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insularis blue

Short answer: The white-lipped island pit viper, Trimeresurus insularis, is a venomous, tree-dwelling pit viper from the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. It is found on more than a dozen islands, from Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa to Flores, Komodo, Sumba, Timor and Wetar, and in eastern Java.

It was first described in 1977 as a subspecies of the white-lipped pit viper, T. albolabris, and was raised to a full species in 2001. Most are green. A striking blue form occurs on Komodo and nearby Padar. Field reports describe yellow animals on Flores, and all forms share a red tail tip. The blue snakes are a color morph of the same species, not a separate subspecies. One field account says they lack yellow pigment, which leaves the scales blue. Like all pit vipers, it has a heat-sensing pit on each side of the head, between the eye and the nostril, that helps it find warm-blooded prey in the dark. The IUCN calls it a generalist that is probably the most often seen snake on the islands where it lives. It is also regularly involved in snakebites on Bali. Its color forms are popular in the pet trade and are bred in captivity.

VideoWrite-up5 sources
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What should you know about insularis blue?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Blue T. insularis are a color morph, not a subspecies.

    DD-628-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (One species, many colors)

  2. The blue morph is reported from Komodo and Padar.

    DD-628-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Where blue lives)

Video transcript: insularis blue: A Pit Viper in Turquoise

DID YOU KNOW? Blue insularis pit vipers, a striking subspecies of the white-lipped island pit viper, are known for their vivid turquoise or blue coloration and are native to a few isolated Indonesian islands like Komodo and Flores. These venomous snakes rely on heat-sensing pits near their nostrils to detect warm-blooded prey in low light conditions. striking with precision to inject hematotoxic venom that immobilizes and digests their target. They typically dwell in trees or shrubs and are ambush predators, blending beautifully with their surroundings. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 30.0s Reel ·

Video coming sooninsularis blue · Instagram Reel
insularis blue: A Pit Viper in Turquoise Instagram Reel · · 30.0s

The write-up

A pit viper in turquoise. The blue form of the white-lipped island pit viper is a color morph.

  1. Exhibit A

    One species, many colors

    Blue, green and yellow animals all belong to Trimeresurus insularis. Blue is a color morph, not a subspecies.

  2. Exhibit B

    Where blue lives

    The blue morph is reported from Komodo and Padar, while Bali animals are green.

  3. Exhibit C

    A wide range

    The species lives on more than a dozen Lesser Sunda islands and in eastern Java.

  4. Exhibit D

    Heat pits

    Pit vipers have a heat-sensing pit between the eye and the nostril on each side of the head.

  5. Exhibit E

    Common, not rare

    The IUCN calls it probably the most often seen snake on its islands, and it is bred in captivity for its colors.

Questions people ask about insularis blue

What are blue insularis pit vipers?

They're a color morph of Trimeresurus insularis.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (One species, many colors) · The Reptile Database: Trimeresurus insularis; Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes

Where is the blue morph reported?

Komodo and nearby Padar.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Where blue lives) · Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes; Wild Herping (Sep 3, 2025): Herping Komodo, wildlife in Komodo National Park

What color are T. insularis on Bali?

Bali animals are green.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Where blue lives) · Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes; Wild Herping (Sep 3, 2025): Herping Komodo, wildlife in Komodo National Park

Where are the heat-sensing pits?

One on each side of the head.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Heat pits) · IUCN Red List: Trimeresurus insularis, White-lipped Island Pitviper (2021); The Reptile Database: Trimeresurus insularis

In what year was T. insularis raised to a full species?

It was described as a subspecies in 1977 and raised in 2001.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (One species, many colors) · The Reptile Database: Trimeresurus insularis; Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What are blue insularis pit vipers?

    1. A color morph
    2. A separate subspecies
    3. A hybrid
    4. A different genus
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A color morph They're a color morph of Trimeresurus insularis. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (One species, many colors) · The Reptile Database: Trimeresurus insularis; Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes

  2. Where is the blue morph reported?

    1. Komodo and Padar
    2. Borneo
    3. Sri Lanka
    4. New Guinea
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Komodo and Padar Komodo and nearby Padar. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Where blue lives) · Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes; Wild Herping (Sep 3, 2025): Herping Komodo, wildlife in Komodo National Park

  3. What color are T. insularis on Bali?

    1. Green
    2. Blue
    3. Black
    4. White
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Green Bali animals are green. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Where blue lives) · Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes; Wild Herping (Sep 3, 2025): Herping Komodo, wildlife in Komodo National Park

  4. Where are the heat-sensing pits?

    1. Between the eye and nostril
    2. On the tail
    3. Under the chin
    4. On top of the head
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Between the eye and nostril One on each side of the head. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Heat pits) · IUCN Red List: Trimeresurus insularis, White-lipped Island Pitviper (2021); The Reptile Database: Trimeresurus insularis

  5. In what year was T. insularis raised to a full species?

    1. 2001
    2. 1977
    3. 1804
    4. 2020
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 2001 It was described as a subspecies in 1977 and raised in 2001. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (One species, many colors) · The Reptile Database: Trimeresurus insularis; Jurnal Sain Veteriner: Blood cell morphology of Trimeresurus insularis, green from Bali and blue from Komodo; Alephrocco (May 2, 2018): White-lipped island pit viper field notes

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "insularis blue." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-628, last updated Jul 31, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/insularis-blue/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/insularis-blue/ · Last updated

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