Head to head
Malayan Pit Viper vs White-lipped Pit Viper
Malayan Pit Viper
VS White-lipped Pit Viper
The Malayan pit viper and white-lipped pit viper are two venomous Southeast Asian pit vipers that ambush prey, one from the forest floor and the other from branches.
| Malayan Pit Viper | White-lipped Pit Viper | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Calloselasma rhodostoma | Trimeresurus albolabris |
| Colour | A tan to pinkish body with a row of dark triangles along each side | Bright green all over, with a pale whitish-yellow stripe along the lips and sides |
| Lifestyle | Lies coiled among leaf litter on the forest floor and in plantations | Lives in trees and shrubs, gripping branches with a prehensile tail |
| Hunting | Ambushes frogs, lizards, small mammals, and birds, and follows them by scent after striking | Ambushes frogs, lizards, birds, and small mammals from a perch or the ground |
| Reproduction | Lays eggs, which the female guards until they hatch | Gives birth to live young |
| Venom | Disrupts blood clotting and damages tissue, and a component was developed into the drug ancrod | Causes pain, swelling, and bleeding problems, and needs medical attention |
| Range | Forest, plantations, and farmland across mainland Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam | Forest, scrub, and gardens across northeastern India, Southeast Asia, and southern China |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern, widespread and common |
Malayan Pit Viper vs White-lipped Pit Viper: common questions
Which viper lays eggs?
The Malayan pit viper, which lays eggs and guards them, while the white-lipped pit viper gives birth to live young.
What is ancrod?
A drug developed from a component of the Malayan pit viper's venom that stops blood from clotting, tested as a treatment for strokes.
Which one lives in trees?
The white-lipped pit viper, which is bright green, lives in trees and shrubs, and grips branches with a prehensile tail.