Scientific Classification
ORDER: SQUAMATA
FAMILY: VIPERIDAE
GENUS: TRIMERESURUS
SPECIES: TRIMERESURUS VOGELI
IUCN REDLIST: LEAST CONCERN
HABITAT
The Vogel’s Green Pit Viper is largely arboreal (lives in trees) like many other Pit vipers. The species is native to the southern portion of the Indochinese peninsula, from the western Dongraek Mountains of eastern Thailand throughout southern Laos, central and southern Vietnam, and to Cambodia. Within these nations. It commonly occurs in hilly areas from 200– 1200m in elevation within moist evergreen forest, but also in vegetated grasslands.
APPEARANCE
The body, tail and head shape of this species are typical of green pit vipers. Vogel’s Green Pit Viper (VGPV) can be quickly identified from other similar pit vipers by the typical stripe marking along the lower flanks which is either white, whitish blue, or whitish yellow. Pale spots on the upper spine are present in males and absent in females. Males are typically dark green and females a lighter paler green, and the eyes are yellow or yellowish green. Other distinguishing features require close-up examination of scales and other body features. The snake is also front fanged meaning the snake can inject its prey with venom then release again to chew or inject more venom with another bite. The VGPV can grow to a maximum total length in males 80 cm and females can grow to 110 cm.
BEHAVIOUR
Vogel’s pit viper is nocturnal and searches for food at these night time hours. As with all vipers, they are ambush predators and wait motionless, hanging in an S-shaped position, for prey to come past. They then grab their prey and hang with it in the air. It is unknown if the snake’s venom is deadly to humans but this is probable, as most other vipers are deadly. The snake also seems to enjoy being in close proximity to water as well.
REPRODUCTION
The females are likely viviparous which means they give live birth. A clutch of at least 10 will be be born in a membrane which the babies break open just after birth.
ECOSYSTEM ROLE & HUMAN BENEFITS
The snake helps to control frog, skinks, rodent and lizard populations as well as providing food for birds of prey and larger snakes.
IMPACTS
Sadly like most species in the world vogel’s green pit viper is affected through habitat deforestation, illegal logging and agricultural slash and burn practices.
INTERESTING FACT
Vogel’s Green Pit Viper was first described in 2001. Beforehand, the species was confused with Stejneger’s Pit Viper. The Pit Viper’s fangs are a hollow tube hooked up to venom producing sacks behind the snakes eyes. The fangs are so long in all vipers that they fold up to the roof of the viper’s mouth, so they wont bite themselves. If snakes lose a fang they will grow another one.
** This data set was written by Luke Anning of Bournemouth University, England and edited by Stephanie Young**
***Identification of these species has been made through, photographic documentation cross referenced with external specialists and identification books. Any errors in our database will be rectified upon notification, if you feel that we have misidentified any species please help us to improve our research through our contact us page. All people involved will be acknowledge in the website and reports***
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