About Tropidolaemus subannulatus (Gray, 1842)
The Borneo Keeled Green Pit Viper, scientifically named Tropidolaemus subannulatus (Gray, 1842), displays a range of body colors. Individuals are generally bright green, marked with many thin crossbands. In some local populations, the background body color ranges from light green to blue. The crossbands are variable, and can be a combination of blue, red, or white. Females may have blue or red dots on their underbelly, while juveniles and males only have red dots on their underbellies. Females are much larger than males: females can reach a maximum total length of 96 cm, while males grow to a maximum length of 46 cm. This is one of the most common viper species encountered in the lowland rainforests of Borneo. Its diet consists of birds, small mammals, and frogs. This species is ovoviviparous, meaning it gives birth to live young. It is an arboreal species, and possesses a prehensile tail. It can be found in vegetation at low levels up to heights of 20 meters above ground. Like many other arboreal snakes, this species has disrupted green coloration that gives it excellent camouflage among tree foliage, hiding it from both predators and prey.
