Trimeresurus gracilis

Trimeresurus gracilis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Trimeresurus
Species:	T. gracilis
Binomial name
Trimeresurus gracilis Ōshima, 1920[2]

Trimeresurus gracilis, commonly known as the Taiwan pit viper or Taiwan mountain pitviper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Taiwan.[1][3][4] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3][5] The species is known as kikushi habu in Japanese.[6]

Description

Trimeresurus gracilis is a small snake with a total length up to 60 cm (24 in).[4] Scalation includes 19 (or 21) rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 144–149 ventral scales, 43–53 subcaudal scales, and 7–8 supralabial scales.[6]

Geographic range

It is found only in Taiwan, above 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level.[1][4] The type locality given is "Mt. Noko, Nanto". According to Zhao and Adler (1993), this would be "Mt. Nôkô, Nanto Co., central Formosa" (Mount Nengkaoshan, Nantou County, Taiwan).[2] In a study were results that negated a commonly believed inference relating to the close affinity of T. monticola and T. okinawensis, and also suggested a sister relationship between T. okinawensis and T. gracilis. Phylogenetic relationships revealed in this study suggested that the genus Trimeresurus dispersed into the Ryukyu region at least three times, and that T. flavoviridis and T. tularensis from the central Ryukyus use to be more widespread and diverse in the past surrounding regions.[7]

References

1. Jiang, J. & Lau, M. (2012). "Trimeresurus gracilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T191909A2014204. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191909A2014204.en. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
2. 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).
3. Trimeresurus gracilis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 August 2021.
4. Hans Breuer & William Christopher Murphy (2009–2010). "Trimeresurus gracilis Taiwan Mountain Pitviper". Snakes of Taiwan. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
5. "Trimeresurus gracilis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
6. Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks. Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN 3-937975-00-4.
7. Ming-Chung Tu; Hurng-Yi Wang; Mung-Pei Tsai; Mamoru Toda; Wen-Jen Lee; Fu-Ji Zhang; Hidetoshi Ota (1 November 2000). ""Phylogeny, Taxonomy, and Biogeography of the Oriental Pitvipers of the Genus Trimeresurus (Reptilia: Viperidae: Crotalinae): A Molecular Perspective"". Zoological Science. 17 (8): 1147–1157. doi:10.2108/zsj.17.1147. hdl:2433/108613. PMID 18522471. S2CID 207286072.

Further reading

• Ōshima, M. 1920. Notes on the Venomous Snakes from the Islands of Formosa and Riu Kiu. Annual Report of the Institute of Science, Government of Formosa. 8 (2): 1-99. ("Trimeresurus gracilis sp. nov.", pp. 10–11 + Plate XII, Figures 5 & 6.)
• Zhao, Er-mi, and Kraig Adler. 1993. Herpetology of China. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). Oxford, Ohio. 522 pp. ISBN 978-0916984281.