Kingdom Animalia Family Viperidae Scientific name Trimeresurus gramineus Higher classification Trimeresurus Order Scaled reptiles | Suborder Serpentes Genus Trimeresurus Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Trimeresurus, Snake, Vipers, Trimeresurus medoensis, Reptile | ||
Video of bamboo pit viper trimeresurus gramineus video by jacob thomas tbgri kerala
Trimeresurus gramineus (bamboo pit viper, Indian green pit viper,common green pit viper) is a venomous pit viper species found only in southern India. No subspecies are currently recognized. It is the type species for the genus Trimeresurus.
Contents
- Video of bamboo pit viper trimeresurus gramineus video by jacob thomas tbgri kerala
- Description
- Common names
- Geographic range
- Habitat
- Behavior
- Diet
- Reproduction
- References
Description
Rostral scale as deep as broad or broader than deep; upper head-scales small, smooth, imbricate; supraocular scale narrow, rarely broken up; internasals in contact or separated by one or two scales; 8 to 13 scales on a line between the supraoculars; usually one or two, rarely three, series of scales between the suboculars and the labials; 9 to 12 upper labials, second usually forming the anterior border of the loreal pit, third largest; temporal scales smooth.
Dorsal scales more or less distinctly keeled, in 21 (rarely 19 or 23) rows. Ventrals 145–175; anal scale entire; subcaudals in two rows 53–76.
Upper parts usually bright green, rarely yellowish, greyish, or purplish brown, with or without black, brown, or reddish spots; usually a light, white, yellow, or red streak along the outer row of scales; end of tail frequently yellow or red; lower parts green, yellow, or whitish.
Grows to a total length of 3.25 feet (0.99 m); tail 5.5 inches (14 cm).
Common names
Bamboo pit viper, Indian tree viper, bamboo snake, Indian green tree viper, green tree viper, bamboo viper, bamboo pitviper, boodro pam, grass-green snake, green pit viper.
Geographic range
The range of this species has been restricted to southern India. It is also rarely seen near Harishchandragad and some other mountain ranges of Western Ghats aka Sahyadris in Maharashtra.
The type locality is "Vizagapatam, India", which is based on Russell (1796).
Habitat
It is found in bamboo groves and forests, usually near streams.
Behavior
T. gramineus is arboreal and nocturnal. When threatened, it is aggressive and does not hesitate to bite.
Diet
It feeds on lizards and birds.
Reproduction
T. gramineus is ovoviviparous. Adult females gives birth to 6 to 11 young ones, which measure up to 4.5inches in length.