Trimeresurus venustus

This species was considered a synonym of Trimeresurus kanburiensis until around the turn of the century.^[2] It was described by Gernot Vögel in 1991.^[3] It is in the subgenus Trimeresurus.^[4]

Derived from Latin, the name venustus means beautiful, and refers to the striking, intricate color scheme.^[1]

This species has a slender body and is approximately 580 mm (23 in) in length.^[5] They have a triangular-shaped head, like all pit vipers.^[6] Their labials are green with brown patches and a dark postorbital stripe is present.^[5]

Their distinctive coloration ranges from vibrant green to olive green with brown or reddish-orange bands along the length of the body.^[7] In males, the dorsal area is an olive or bluish-green color, while females have a grass-green dorsal area.^[5] Their short snout is slightly flattened with a small ridge, and they have heat-sensing pits in-between their nostrils.^[8] Their irises are a light orange with brown specks.^[5] The dorsal scales are strongly keeled and have a count of 21 – 21 – 15.^[9]

T. venustus is native to southern Thailand and is also found in northern peninsular Malaysia.^[1][5] Being mainly arboreal,^[7] they can be found up to 700 m (2,300 ft) in elevation inhabiting limestone hills, shaded, humid valleys, rubber tree plantations, and both primary and secondary rainforests.^[5][6]