Vogel's Pit Viper
Trimeresurus vogeli
A green pit viper of Indochinese forests, named in honor of German herpetologist Gernot Vogel.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.6-0.9 m (2-3 ft)
- Range
- Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam
Found a snake like this?
Identify any snake from a photo, free.
Overview
Vogel's Pit Viper is a green pit viper species distributed across parts of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, part of a diverse radiation of Trimeresurus species in Indochina. It was formally described and separated from similar-looking green pit vipers based on scale and hemipenial characteristics.
It occupies lowland and hill forest habitats typical of many regional Trimeresurus species.
How to identify it
- Uniform bright green body, sometimes with a faint pale lateral stripe in males
- Reddish or orange eye coloration with vertical pupils
- Triangular head with heat-sensing pits
- Slender body with a prehensile tail
- Keeled scales along the dorsum
- Closely resembles other regional green pit vipers; reliably distinguished mainly through scale counts and genetic/morphological study
Habitat & range
Found in lowland and hill evergreen forests across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, often near streams and dense understory vegetation at low to moderate elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal and arboreal, resting coiled on low branches or shrubs by day. Feeds on frogs, lizards, and small mammals. Reproduction is viviparous, producing live young.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vogel's Pit Viper venomous?
Yes, it is venomous.
Where is Vogel's Pit Viper found?
In forests of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Who is Vogel's Pit Viper named after?
German herpetologist Gernot Vogel.
How can Vogel's Pit Viper be distinguished from similar species?
Mainly through scale counts and morphological or genetic study, as it closely resembles other regional green pit vipers.
Vogel's Pit Viper guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Vogel's Pit Viper.
