Cardamom Mountains Green Pitviper
Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) cardamomensis
Abstract
We describe two new species of green pitviper from Southeast Asia that are morphologically similar to Cryptelytrops macrops, but can be distinguished from that species by genetic means, multivariate analysis of morphology and some aspects of coloration. Cryptelytrops cardamomensis sp. nov., is described from southeastern Thailand and the Cardamom Mountains of southwestern Cambodia. Cryptelytrops rubeus sp. nov. has been recorded from southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia. These species have previously been confused with C. macrops, hence we also present here a redescription of this species, whose range is now restricted to Thailand, southern and central Laos, and northeastern Cambodia. All three species are present in Cambodia, but have disjunct ranges corresponding to three separate highland regions in southwestern (Cardamom Mountains), northeastern (western edge of the Kontum Plateau) and eastern (low elevation hills on the western edge of the Langbian Plateau) Cambodia for C. cardamomensis, C. macrops and C. rubeus respectively. However, there is still considerable morphological variation between geographically separated populations of C. macrops s.s., and greater sampling in southern and northern Thailand in particular may be required before the species diversity of this group is fully clarified.
Key words: Cryptelytrops cardamomensis sp. nov., Cryptelytrops macrops, Cryptelytrops rubeus sp. nov., green pitviper, multivariate morphometric analysis, Trimeresurus
Cardamom Mountains Green Pitviper
Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) cardamomensis sp. nov.
Distribution. Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) Cryptelytrops cardamomensis is currently known from Koh Kong Province in southwestern Cambodia and Chantaburi Province in southeastern Thailand. (Fig. 1). The species probably occurs in appropriate habitat throughout the Cardamom Mountains in southwestern Cambodia and adjacent southeastern Thailand, and offshore islands (e.g., Koh Chang).
Ecology. Trimeresurus (Trimeresurus) Cryptelytrops cardamomensis is currently known from low-lying coastal areas up to 800 m elevation in semi-evergreen, evergreen, and mangrove/melaleuca swamp forest. All specimens were found within a couple of metres above the ground, and most within 10 m of water. No food items were found in the digestive tracts of the types.
Etymology. The name refers to the mountain range wherein the type locality of this species occurs.
Big-eyed Green Pitviper
Cryptelytrops macrops sensu stricto (Kramer 1977)
Distribution. Kramer (1977) reported the species from Thailand (Bangkok) and Vietnam, and it was presumed to occur in the intervening area. However, it is apparent that the species has a wider distribution (Fig. 1). Viravan et al. (1992) reported it from western, northern and northeastern Thailand, and although the present study has not been able to confirm its presence in western Thailand (unfortunately, the majority of specimens resulting from Viravan et al.’s study, now deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, have since lost their labels carrying the locality information), it is very likely to be present there. One adult female at the QSMI was said to have been obtained from southern Thailand via a dealer based in Thung Song. Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that it was highly similar to C. macrops s.s. from the Bangkok region (Genbank accession numbers AF517184, AF517219, AF517163, and AF517176). Nevertheless, the occurrence of this species in southern Thailand must remain speculative at present until it can be confirmed by the collection of additional specimens in the field. Orlov et al. (2002a) also illustrate a specimen (Fig. 20: Pg 191) of C. macrops said to be from southern Thailand. However, this specimen seems to be a misidentified male C. albolabris. The species is also present in southern (Teynié et al. 2004) and central Laos (see also “Material examined”, this paper).
Malhotra, A., R. S. Thorpe, Mrinalini and B. L. Stuart. 2011. Two new species of pitviper of the genus Cryptelytrops Cope 1860 (Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from Southeast Asia. Zootaxa. 2757: 1–23. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt02757p023.pdf
