Trimeresurus albolabris - Viet Snake Rescuer

Trimeresurus albolabris

Poisonous
Do not touch.
Snake repellent is ineffective.

This is a common viper species, the largest in size among the viper family ( Viperidae ), genus Trimeresurus in Vietnam.

Size: This species can reach a size of 104 cm, with females typically larger than males. The average length is usually 65–75 cm for females and 50–60 cm for males.
Color: The body is green (grass green, bright green, or lime green), lighter on the underside of the hips. Males have white or cream stripes on the sides of the belly. The tail is green like the body but has prominent reddish-brown or rusty-red stripes on the upper side.
Head: The head is triangular, flattened, and distinctly separate from the neck. Eyes are orange-yellow, golden yellow, or bronze-yellow, with no red coloration; the pupils are vertically elliptical .
Body: The body is sturdy but relatively elongated in juveniles and adult males, and quite plump in older females.

Diet: Primarily frogs and small mammals such as rodents, but also eats lizards and birds.
Habitat: Active at dusk and night. Primarily arboreal, often found in tall grasses, thickets, bushes, and low canopies, or may descend to the ground to forage at night, especially during heavy rain.
Reproduction: Live birth ( ovoviviparous ), with a possible number of offspring ranging from 5 to 25.

Reassure the victim

Keep the victim still and limit movement to slow the spread of the venom. Do not allow the victim to walk around.

Immobilize the wound

Clean the bite wound with soap and water. Apply a light compression bandage (not a tourniquet) above the bite, keeping the bitten area lower than the heart.

Go to a medical facility

Transport the victim to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. If possible, take a picture of the snake so the doctor can identify the appropriate antivenom.

It has cytotoxic and hemotoxic properties , affecting blood clotting. Symptoms include severe local pain, widespread swelling , edema, necrosis (rare), and systemic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and internal bleeding. It can be fatal.