Mangrove Pit Viper
Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus
A slender green pit viper specialized for life along mangrove coastlines and tidal forests across South and Southeast Asia.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.6-1 m (2-3.3 ft)
- Range
- Coastal Southeast and South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia
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Overview
The Mangrove Pit Viper is closely tied to coastal ecosystems, favoring mangrove swamps and tidal creeks where few other pit vipers venture. Its distribution spans a broad coastal arc from eastern India through the Malay Archipelago.
Its arboreal habits and cryptic coloration make it well camouflaged among mangrove roots and foliage, where it hunts small vertebrates.
How to identify it
- Green to olive-brown body, sometimes with purplish or reddish-brown blotching (reflected in its scientific name)
- Slender build with a prehensile tail suited to climbing
- Triangular head distinct from a narrow neck, with vertical pupils
- Heat-sensing pits between eye and nostril
- Keeled scales giving a slightly rough appearance
- Differentiated from other green pit vipers by its coastal/mangrove range and blotched pattern rather than uniform green
Habitat & range
Found in mangrove forests, tidal swamps, coastal scrub, and adjacent lowland vegetation. Ranges along shorelines and estuaries of the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and parts of the Malay Peninsula and western Indonesia, rarely straying far inland from brackish habitats.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal and arboreal, coiling on low branches and mangrove roots to ambush prey. Feeds on small mammals, birds, frogs, and lizards. Reproduction is viviparous, with females giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mangrove Pit Viper dangerous?
Yes, it is venomous, though bites are relatively uncommon given its restricted coastal habitat.
Where does the Mangrove Pit Viper live?
It inhabits mangrove forests and coastal areas from India through Southeast Asia.
Does the Mangrove Pit Viper lay eggs?
No, it is viviparous and gives birth to live young.
What does the Mangrove Pit Viper eat?
Small mammals, birds, frogs, and lizards.
Mangrove Pit Viper guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Mangrove Pit Viper.
