Trimeresurus popeorum
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SPECIES
Trimeresurus popeiorum

Trimeresurus popeiorum is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to northern and northeastern parts of India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Indonesia. Common names include: Pope's pit viper, Pope's tree viper, and Pope's bamboo pitviper. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Appearance

Trimeresurus popeiorum may grow to a total length of 770 mm (30 in), which includes a tail length 170 mm (6.7 in).

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Above green, below pale green to whitish, the two separated by a bright bicolored orange or brown (below) and white (above) (males) or white (females) ventrolateral stripe, which occupies the whole of the outermost scale row and a portion of the second row.

Dorsal scales in 21 (rarely 23) longitudinal rows at midbody; 9-11 upper labials, first upper labials separated from nasals by a distinct suture; a single supraocular. Ventrals 155-169; subcaudals 52-76, in males the base of the tail enlarged to the level of subcaudals 20-25; hemipenes long and slender, smooth, without spines.

This species is most often confused with T. s. stejnegeri (q.v.); the two have quite distinct hemipenes, which does not make identification of individuals in the field or in the laboratory any easier without recourse to (a) male individuals and (b) an examination of the hemipenes. However, the two species are not known to have overlapping distributions, at least based on available materials. Also, closely allied to T. popeiorum is Trimeresurus yunnanensis (q.v.); ordinarily, the two are more easily told apart by the number of midbody dorsal scale rows, 21 in T. popeiorum, 19 in T. yunnanensis.

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Distribution

Geography

Northern and northeastern India (Mizoram), Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia and Vietnam. In Indonesia, it occurs on the islands of Sumatra, Mentawai Islands (Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai) and Borneo. The type locality, designated by lectotype, is listed as "Khasi Hills, Assam" (India).

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Gumprecht et al. (2004) consider records for Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam to be highly questionable, as they are likely based on misidentifications involving other species of Trimeresurus.

Trimeresurus popeiorum is found in forests of mountainous regions.

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Biome

Habits and Lifestyle

Trimeresurus popeiorum is nocturnal and arboreal. If threatened, it will vibrate its tail.

Lifestyle

Venom

Trimeresurus popeiorum possesses a potent hemotoxic venom which is dangerous to humans.

Diet and Nutrition

Trimeresurus popeiorum preys upon frogs, lizards, birds, and rodents (especially rats and squirrels).

Mating Habits

This species, T. popeiorum, is viviparous. In India, sexually mature females give birth in April and May, and the average clutch size is 10. The hatchlings are about 180 mm (7.1 in) long.

Population

References

1. Trimeresurus popeorum Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimeresurus_popeorum
2. Trimeresurus popeorum on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/192243/2060448

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