# Trimeresurus stejnegeri

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Species of snake

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Trimeresurus stejnegeri Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Viperidae Genus: Trimeresurus Species: T. stejnegeri Binomial name Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 Synonyms[3] List Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 Trimeresurus gramineus stejnegeri — Stejneger, 1927 Trimeresurus gramineus formosensis Maki, 1931 Trimeresurus gramineus kodairai Maki, 1931 Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri — Pope, 1935 Trimeresurus stejnegeri makii Klemmer, 1963 Trimeresurus stejnegeri formosensis — Welch, 1988 Trimeresurus stejnegeri kodairai — Welch, 1988[2] Trimeresurus stejnegeri — Cox et al., 1998 Viridovipera stejnegeri — Malhotra & Thorpe, 2004 Trimeresurus (Viridovipera) stejnegeri — David et al., 2011

***Trimeresurus stejnegeri*** is a [species](/source/Species) of [venomous](/source/Venomous_snake) [pit viper](/source/Pit_viper) [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Asia](/source/Asia). Two [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) are currently recognized, including the [nominate subspecies](/source/Nominotypical_subspecies) described here.[3]

[Common names](/source/Common_name) for this pit viper include **Stejneger's pit viper**, **Chinese pit viper**, **Chinese green tree viper**,[4] **bamboo viper**, **Chinese bamboo pitviper**, **69 bamboo viper**, and **Chinese tree viper**.[5] For other common, non-scientific names, see [§ Common names](#Common_names) below.

## Etymology

The [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)), *stejnegeri*, is in honor of [Leonhard Stejneger](/source/Leonhard_Stejneger), the [Norwegian](/source/Norway)-born, [American](/source/United_States) [herpetologist](/source/Herpetology) who worked at the [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution) for over 60 years.[6]

## Description

Eating a [Moltrecht's green tree frog](/source/Zhangixalus_moltrechti)

*Trimeresurus stejnegeri* grows to a maximum total length of 75 centimetres (30 in), which includes a tail length of 14.5 centimetres (5.7 in). The males have [hemipenes](/source/Hemipenes) that are short and spinose beyond the bifurcation.[7]

The [dorsal scales](/source/Dorsal_scales) are arranged in 21 longitudinal rows at midbody. There are 9–11 [upper labials](/source/Upper_labials), of which the first are separated from [nasal scales](/source/Nasal_scales) by a distinct suture. The [supraoculars](/source/Supraocular) are single, narrow, and sometimes divided by a transverse suture. There are 11–16 scales in a line between the supraoculars. The [ventrals](/source/Ventrals) number 150–174, and the [subcaudals](/source/Subcaudals) are 54–77. All of the subcaudals are paired.[7]

The color pattern is bright to dark green above, pale green to whitish below, the two separated by a bright bicolored orange or brown (below) and white (above) (males) or bicolored or white only (females) ventrolateral stripe, which occupies the whole of the outermost scale row and a portion of the second row.[7]

Bamboo vipers are carnivores: they eat small rodents, birds, frogs, and lizards.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Yellow colored mutants have been reported.[8]

## Common names

Common names for *T. stejnegeri* include bamboo viper, Chinese tree viper,[5] bamboo snake, Chinese green tree viper, Chinese bamboo viper, Stejneger's pit viper, Stejneger's palm viper, red tail snake,[4] Stejneger's bamboo pitviper,[9]

## Geographic range

*Trimeresurus stejnegeri* is found in [India](/source/India) ([Western Ghats](/source/Western_Ghats) & [Eastern Ghats](/source/Eastern_Ghats), [Northeast India](/source/Northeast_India)) and [Nepal](/source/Nepal) through [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar) and [Laos](/source/Laos) to much of southern [China](/source/China) ([Yunnan](/source/Yunnan), [Sichuan](/source/Sichuan), [Gansu](/source/Gansu), [Jiangxi](/source/Jiangxi), [Jiangsu](/source/Jiangsu), [Hunan](/source/Hunan), [Hubei](/source/Hubei), [Guizhou](/source/Guizhou), [Guangxi](/source/Guangxi), [Guangdong](/source/Guangdong), [Hainan](/source/Hainan), [Fujian](/source/Fujian), [Anhui](/source/Anhui), [Zhejiang](/source/Zhejiang)), [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam), and [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan).[1] The [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) was originally listed as "Shaowu, Fukien Province, China", and later amended to "N.W. Fukien Province" by [Pope](/source/Clifford_H._Pope) & [Pope](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarah_Haydock_Pope&action=edit&redlink=1) (1933) (Fukien being the former romanization of Fujian).[2] this snake is often confused with ***[Trimeresurus](/source/Trimeresurus),*** [Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha](/source/Ahaetulla_oxyrhyncha) in India.

## Habitat

The preferred natural [habitat](/source/Habitat) of *T. stejnegeri* is [forest](/source/Forest), at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).[1]

## Venom

*Trimeresurus stejnegeri* has a potent [hemotoxin](/source/Hemotoxin). The wound usually feels extremely painful, as if it had been branded with a hot iron, and the pain does not subside until about 24 hours after being bitten. Within a few minutes of being bitten, the surrounding flesh dies and turns black, highlighting the puncture wounds. The wound site quickly swells, and the skin and muscle become black due to [necrosis](/source/Necrosis). The size of the necrotic area depends on the amount of venom injected and the depth of the bite.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Reproduction

*T. stejnegeri* is [viviparous](/source/Viviparity).[3]

