Beautiful Tree Viper

This is an adult female T. venustus. In a group often thought to consist of, or at least to be dominated by, green arboreals, the little Trimeresurus venustus is, indeed, a beautiful species with a difference. It is as often referred to by the common name of “brown spotted tree viper,” as by the more appropriate “beautiful tee viper. The former name does not do justice to the snake (that was for decades confused with the Kanburian tree viper, T. kanburiensis, and is actually a brown on brown snake) for the spots are more often a dull red or maroon than brown and more often than consisting of isolated spots, the spots coalesce into a pattern consisting of partial or complete side-to-side bars. Once a rarity, T. venustus is now rather readily available in the pet trade. Native to Thailand, this rather slender viper occasionally attains a length of 32 inches but most adults seen are between 26 and 30 inches long. Reportedly being primarily terrestrial in the wild, those I have had and other captives I have seen have been quite arboreal. Prey in the wild is said to consist primarily of anurans and lizards. Captive of all sizes usually readily accept suitably sized mice, including those that have been thawed and warmed.

A profile of an adult female beautiful tree viper.

An adult male Trimeresurus venustus.