Trimeresurus venustus – Beautiful Pit Viper
Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) in Krabi, Thailand
The Beautiful Pit Viper, Trimeresurus venustus, is a small but stunning pit viper species found on the Thai peninsula from Chumphon province southward.
facts
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Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Description
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Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) juvenile in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Similar-looking species
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- Trimeresurus kanburiensis – Kanburi Pit ViperHas duller colors than the Beautiful Pit Viper, but similar in pattern, and are often mixed up in the pet trade and (online) publications. However the range of these two species does not overlap. Trimeresurus kanburiensis is only found in Kanchanaburi province, whilst the Trimeresurus venustus is found from Chumphon southward.
Kanburi Pit Viper (Trimeresurus kanburiensis) in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
A rather dusty Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) in situ in ambush position in Mueang Krabi district, Krabi, Thailand
Behaviour
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Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Range & habitat
The Kanburi Pit Viper is normally found at lower elevations. The books usually say up to 600m asl. Bamboo forest, and limestone karst mountains are the primary habitat where the Trimeresurus kanburiensis occurs.
Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) in situ in Mueang Krabi district, Krabi, Thailand
Taxonomy
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Beautiful Pit Viper (Trimeresurus venustus) in situ in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
How to find this species in Thailand?
Night walking in the limestone areas or rocky stream beds seems the best way to find this species. It is mostly found on the forest floor in the leaf litter, on rocks, or low to the ground on branches. In the right habitat, these are quite easy to find. Though their pattern makes them blend in quite well in the surroundings, so it might require skilled eyes to find this snake. But then again, even though maybe not as easy to spot as a green pit viper, in the right areas the population density seems pretty high (higher than we have seen in other viper species) and therefore you have an increased chance to find it.
