Trimeresurus macrolepis

Trimeresurus macrolepis

Craspedocephalus macrolepis, Large-scaled pit viper

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Trimeresurus macrolepis

Craspedocephalus macrolepis, commonly known as the large-scaled pit viper is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the Southern Western Ghats of South India. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Appearance

Length includes a tail 12 cm (4.7 in) long.

Show More

Dorsally, C. macrolepis is bright green, with blackish skin between the scales in some places. There is a yellow or white stripe on each side of the body, which runs along the first dorsal scale row. The upper lips are pale green, and there may be a black streak behind the eye. Ventrally, it is, which are large, keeled, and overlapping, are arranged in only 12-15 rows at midbody. The dorsal scales in the 10 middle rows are always the largest, and additional rows are made up of smaller scales. An even number of dorsal scale rows is frequently found in this species, even though it is uncommon in snakes in general. Ventrals 133–143; subcaudals divided 44–58.

The scales on the top of the head are very large, smooth, and overlapping. There is an elongate subocular, which is separated from the upper labials by a row of a few small scales. There are 7-8 upper labials, of which the 3rd is the largest.

Show Less

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

It is found in the mountains of southern Western Ghats south of Palakkad Gap, in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a high-elevation specialist, not normally recorded anywhere below 1200 m asl. Precise records are from Nelliyampathy, Munnar, Anaimalai, Palni hills, Meghamalai, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Agasthyamalai and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. at elevations of 1200-2695 m asl. The type locality is listed as "Anamalai hills (Tamil Nadu State, southwestern India)".

Show More

Craspedocephalus macrolepis is a slow-moving, arboreal, nocturnal snake that prefers rainforests, and is also found in tea, coffee and cardamom plantations.

Show Less

Habits and Lifestyle

It is both terrestrial and arboreal, using its prehensile tail to hold onto branches. It is an ambush hunting snake relying on its camouflage to catch prey. The heat-sensing loreal pits are used to locate warm-blooded prey.

Lifestyle

Venom

Presumed to contain hemotoxin, but not that thoroughly studied. Even though tea pickers are frequently bitten by this species, the bites are seldom fatal.

Diet and Nutrition

It feeds mainly on frogs, lizards, small birds and rodents.

Mating Habits

Craspedocephalus macrolepis is oviparous. Sexually mature females lay eggs in October, in clutches of 4–7.

Population

References

1. Trimeresurus macrolepis Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimeresurus_macrolepis
2. Trimeresurus macrolepis on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/172623/1354137

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About