Malabar Pit Viper | Yellow Morph

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Came across this striking yellow morph of Trimeresurus malabaricus on the road to Mulayyangiri peak (Baba Budan hill ranges, Chikkamagalur district, Karnataka). With the incredibly thick mist blanketing these hills (making it a nightmare to drive), it was very fortunate indeed that this snake was sighted as it crossed in front of our vehicle. Malabar pit vipers are commonly sighted crossing roads at night, and being slow snakes, many of them perish when doing so.
This photograph probably does not reproduce the colours accurately. Compared to a yellowish brown morph I had seen in Agumbe, this one was a much brighter yellow, with contrasting black markings on the back when seen from above.

Canon 500D, Canon 100mm Macro USM
SS 1/200
Av 16
ISO 400
Cropped
This was made as a record shot, the priority was to get the snake quickly to the other side, after which it went off into the bushes.

Thanks, C&C welcome.

[Roopak Gangadharan]

nice.
TFS
Roopak

[Mrudul Godbole]

Good eye contact. The colours have come out well. Did the driver notice it? Its good you could sight it and help it to get across safely. In our haste to reach fast, we are killing so many species :(. Thanks for sharing the details.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Wish you had sighted it in daylight so that the colours would have come out as you describe. Most of the herpetofauna perish while crossing wide roads in the night. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi