keeled; supraoculars narrow, occasionally enlarged, undivided, 8-12 interocular scales between them; temporal scales smooth; green above, side of head below eyes yellow, white or pale green, yellowish or whitish below, a light ventrolateral stripe present in all males, absent in females; end of tail not mottled brown. Ventrals: males 155-166, females 152-176; subcaudals: males: 60-72, females 49-66, paired. Hemipenes without spines. Total length: males 600 mm, females 810 mm; tail length: males 120 mm, females 130 mm.
Trimeresurus albolabris, the white-lipped pit viper or white-lipped tree viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Southeast Asia.
Giannasi et al. (2001) raised insularis and septentrionalis to species level.[4][5] Malhotra & Thorpe (2004) transferred this species (and a number of others) to the genus Cryptelytrops.[6] David et al. (2011) returned it to the genus Trimeresurus and assigned it the subgenus Trimeresurus, creating the new combination Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) albolabris.[3]
Common names include green tree pit viper, white-lipped pit viper,[4] white-lipped tree viper, white-lipped green pit viper and white-lipped bamboo pit viper.[7]
Maximum total length males 600 mm (24 in), females 810 mm (32 in); maximum tail length males 120 mm (4.7 in), females 130 mm (5.1 in).[8]
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T. albolabris, White-lipped pit viper (adult, male) – Kaeng Krachan National Park
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T. albolabris, White-lipped pit viper (adult, female) – Kaeng Krachan National Park
T. albolabris (juvenile/male) – Kaeng Krachan National Park
T. albolabris (juvenile/female) – Kaeng Krachan National Park
T. albolabris at the Houston Zoo
Head scalation consists of 10–11(12) upper labials, the first partially or completely fused to the nasal. Head scales small, subequal, feebly imbricate, smooth or weakly keeled. The supraoculars are narrow (occasionally enlarged and undivided) with 8–12 interocular scales between them. Temporal scales smooth.[8]
Midbody has 29 (rarely 19) longitudinal dorsal scale rows. The ventral scales are 155–166 in males, 152–176 in females. The subcaudals are paired, 60–72 in males, 49–66 in females. The hemipenes are without spines.[8]
Color pattern: green above, the side of the head below the eyes is yellow, white or pale green, much lighter than rest of head. The belly is green, yellowish or white below. A light ventrolateral stripe is present in all males, but absent in females. The end of tail is not mottled brown.[8]
Found in Nepal northeastern India (Assam and Jharkhand), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, southern China (Fukien, Hainan, Kwangsi, Kwangtung), Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Sumba, Roti, Kisar, Wetar). The type locality given is "China".[2]
Its meals consist of birds, small frogs, and small mammals. This snake doesn't strike and release its prey; like many arboreal snakes, rather holds on to the prey item until it dies.
The venom is primarily hemotoxic. Results of bites from this species range from mild envenoming to death. The venom of white-lipped pitviper contains procoagulant properties. There have been numerous reported bites with few fatalities.[9]
Trimeresurus albolabris, the white-lipped pit viper or white-lipped tree viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Southeast Asia.
