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
Fig. 4.78 Arboreal type of Trimeresurus sp.
Distribution
Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia and Taiwan. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
Biology
Descriptions of the genus Trimeresurus according to the old classification (including the new subgenera/genera Craspedocephalus, Himalayophis, Ovophis, Parias, Peltopelor, Popeia, Protobothrops, Sinovipera, Trimeresurus, Tropidolaemus and Viridovipera):
Mostly smaller snakes under 1 m. Colouring and pattern very variable. T. (Trimeresurus) albolabris, Craspedocephalus gramineus, T. (Trimeresurus) erythrurus, T. (Trimeresurus) macrops, T. (Popeia) popeiorum and T. (Viridovipera) stejnegeri are green, but without markings, or only faint ones. Taxonomic differentiation of these green species, some of which are amongst the most medically important species of their genus, is difficult. Morphological distinctions frequently only consist of minor differences in the head shields.
Most species are arboreal, but ground-dwelling species do exist. The arboreal species are green (see above), sometimes with markings (e.g. T. (Cryptelytrops) cantori, Craspedocephalus trigonocephalus, Prothobothrops jerdoni or Tropidolaemus wagleri), and possess a fairly well-formed prehensile tail. Some arboreal species often live on the outskirts and in the green areas of larger cities and are also found in tea, coffee and cardamom plantations.
The ground-dwellers are usually of a brown colour with dark markings. Among others, Protobothrops flavoviridis and Protobothrops mucrosquamatus belong to this group and are found in wooded or open regions, but also often in agricultural areas and inhabited regions. Other ground-dwellers are the smaller mountain species Ovophis monticola, Craspedocephalus malabaricus and Craspedocephalus strigatus.
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