Trimeresurus kaulbacki
| Trimeresurus kaulbacki | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Crotalinae |
| Genus: | Trimeresurus |
| Species: | T. kaulbacki |
| Binomial name | |
| Trimeresurus kaulbacki M.A. Smith, 1940 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
- Common names: Kaulback's lance-headed pit viper.[2]
Trimeresurus kaulbacki is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Asia. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
Etymology
The specific name, kaulbacki, is in honor of Ronald Kaulback.[4]
Description
Adult males may attain a total length of 134 cm (53 in), which includes a tail 22.5 cm (8.9 in) long. Females may grow longer: maximum total length 141 cm (56 in), tail 23 cm (9.1 in).
Dorsally, it is green, with a vertebral series of dark angular spots, which may be joined to form a zigzag stripe. The top of the head is black with yellow stripes. Ventrally, except for the whitish throat area, it is gray with large squarish or crescent-shaped yellow spots.[5]
Scalation includes 25 rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 201-212 ventral scales, 66-78 subcaudal scales, and 8 supralabial scales of which the third is the largest.[2]
Geographic range
T. kaulbacki had originally been known only from the type locality, which is "Pangnamdim, north of the Triangle, Upper Burma" (Myanmar).[1] In 2005 it was reported that it is also found in China.[6]
Reproduction
This species is oviparous. The adult female lays a clutch of 6-32 eggs in a hole in the ground, and then remains with the eggs to guard them. Eggs measure 48-53 mm x 26-27 mm (about 2 in x 1 in). The hatchlings are 26-27 cm (about 10½ inches) in total length.[5]
See also
- List of crotaline species and subspecies
- Trimeresurus by common name
- Trimeresurus by taxonomic synonyms
- Crotalinae by common name
- Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pit vipers. Geitje Books. Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN 3-937975-00-4.
- ↑ "Trimeresurus kaulbacki". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 28 July, 2008.
- ↑ Smith, M.A. 1940.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Smith MA. 1943. The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol. III.—Serpentes. Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xii + 583 pp. (Trimeresurus kaulbacki, p. 512.)
- ↑ Rao D, Zhao E. 2005. A New Record from China – Protobothrops kaulbacki (Reptilia, Serpentes, Viperidae). Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 30: 209-211.
Further reading
- Smith, M.A. 1940. The Amphibians and Reptiles obtained by Mr. Ronald Kaulback in Upper Burma. Records of the Indian Museum 42: 465-486. (Trimeresurus kaulbacki, p. 485, Plate VIII, Figure 5.)
External links
- Protobothrops kaulbacki at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 July 2007.
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