Fauna
Reptile

White-lipped Pit Viper

Trimeresurus albolabris

Also known as White-lipped Tree Viper, White-lipped Green Pit Viper

White-lipped pit vipers spend daylight coiled motionless among low foliage, relying on bright green scales and a prehensile tail to anchor firmly onto branches. At night, heat-sensing loreal pits allow them to detect warm-blooded prey passing beneath their perch in total darkness. When alarmed, they vibrate their tails against foliage and strike rapidly from an S-shaped coil.

VenomousArborealNocturnal
White-lipped Pit Viper reference1 / 7
(c) Zinogre, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Zinogre · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyTree Frog, House Mouse, Garden Lizard
Predators
  • King Cobra
  • Crested Serpent Eagle
  • Monitor Lizard
ThreatsHabitat loss from agricultural expansion and collection for the exotic pet trade
HabitatsLowland rainforests, bamboo thickets, secondary forests, and agricultural plantations
Life span10–15 years
Classification
  1. FamilyViperidae
  2. SpeciesTrimeresurus albolabris
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Possesses medically significant hemotoxic venom; maintain a distance of at least two meters and never handle.
Why it is dangerous
Venom contains potent procoagulants and hemorrhagins that destroy tissue, prevent blood clotting, and cause severe systemic bleeding.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Bright lime green body with a distinct white or pale yellow stripe along the upper lip and a reddish-brown tail tip.
What to do
Do not attempt to touch, capture, or prod; step back slowly if encountered on a low branch or path.
Responsible observation
  • Night Spotting: Look among low shrubs and bamboo stands after dusk using a flashlight held near eye level.
  • Safe Distance: Keep at least two body lengths away from perched individuals to stay well out of striking range.
  • Branch Caution: Avoid grasping foliage or shaking low-hanging branches when trekking through dense undergrowth.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…