Trimeresurus Strigatus is a venomous Pit Viper species from India, found in the Western Ghats Mountain Range in India. No subspecies are currently recognized. Trimeresurus Strigatus is endemic to Nilgiri Mountain Range in India in the southern Western Ghats Mountain Range in India.
Trimeresurus strigatus has been recorded between 1,100 and 2,400 meters. The reports from Western Ghats Mountain Range in India, which is also referred to as Deccan Mountain Range in India, Pune District of Maharashtra are not included in the distribution due to the lack of specimen-based records to confirm its occurrence in this area. There are historical records of the findings of Trimeresurus strigatus- Shevroy Hills, Annamalai Hills and Ashambu Hills.
Concentration of Trimeresurus Strigatus
Trimeresurus Strigatus are found in the hills of southern India. Trimeresurus Strigatus is distributed in the Nilgiri Mountain Range in India. The type locality listed is in "Cape of Good Hope" and "Madras". Trimeresurus Strigatus occurs in semi-evergreen hill forest, patches and grasslands.
Behaviour of Trimeresurus Strigatus
Trimeresurus Strigatus has been recorded from disturbed habitats. Trimeresurus Strigatus is a nocturnal and probably terrestrial snake and has been noted to feed on small rodents, frogs and smaller snakes. The young Trimeresurus Strigatus are seen in August to September; it is not clear whether reproduction is oviparous or viviparous.
Distribution of Trimeresurus Strigatus
Trimeresurus Strigatus may be distinguished from other Pit Vipers of peninsular India based on the presence of small internasals, 2nd supralabial in contact with loreal pit, 21 rows of smooth or weakly-keeled dorsal scales at midbody, and a single row of scales between labials and suboculars.
Common Names of Trimeresurus Strigatus
The common name of Trimeresurus Strigatus is based on the presence of a pale buff horseshoe-shaped (i.e., inverted "U") mark on the nape. The snake of Trimeresurus Strigatus is pale brownish or buff coloured with darker blotches of grey and some white streaks.
Habitat of Trimeresurus Strigatus
Trimeresurus Strigatus is essentially a terrestrial animal, with most of the sightings on ground or rock formations.
Size of Trimeresurus Strigatus
Of 12 snakes measured, the mean snout-vent length (SVL) was 24.4 &plusmin; 7.04 cm (9.6 &plusmin; 2.8 in), the tail length (tL) was 3.5 &plusmin; 0.8 cm (1.4 &plusmin; 0.3 in), and the weight was 172 and plusmin; 10.5 g (6 &plusmin; 0.4 oz).
