Sunday, May 28, 2006

Shore Pit Viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus)

This Shore Pit Viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus) crossed our (Me, Chan Kwok Wai, and Norman Lim) path in Pasir Ris Park Mangrove Swamp on 7 May 2006 at about 9 pm. This is an arboreal species (Lim & Lee, 1989; Lim & Lim, 1992) and is often observed on low bushes (Cox et al., 1998) but was, surprisingly, moving on soft mud on that day. They spend much of their time coiled up in trees and shrubs where they ambush small mammals and birds (Lim & Lee, 1989). These nocturnal snakes also feed on lizards, frogs, and other small animals (Cox et al., 1998). In captivity, this viper will take mice and day-old chicks (Lim & Lee, 1989).

These venomous snakes have a reputation of being bad-tempered and quick to strike (Lim & Lee, 1989; Lim & Lim, 1992; Cox et al., 1998). Fortunately, the one we encountered did not show any of that nature.

Shore Pit Vipers give live birth to 7 to 15 young of about 24 cm in length (Lim & Lee, 1989; Cox et al., 1998). Lim & Lee (1989) reported that captive snakes from Thailand gave birth in the months of April and May. An adult reaches a length of about 1 m (Lim & Lee, 1989; Lim & Lim, 1992).


This species inhabits southern Thailand, Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Tenasserim and Sumatra (Cox et al., 1998).



From left to right: Front of head; Dorsal side of head; Left side of body.

* Photographs from Mr Chan Kwok Wai.

REFERENCES

Cox, M. J., van Dijk, P. P., Nabhitabhata, J. & Thirakhupt, K., 1998. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, p. 12.

Lim, F. L. K. & Lee, M. T. M., 1989. Fascinating Snakes of Southeast Asia – an Introduction. Tropical Press, Kuala Lumpur, p. 30.

Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K., 1992. A Guide To The Amphibians & Reptiles Of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, p. 147.

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