## Subspecies

Subspecies[3] Taxon author[3] Common name[9] Geographic range[9] T. s. chenbihuii Zhao, 1997 Chen's pit viper China, Hainan Island: on Mount Diaoluo at 225–290 m elevation (Lingshui County) and on Wuzhi Mountain at 500 m elevation (Qiongzhong County). T. s. stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 Stejneger's pit viper China (in eastern Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong and Guangxi), Taiwan, and Vietnam.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_19_November_2021_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_19_November_2021_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_19_November_2021_1-2) Jiang, J.; Zhou, Z.; Lau, M.W.N.; Guo, P. (2012). ["*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/192136/2045355). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2012** e.T192136A2045355. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192136A2045355.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192136A2045355.en). Retrieved 19 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McD99_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McD99_2-1) [McDiarmid RW](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Wallace_McDiarmid), [Campbell JA](/source/Jonathan_A._Campbell), [Touré T](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=T%27Shaka_Tour%C3%A9&action=edit&redlink=1) (1999). *Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1*. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-893777-00-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-893777-00-6) (series). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-893777-01-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-893777-01-4) (volume).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RDB_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RDB_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RDB_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-RDB_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-RDB_3-4) [*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Trimeresurus&species=stejnegeri) at the [Reptarium.cz Reptile Database](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/). Accessed 8 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-USN91_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-USN91_4-1) U.S. Navy (1991). *Poisonous Snakes of the World*. New York: US Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-486-26629-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-486-26629-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Meh87_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Meh87_5-1) [Mehrtens JM](/source/John_M._Mehrtens) (1987). *Living Snakes of the World in Color*. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8069-6460-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8069-6460-X).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). *The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles*. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4214-0135-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4214-0135-5). (*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*, pp. 252-253).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lev03_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lev03_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Lev03_7-2) [Leviton AE](/source/Alan_Edward_Leviton), [Wogan GOU](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guinevere_O._U._Wogan&action=edit&redlink=1), Koo MS, [Zug GR](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Robert_Zug), Lucas RS, [Vindum JV](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jens_V._Vindum&action=edit&redlink=1) (2003). "The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of Myanmar, Illustrated Checklist with Keys". *Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences* **54** (24): 407-462.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Everington, Keoni (13 February 2023). ["Rare mutant yellow Taiwan bamboo pit viper spotted on trail"](https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4808668). *taiwannews.com.tw*. Taiwan News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gum04_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gum04_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gum04_9-2) [Gumprecht A](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andreas_Gumprecht&action=edit&redlink=1), [Tillack F](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Tillack&action=edit&redlink=1), [Orlov NL](/source/Nikolai_Liutsianovich_Orlov), [Captain A](/source/Ashok_Captain), [Ryabov S](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sergei_A._Ryabov&action=edit&redlink=1) (2004). *Asian Pitvipers*. First Edition. Berlin: Geitje Books. Berlin. 368 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-937975-00-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-937975-00-4).

## Further reading

- Creer S, [Malhotra A](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anita_Malhotra&action=edit&redlink=1), [Thorpe RS](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roger_Stephen_Thorpe&action=edit&redlink=1), [Chou WH](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wen-Hao_Chou&action=edit&redlink=1) (2001). "Multiple causation of phylogeographical pattern as revealed by nested clade analysis of the bamboo viper (*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*) within Taiwan". *Molecular Ecology* **10** (8): 1967-1981.

- [Das I](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indraneil_Das) (2002). *A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India*. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-88359-056-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-88359-056-5). (*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*, p. 68).

- Malhotra A, Thorpe RS (2004). "Maximizing information in systematic revisions: a combined molecular and morphological analysis of a cryptic green Pit Viper complex (*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*)". *Biological Journal of the Linnean Society* **82** (2): 219.

- [Parkinson CL](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christopher_L._Parkinson&action=edit&redlink=1) (1999). "Molecular systematics and biogeographical history of Pit Vipers as determined by mitochondrial ribosomal DNA sequences". *Copeia* **1999** (3): 576–586.

- [Guo P](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peng_Guo_(herpetologist)&action=edit&redlink=1), [Zhang F](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fuji_Zhang&action=edit&redlink=1) (2001). "Comparative studies on hemipenes of four species of *Trimeresurus* (*sensu stricto*) (Serpentes: Crotalinae)". *Amphibia-Reptilia* **22** (1): 113-117.

- [Schmidt KP](/source/Karl_Patterson_Schmidt) (1925). "New Reptiles and a New Salamander from China". *American Museum Novitates* (157): 1-5. ("*Trimeresurus stejnegeri*, new species", p. 4).

- Tu M-C et al. (2000). "Phylogeny, Taxonomy, and Biogeography of the Oriental Pit Vipers of the Genus *Trimeresurus* (Reptilia: Viperidae: Crotalinae): A Molecular Perspective". *Zoological Science* **17**: 1147–1157.

v t e Snakes in the genus Trimeresurus Trimeresurus albolabris Trimeresurus ayerwadyensis Trimeresurus borneensis Trimeresurus brongersmai Trimeresurus cantori Trimeresurus erythrurus Trimeresurus fasciatus Trimeresurus flavomaculatus Trimeresurus gracilis Trimeresurus gramineus Trimeresurus hageni Trimeresurus kanburiensis Trimeresurus karanshahi Trimeresurus labialis Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus Trimeresurus salazar Trimeresurus stejnegeri Trimeresurus sumatranus Trimeresurus tibetanus Trimeresurus trigonocephalus

Taxon identifiers Trimeresurus stejnegeri Wikidata: Q2719425 Wikispecies: Trimeresurus stejnegeri CoL: 7D5PV EoL: 461491 GBIF: 2444513 iNaturalist: 30953 IRMNG: 10724439 ITIS: 634931 IUCN: 192136 NCBI: 39682 Observation.org: 104451 Open Tree of Life: 542174 RD: stejnegeri TaiCOL: t0047934

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