Malaysia Cameron Highlands Pit-Viper

Cameron Highlands Pit-Viper
Trimeresurus nebularis
Size : up to 1 m

The brick red tail, which is has a defined edge above the ventrals, is a key characteristic that distinguishes it from Trimeresurus fucatus.

Snakes ~ Vipers ~ Cameron Highlands Pit-Viper

The Cameron Highlands pit-viper is a new species described by the German herpetologist Gernot Vogel. This highland viper species occurs from 800 - 2,000 m in upper-level to montane rainforest. It is endemic to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia and has not yet been recorded from adjacent areas across the Titiwangsa Mountain Range, though it should be a strong possibility. This arboreal viper is large-bodied without clear sexual dimorphism, though females grow larger than males. A very faint orange ventrolateral stripe occurs in neonate males, but this eventually fades away into juvenilehood.

Trimeresurus nebularis is green in colouration with a rich blue tinge, expecially noticeable along the ventrals and labial area. The eyes are usually greenish, though one specimen was observed by the author as having red eyes. A white ventrolateral line may occur in some individuals. The tail is brick red with a regular and defined edge above the ventral scales. It occurs sympatrically with Trimeresurus fucatus at the lower points of its mountainous habitat range. This nocturnal viper feeds on small mammals, such as rodents and birds in the wild.