Tree Vipers in GURPS

Bothriechis sp., Bothriopsis sp., Trimeresurus sp., Tropidolaemus wagleri

There are several genera of pit vipers from southeast Asia, Central America, and South America which have adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. They are long, slender animals that spend most of their time in trees, gripping their perch with their prehensile tails. Unlike most other vipers, tree vipers often hang on to their prey once they bite it to keep from losing it after striking from high in a tree. There are a great many species, Trimeresurus has over thirty. Most have fairly weak venom, delivering painful but not particularly dangerous bites. Exceptions exist, however, such as the Habu of Japan. The venom has often been only poorly researched, so descriptions below are based on anecdote and speculation. Because of their vibrant colors, weak venoms, and small size, tree vipers are popular captives in zoological gardens and private collections.

Several varieties of tree viper are described below. The default listing for the tree viper is a medium sized Habu.

Species Typical venom Size Range Habitat Notes
Potency Type Typical Maximum
Palm viper, Bothriechis sp. feeble to medium hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
50 g 200 g Central America Wet forests and jungle, or vegetation near watercourses. Color and pattern highly variable, from green, yellow, brown, orange, or purple; solid, blotched, or striped. The eyelash viper Bothriechis schlegelii is famous for hosting all these color and pattern variations within a single species, and in fact within the same general population. Eyelash vipers (typical venom: feeble) are one of the more common captive veomous species, and can be housed in groups.
Forest viper, Bothriopsis sp. feeble to medium hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
50 g 200 g Amazon Rainforest and eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. Forest Green, yellow, grey, or brown with bands, or blotches.
Temple viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri mild hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
50 g 200 g Southeast Asia Lowland forests and swamps; in shrubs, bushes, and small trees. Color ranges from nearly all emerald green with narrow adjoining white and black or red bands or spots to green-speckled black with yellow bands and belly to black with pale yellow bands and belly.
Large bamboo viper species, Trimeresurus sp. weak hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
100 g 300 g India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, China, Malaysia, Indonesian islands. Tropical forest, bamboo thickets, vine tangles, dense foliage, orchards, plantations, gardens. Usually near water. Emerald green with yellow belly, white and/or red line separating the the green from the yellow. Golden yellow or red eyes. May have brown, black, orange, yellow, or red stripes or spots.
Medium bamboo viper species, Trimeresurus sp. weak hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
50 g 200 g
Small bamboo viper species, Trimeresurus sp. weak hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
30 g 50 g
Habu, T. flavoviridis strong hemo 10
necro 10
algesic 10
300 g 1.5 kg Japan Edge of palm forest and fields; rock walls, caves, tombs. Tan or brown with darker brown reticulations. Often enters homes in search of rodents. Irritable.

Back to Vipers