Kingdom Animalia Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Crotalinae Scientific name Tropidolaemus huttoni Higher classification Tropidolaemus Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Viperidae Genus Tropidolaemus Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
Similar Tropidolaemus, Tropidolaemus philippensis, Trimeresurus strigatus, Trimeresurus macrolepis, Trimeresurus cantori | ||
Tropidolaemus huttoni is a little-known venomous pitviper species endemic to the Southern Western Ghats of India. No subspecies are currently recognized. Little is known about this species, as this species is known only from two young individuals, based on which it was first described in 1949. Despite long-term and targeted herpetological surveys in the particular hill range (Meghamalai), it has never been re-sighted there or elsewhere since then.
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A possible third specimen from the northern Western Ghats is considered to be of doubtful identity at best, as it shares several features typical of T. wagleri complex as well; and its provenance is also currently unresolved.
Etymology
Its specific name, huttoni, is in honor of its discoverer, Angus Finlay Hutton, a planter and naturalist.
Description
The coloration and size of adults is unknown.
Juveniles are green dorsally, with a series of small white spots on both sides, located on the 2nd & 3rd scale rows from the vertebral row. A distinct red eye streak on both sides of the head. Ventrally they are pale green, except for the last 25 subcaudals, which are dull reddish brown.
The holotype specimen is only 136 mm (5⅜ inches) in total length, 98 mm (3⅞ inches) in snout-vent length (SVL), and the tail is 38 mm (1½ inches) long.
Geographic range
The Meghamalai Hills in the southern Western Ghats, situated in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, southern India. Known only from the type locality, which is listed as "High Wavy Mountains, Theni district, southern India." According to David and Vogel (1998), this is a plateau on the western central edge of the Varushanad Hills, at 1,590 m (5,200 feet) elevation, in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.
Biology and natural history
Little-known; the original description states that both the juvenile specimens were collected together under thick leaf-litter near about Ochlandra travancorica, a species of bamboo. The region was, during Hutton's days, covered by dense tropical rainforests; but is now partly covered by tea plantations.