Genus/Species
Trimeresurus: Trimeresurus (Himalayophis), Trimeresurus (Parias), Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus), Trimeresurus (Sinovipera), and Trimeresurus (Viridovipera)
Species
- 1. Craspedocephalus anamallensis
- 2. Craspedocephalus andalasensis
- 3. Craspedocephalus borneensis
- 4. Craspedocephalus brongersmai
- 5. Craspedocephalus gramineus
- 6. Craspedocephalus macrolepis
- 7. Craspedocephalus malabaricus
- 8. Craspedocephalus occidentalis
- 9. Craspedocephalus peltopelor
- 10. Craspedocephalus puniceus
- 11. Craspedocephalus strigatus
- 12. Craspedocephalus travancoricus
- 13. Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus
- 14. Craspedocephalus wiroti
The genus Trimeresurus has been subject to extensive taxonomical revision (see Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) ssp.) which is still highly controversial
David et al. (2011) proposed to adapt the findings of Malhotra and Thorpe (2004) but to define the new genera as 'clades'/subgenera. In this way information on the phylogenetic relationship among the different 'clades' would be reflected: 'It should also be emphasized that, on an external morphological basis, these subgenera are hardly diagnosable, and we think that recognizing “genera” that cannot be diagnosed morphologically is not a help to practising taxonomists, especially when they do not have access to molecular facilities. A “purely cladistic” concept of the genus in zoology is neither sufficient nor useful, as it does not provide any yardstick of comparison between related genera.'
This concept seems reasonable, especially from a toxinological point of view. So here the following subgenera are distiguished:
Trimeresurus (Craspedocephalus)
Trimeresurus (Peltopelor)
Craspedocephalus (formerly genus/subgenus Trimeresurus/Trimeresurus (Craspedocephalus) is now rergarded as a valid genus (Malik et al. 2021). The same authors place Trimeresurus (Peltopelor) macrolepis in the new genus Craspedocephalus.
According to the new classification of Mirza et al. 2023 the following Craspedocephalus species are placed in the genus Peltopelor:
Craspedocephalus anamallensis -> Peltopelor anamallensis
Craspedocephalus gramineus -> Peltopelor gramineus
Craspedocephalus macrolepis -> Peltopelor macrolepis
Craspedocephalus malabaricus -> Peltopelor malabaricus
Craspedocephalus occidentalis -> Peltopelor occidentalis
Craspedocephalus peltopelor -> Peltopelor peltopelor
Craspedocephalus strigatus -> Peltopelor strigatus
Craspedocephalus travancoricus -> Peltopelor travancoricus
Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus -> Peltopelor trigonocephalus
Taxonomy
Common names
Asiatic lance-headed vipers, Bamboo pitvipers, Asiatische Lanzenottern, Bambusottern
- 1. Malabarian pitviper
- 3. Bornean pitviper
- 4. Brongersma's pitviper
- 5. Bamboo pitviper
- 6. Large-scaled pitviper
- 7. Malabar rock pitviper
- 10. Flat-nosed pitviper
- 11. Horseshoe pitviper
- 13. Sri Lankan green pitviper
- 14. Wirot's pitviper
Distribution
Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia and Taiwan. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
Biology
Most species are quite small, beyond 1 m body length, and of greenish color. With slender bodies and prehensile tails they are mostly living arboreal in moutaious regions.
-C. gramineus in forested aeras and bamboo groves, often near water.
-C. macrolepis is found in high elevations of the Western Ghats (1100 m - 2600 m a.s.l.) Besides in foreasted aeras it is also found in tea estates and cardamon plantations.
-C. peltopelor is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, living in tropical montane stunted rain forests. A typical arboreal species which also enters tea estates and coffee plantations.
-C. malabaricus found in a variety of colour morphs - greenish blue-cyan, bright yellow, green, rufous brown, bright orange and red coloured. It is found in the central and northern Western Ghats. Commonly living on bushes and low vegetation in forests near streams. Often enters agricultural landscapes like coffee plantations.
-C. anamallensis restricted to the southern Western Ghats. Lives in similar habitats like C. malabaricus and also enters agricultural areas.
-C. travancoricus is colored in brownish shades. Like C. malabaricus and C. anamallensis it is found on bushes and undergrowth of moist evegreen and deciduous forests, often near streams.
-C. occidentalis is a highly arboreal species in moist evegreen forests, between 1000 m and 1900 m a.s.l..
-C. strigatus is a relatively stout species when compared with other Craspedocephalus species. Brown coloring with blotches along the spine similar to the European viper (Vipera berus). In contrast to most other Craspedocephalus species this one is highly terretrial. Lives in highland forests and grasslands.
Risk
Literature (biological)
Aye 1990, Cox 1971, Daniel 1983, Das and Yaakob 2007, David et al. 2006, Deuve 1970, Gumprecht et al. 2004, Hoge and Romano-Hoge 1978, Malhotra and Thorpe 2004, Malik et. al. 2021, Mirza et al. 2023, Regenaß and Kramer 1981, Saint Girons 1972, Toriba 1990a, Toriba and Sawai 1990, Tweedie 1983, Whitaker and Captain 2004, Zhao 1990