Kingdom Animalia Order Squamata Family Viperidae Scientific name Trimeresurus jerdonii Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Suborder Serpentes Genus Trimeresurus Higher classification Trimeresurus | |
 | ||
Lower classifications Trimeresurus jerdonii xanthomelas, Trimeresurus jerdonii bourreti | ||
Trimeresurus jerdonii (Jerdon's pit viper, yellow-speckled pit viper, oriental pit viper) is a venomous pit viper species endemic to India (Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tibet, China and Vietnam. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, jerdonii, is in honor of British herpetologist Thomas C. Jerdon who collected the type series.
Description
Males grow to a maximum total length of 835 mm (32.9 in), with a tail length of 140 mm (5.5 in); females to 990 mm (39 in), with a tail length of 160 mm (6.3 in).
Scalation: dorsal scales in 21 longitudinal rows at midbody (rarely 23); snout length a little more than twice diameter of eye; head above, except for large internasals and supraoculars, covered by small, unequal, smooth scales that are feebly imbricate or juxtaposed; first labial completely separated from nasal scales by a suture; internasals separated by 1–2 small scales; 6–9 small scales in line between supraoculars; 7–8 upper labials, third and fourth beneath eye, in contact with subocular or separated by at most a single series of small scales; ventrals: males 164–188, females 167–193; subcaudals: males 50–78, females 44–76.
Geographic range
Found in Assam in India, Bangladesh, through northern Burma to Tibet, China (Hupeh, Szechwan, and Yunnan), and Vietnam. The type locality given by Günther is "Khassya" (=Khasi Hills, India).