Kikuchi Habu

Trimeresurus gracilis is a small snake with a total length up to 60 cm (24 in). Scalation includes 19 (or 21) rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 144–149 ventral scales, 43–53 subcaudal scales, and 7–8 supralabial scales. This species has an obvious angular ridge running from the upper orbit to the tip of the nose, and a distinct pit between the eye and the nostril. The Eye is internediate in size and is place high on the head,creating a small bulge. The iris is pale brown to tan speckled with darker coloured spots and this merges with the color of the head, and there can be a indistinct longitudinal brown to brownish-black band across the centre of the eye, which lines up with a dark brown band to the rear of the eye. The pupil is vertically elliptical, black, with an indistinct thin white edgen. The tongue is dark gray to black, with the stem being paler than the fork tips. It has large mobile fangs that areprotected within a sheath in the front of the upper jaw. The dorsal part of the head is brown to dark brown, with darker brown patterns of varying shades, a dark band edged with whitish or paler brown stripes runs from the eye to the corner of mouth. The sides of head are whitish to tan, or white and with black blotches. …

Trimeresurus gracilis is endemic to Taiwan where it is found in the understorey of forests, or in umbrella bamboos, grasslands, close to streams, or in the vicinity of paths in middle and high altitude mountains at altitudes greater than 2,000 m (6,600 ft).