Genus/Species
Clinical entries
See also the other subgenera of the genus Trimeresurus: Trimeresurus (Himalayophis), Trimeresurus (Parias), Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus), Trimeresurus (Sinovipera), Trimeresurus (Viridovipera) and the new genus Craspedocephalus
Species
- 1. Trimeresurus (Popeia) barati
- 2. Trimeresurus (Popeia) buniana
- 3. Trimeresurus (Popeia) fucatus
- 4. Trimeresurus (Popeia) nebularis
- 5. Trimeresurus (Popeia) phuketensis
- 6. Trimeresurus (Popeia) popeiorum
- 7. Trimeresurus (Popeia) sabahi
- 8. Trimeresurus (Popeia) toba
- 9. Trimeresurus (Popeia) yingjiangensis
The original genus Trimeresurus underwent substantial revision.
On behalf of molecular and morphological findings Malhotra and Thorpe 2004 split the genus Trimeresurus up into various new genera or reactivated ancient taxa. They proposed the genera Cryptelytrops, Himalayophis, Parias, Peltopelor, Popeia and Viridovipera.
David et al. (2011) proposed to adapt the findings of Malhotra and Thorpe but to define the new genera as 'clades'/subgenera.
See also Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) sp. for detailed discussion about the revision of the genus Trimeresurus.
Trimeresurus (Popeia) barati and Trimeresurus (Popeia) sabahi are also described as subspecies of Trimeresurus (Popeia) popeiorum.
Taxonomy
Common names
- 1. Barat bamboo pitviper
- 2. The fairy pitviper
- 3. Siamese peninsula pitviper
- 4. Cameron Highlands pitviper
- 5. Phuket pitviper, Phuket Bambusotter
- 6. Pope's tree viper, Pope's bamboo pitviper
- 7. Sabah bamboo pitviper
- 8. Toba pitviper
- 9. Yingjiang green pit viper
Distribution
Northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
Biology
Smaller, green-coloured tree snakes.
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 andViridovipera):
Mostly smaller snakes under 1 m. Colouring and pattern very variable. T. (Trimeresurus) albolabris, T. (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, T. (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.
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, T. (Craspedocephalus) malabaricus and T. (Craspedocephalus) strigatus.
Risk
Severe cases wich were attributed to T. (Popeia) popeiorum were most probably misidentifications of T. (Trimeresurus) albolabris or T. (Trimeresurus) macrops (see Warrell 1990a, Mitracul 1982)
Literature (biological)
Chen et al. 2019, Grismer et al. 2006, Malhotra and Thorpe 2004, Vogel et al. 2004, David et al. 2009, Sumontha et al. 2011