white lipped tree viper
white lipped tree viper Lexical Profile
• noun
A venomous species of pit viper native to Southeast Asia, characterized by its bright green body, yellowish-green belly, and a distinctive white stripe running along its upper lips and jawline.
"During the night trek through the Thai rainforest, our guide pointed out a white lipped tree viper coiled silently on a low-hanging branch."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently hyphenated as 'white-lipped tree viper' in scientific literature. It is often confused with other similar green pit vipers in its range, but it is distinguished by the prominent pale stripe on the males' faces.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive common name noting its distinctive white facial markings, its arboreal habitat, and its classification in the family Viperidae. Its scientific binomial is Trimeresurus albolabris.