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Viperidae

Philippine Pit Viper

Venomous

Trimeresurus mcgregori

Philippine Pit Viper
Trimeresurus mcgregori, (c) bollocks2u, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Philippine Pit ViperPhilippine Pit Viper

3 photographs of the Philippine Pit Viper. (c) bollocks2u, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Philippine Pit Viper (Trimeresurus mcgregori) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 2 countries.

If you are bitten

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Family
Viperidae
Danger
high

About the Philippine Pit Viper

Trimeresurus mcgregori, commonly known as McGregor's pit viper or the Batanes pit viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines.

Etymology

The specific name, mcgregori, is in honor of Australian-American ornithologist Richard Crittenden McGregor (1871–1936), who collected the type specimen, and survived its bite.

Description

The scalation of Trimeresurus mcgregori includes 21 (23) rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 170-172/173-178 (or 169-172/168-178) ventral scales in males/females, 62-66/58-60 (or 63-69/56-62) subcaudal scales in males/females, and 10–11 supralabial scales.

Geographic range

Trimeresurus mcgregori is found in the Philippines on the Batanes Islands. The type locality given is "Batan Island, Batanes Group, (lying between Luzon and Formosa)" (Philippine Islands).

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Trimeresurus mcgregori are forest and shrubland, at altitudes from sea level to 800 m (2,600 ft), but it has also been found in agricultural areas.

Taxonomy

Trimeresurus mcgregori was originally described as a new species by E.H. Taylor in 1919. It was considered to be a subspecies of T. flavomaculatus by Alan E. Leviton (1961). It was re-elevated to a full species by Andreas Gumprecht (2001, 2002).

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Philippine Pit Viper

Is the Philippine Pit Viper venomous?
Yes. The Philippine Pit Viper (Trimeresurus mcgregori) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
Is the Philippine Pit Viper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Philippine Pit Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Philippine Pit Viper dangerous?
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
Where does the Philippine Pit Viper live?
The Philippine Pit Viper has verified records in 2 countries, including Philippines, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Philippine Pit Viper?
The specific name, mcgregori, is in honor of Australian-American ornithologist Richard Crittenden McGregor (1871–1936), who collected the type specimen, and survived its bite.

If you are bitten by the Philippine Pit Viper

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do

  • Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
  • Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
  • Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
  • Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
  • Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
  • Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

Do not

  • Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
  • Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
  • Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
  • Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
  • Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Where it is found

PhilippinesUnited States of America

More Viperidae snakes

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
Viperidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
Trimeresurus
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Trimeresurus mcgregori

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.