Malaysia Pope's Pit-Viper

Pope's Pit-Viper
Trimeresurus fucatus
Size : up to 80 cm

A female Trimeresurus fucatus from Langkawi. Females lack the red ventrolateral stripe present in males like the mainland form above. The Langkawi populations are morphologically similiar to those in South Thailand.

Snakes ~ Vipers ~ Pope's Pit-Viper

The Pope's pit-viper in Malaysia is a semi-terrestial venomous species that differs from the species of the same common name in Thailand. Here, two forms that have been recorded; from the mainland, Trimeresurus fucatus is green with faint dorsal crossbands while the tail is rusty brown and irregular, the eyes may be greenish, copper or yellow; from Langkawi, the populations are similiar in colouration but a postocular stripe occurs in males while both genders have orange red eyes. Male popes have a red ventrolateral stripe while females are larger and more robust.

It is possible that that future research may split these two forms into different species, but for now, both forms are classed as Trimeresurus fucatus. Another species recently described from Tioman Island is Trimeresurus buniana, which is similiar to a Pope's pit-viper but with blue colouration. Their body is also described as being more slender and dorsal spots are present, though the scalation remains the same as the mainland form.

The Pope's pit-viper is an adept hunter of lizards, frogs, rodents and small mammals, travelling quite frequently to hunt during the night. They are often found coiled on low-hanging shrubs and trees in a striking position, along streams and pools of water in rainforest. Trimeresurus fucatus occurs throughout the Peninsular and can be found up to 900 m in elevation, occuring sympatrically with Trimeresurus nebularis at the lower points in the Cameron Highlands.