(Trimeresurus trigonocephalus)
Family: Vipers (Viperidae)
Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata)
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Sri Lankan Green Pitviper
(Trimeresurus trigonocephalus) Family: Vipers (Viperidae) Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata) |
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Size: Up to 132 cm. Distribution: Sri Lanka. Habitat: Arboreal, except when feeding, found in grasslands and rainforests, and occasionally in plantations of cardamom, cocoa, coffee, and tea, 100-1100 m asl., up to 2000 m asl., according to some sources. More often found in low shrubs than in tall trees. Widespread, occuring in both the wet and the dry zones of the island. Food: Frogs, lizards, incl. geckos, rodents and birds. Descends to the ground when searching for food. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young in June-July or December-January. Clutches consist of 5-29 young which measure 20-25 cm at birth. Activity and behaviour: Nocturnal and sluggish, occasionally diurnal. Enemies and defense: When threatened it vibrates its tail and forms a loop with the forebody (see photo right) to prepare for lashing out against the intruder. Sexual differences: As with other snakes, males have thicker and longer tails. Venom: Bites occur, often among plantation workers, such as tea pluckers. Symptoms are swellings and severe pains, but no human fatalities have been reported. References: Das, I.; de Silva, A. 2005. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Sri Lanka. New Holland, London, etc. 144 pp. David, P.; Ineich, I. 1999. Les serpents venimeux du monde: systématique et répartition. Dumerilia 3: 1-499. de Silva, A. 1976. Venomous snakes of Sri Lanka. Snake 8(1): 31-42. de Silva, A. 1980. The impact of Buddhism on the conservation of flora and fauna in ancient Sri Lanka. Tigerpaper (Bangkok) 7(4): 21-25. de Silva, A. 1983. Reproductive habits of Trimeresurus trigonocephalus (Sonnini et Latrelle). Snake 15(1): 16-21. de Silva, A. 1990. Colour guide to the snakes of Sri Lanka. R. & A. Publishing Ltd., Portishead. 130 pp. de Silva, A. 1990. Venomous snakes, their bites and treatment in Sri Lanka. In: Gopalakrishnakone, P. & Chou, L.M. (eds.). Snakes of medical importance (Asia-Pacific region). Venom and Toxin Group, National University of Singapore & International Society on Toxinology. 676 pp. de Silva, A. 1995. The reptiles of Sri Lanka, a checklist and common names. Part 1: Testudines, Crocodylia and Lacertilia. Lyriocephalus 2(1-2): 25-33. de Silva, A. 2004. The herpetofauna of Sri Lanka. Current research. Amphibian and Reptile Research Organisation, Peradeniya (Sri Lanka). 220 pp. de Silva, A. (ed.). 2004. The herpetology of Sri Lanka: current research. 1. Proceedings of Fourth World Congress of Herpetology, 3-9 December 2001, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Lyriocephalus 5(1-2): 1-63. (Special issue). de Silva, A.; Jayatillake, K.; Ranasinghe, L. 1983. Epidemiology of snake-bite in Sri Lankan children. Ceylon Medical Journal 28(3): 155-162. 28(3): 155-162. de Silva, A.; Ranasinghe, L. 1983. Epidemiology of snake-bite in Sri Lanka: a review. Ceylon Medical Journal 28(3): 144-154. 28(3): 144-154. de Silva, A.; Walker, B. 1998. Saving Sri Lanka's living heritage. Biologist (London) 45(2): 71-75. de Silva, P.H.D.H. 1980. Snake fauna of Sri Lanka with special reference to skull, dentition and venom in snakes. Spolia Zeylanica 34: 1-472. de Silva, P.H.D.H. 1980. Snakes of Sri Lanka. National Museum of Sri Lanka, Colombo. 473 pp. Gopalakrishnakone, P.; Chou, L.M. (eds.). 1990. Snakes of medical importance (Asia-Pacific region). Venom and Toxin Group, National University of Singapore & International Society on Toxinology. 676 pp. Gumprecht, A. 1999. Trimeresurus trigonocephalus (Latreille). Sauria (Berlin) 21(3): 461-466. Gumprecht, A.; Tillack, F.; Orlov, N.L.; Captain, A.; Ryabov, S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks, Berlin. 368 pp. Janzen, Peter; Klaas, Peter; Ziesmann, Stefan 2007. Sri Lankas Schlangenfauna. Draco 8(2) (30): 56-64. Jirousek, V.T. 1983. Remarks on reptile protection in Sri Lanka and the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Hamadryad 8(1): 18-19. Kularatne, S.A.M.; Pathirage, M. 2005. Life threatening envenoming by green pit viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus) bite. Lyriocephalus 6(1-2): 327-328. Mallow, D.; Ludwig, D.; Nilson, G. 2003. True vipers: natural history and toxinology of Old World vipers. Krieger, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. McDiarmid, R.W.; Campbell, J.A.; Touré, T.A. 1999. Snake species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Volume 1. Herpetologists' League, Washington, D.C. 511 pp. Nanayakkara, G.L.A. 1991. Conservation of the snakes of Sri Lanka. Hamadryad 16(1-2): 46-47. Nanayakkara, G.L.A. 1994. The form and function of the procryptic adaptations of the green pit-viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus) in Sri Lanka. Snake 26(1): 75-78. Phelps, Tony 2010. Old world vipers: a natural history of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main. 558 pp. Ratnapala, R.; Aloysius, D.J.; Ranasinghe, L. 1983. Deadly venomous land snakes of Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 28(3): 112-117. Rogner, M. 1983. Zur Herpetofauna von Sri Lanka. DATZ (Die Aquarien- und Terrarien-Zeitschrift) 36(7): 271-274. Russel, P. 1982. Some colour variations of the green pit viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus). Loris 16(1): 61-63. Taylor, E.H. 1950. A brief review of Ceylonese snakes. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 33(2): 519-603. Trutnau, L. 1998. Schlangen im Terrarium: Haltung, Pflege und Zucht. Vol. 2. Giftschlangen. 2nd ed. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart. 367 pp. Trutnau, Ludwig. 2004. Venomous snakes: snakes in the terrarium. Fourth edition. Krieger, Malabar, Florida. 340 pp. Vogel, G. 2006. Venomous snakes of Asia / Giftschlangen Asiens. Edition Chimaira & Aqualog Verlag ACS, Frankfurt am Main & Rodgau. 148 pp. Werning, H. & al. (eds.). 2007. Sri Lanka. Tiere, Terrarien, Lebensräume. Draco 8(2) (30): 1-96. Text & layout: Rune Midtgaard |
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