Images - North Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Tropidolaemus laticinctus - North Sulawesi Update November 2020

An enigmatic species of Tropidolaemus. An image contributed by Helmut Sommerauer. Reportedly photographed by a local guide in Tangkoko Nature Reserve of North Sulawesi.This red-banded form was recently re-described as Tropidolaemus laticinctus by Kuch et al. 2007, in ZOOTAXA 1446: 1-20.

A black-green form of, I guess. T. laticinctus. I am also quite sure that this is a female. This image contradicts the species description, which claims absence of sexual dimorphism.

Full view of the animal above.

The red-banded form of T. laticinctus, photographed by Kriss Kaspersen in the same location like the specimen above.

Close-up of the head of the same viper as shown above. I would address this specimen as a male (head dimensions, relatively large eye), but without knowing the exact size this remains guesswork.

Whole view of the same animal as above.

Wagler’s Viper Site - North Sulawesi 2

A red-banded form of Wagler's Viper from North Sulawesi has been recently re-discribed as Tropidolaemus laticinctus (see reference above). This form obviously occurs in the same habitats like the green Tropidolaemus subannulatus shown above. Two Tropidolaemus species with overlapping distributions: that is interesting! What are the evolutionary forces that made this happen? So far we don't know the answer. To date, T. laticinctus was regarded to be a red-banded species. The 2007 paper decribes females and males with similar color, banding pattern, and size (actually, only the length of the holotype is given), providing no discussion why that is so in a genus that is known to show an extreme form of sexual dimorphism. Furthermore, no evidence is provided what identifies males and females, i.e. no hemipenis or other sexual organs are presented with regard to the type specimens (such a sloppyness plagues also other species descriptions). The lack of dimorphism is used by the authors as a major feature to distinguish T. laticinctus from T. subannulatus. So, I was wondering what a strange species of Tropidolaemus that is, until I saw the images of Kriss Kaspersen, who was lucky enough to photograph a blackish-green form of T. laticinctus (see below) in its natural habitat and so kind to let me show it here. Thanks a lot, Kriss. I assume that this is the female of T. laticinctus, whereas adults of the red form are males. Look at the proportions of the head and position of the eye to tell the difference between male and female...very similar to other Tropidolaemus species! If one blends out colors, banding patterns are quite similar. I hope we can see further images of this stunning viper in the future. Stay tuned.

Tropidolaemus laticinctus photographed in North Minahasa, about 420m above sea level.

A specimen in Tangkoko-Dua-Saudara-Batu-Angus Nature Reserve; is this a male or female? Difficult to tell without knowing the exact size, but may be a sub-adult female.

A specimen from North Tomohon (680 m above sea level) in a tree about 4 m above ground.

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Tropidolaemus laticinctus (as of April 2012)

An enigmatic new species of Tropidolaemus. An image contributed by Helmut Sommerauer. Reportedly photographed in Tangkoko Nature Reserve of North Sulawesi.This red-banded form was recently re-described as Tropidolaemus laticinctus by Kuch et al. 2007, in ZOOTAXA 1446: 1-20.

A black-green form of, I guess. T. laticinctus. I am also quite sure that this is a female. This image contradicts the species description, which claims absence of sexual dimorphism.

Full view of the animal above.

The red-banded form of T. laticinctus, photographed by Kriss Kaspersen in the same location like the specimen above.

Close-up of head of the same viper as shown above. Based on the (relatively large) size of the eye relative to the head, I assume this could be a male (if it is adult).

Whole view of the same animal as above.

Wagler’s Viper Site - North Sulawesi 2

A red-banded form of Wagler's Viper from North Sulawesi has been recently re- discribed as Tropidolaemus laticinctus (see reference above). This form obviously occurs in the same habitats like the green Tropidolaemus subannulatus shown above. Two Tropidolaemus species with overlapping distributions: that is interesting! What are the evolutionary forces that made this happen? So far we don't know the answer. To date, T. laticinctus was regarded to be a red-banded species. The 2007 paper decribes females and males with similar color, banding pattern, and size (actually, only the length of the holotype is given), providing no discussion why that is so in a genus that is known to show an extreme form of sexual dimorphism. Furthermore, no evidence is provided what identifies males and females, i.e. no hemipenis or other sexual organs are presented with regard to the type specimens (such a sloppyness plagues also other species descriptions). The lack of dimorphism is used by the authors as a major feature to distinguish T. laticinctus from T. subannulatus. So, I was wondering what a strange species of Tropidolaemus that is, until I saw the images of Kriss Kaspersen, who was lucky enough to photograph a blackish- green form of T. laticinctus (see below) in its natural habitat and so kind to let me show it here. Thanks a lot, Kriss. I assume that this is the female of T. laticinctus, whereas adults of the red form are males. Look at the proportions of the head and position of the eye to tell the difference between male and female...very similar to other Tropidolaemus species! If one blends out colors, banding patterns are quite similar. I hope we can see further images of this stunning viper in the future. Stay tuned.

Tropidolaemus laticinctus photographed in North Minahasa, about 420m above sea level.

A specimen in Tangkoko-Dua-Saudara-Batu-Angus Nature Reserve; is this a male or female? Difficult to tell without knowing the exact size, but may be a sub-adult female.

A specimen from North Tomohon (680 m above sea level) in a tree about 4 m above ground.