Tropidolaemus huttoni

Tropidolaemus huttoni
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Tropidolaemus
Species:
T. huttoni
Binomial name
Tropidolaemus huttoni
(M.A. Smith, 1949)
Synonyms
  • Trimeresurus huttoni
    M.A. Smith, 1949
  • Tropidolaemus huttoni
    David & Vogel, 1998
Common names: Hutton's pit viper. Hutton's tree viper,

Tropidolaemus huttoni is a little-known species of pit viper, a venomous snake in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India. There are no subspecies that are currently recognized. Little is known about this species, as this species is known only from two young individuals, based on which it was first described in 1949. Despite long-term and targeted herpetological surveys in the particular hill range (Meghamalai), it has never been re-sighted there or elsewhere since then.

A possible third specimen from the northern Western Ghats is considered to be of doubtful identity at best, as it shares several features typical of T. wagleri complex as well; and its provenance is also currently unresolved.