Tenasserim Green Pit Viper

the Tenasserim Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus tenasserimensis) is named after the historic Tenasserim/Tanintharyi region of southern Myanmar and western Thailand, where it naturally occurs.

Like many green pit vipers, it spends much of its life coiled in shrubs and low trees, waiting motionless for prey to pass.

Typical prey:

• frogs

• lizards

• small mammals

• birds

But this one is just resting after a HUUUUGE meal

Between the eye and nostril are special heat-sensitive pits that detect infrared radiation from warm-blooded prey—even in darkness.

They become much more active after dark and are often found hunting along forest trails at night.

This makes them popular among night-time reptile photographers and herpers in Thailand.

Where they occur

Mainly:

• southern Myanmar

• western Thailand - which is where i found and shot this one

• parts of the Thai-Malay peninsula

Often in:

• humid forest

• limestone forest

• streamside vegetation