Came across this snake at about 9am on the grassy road shoulder at about 600m (near the roadside waterfall) up Gunung Raya on Langkawi Island. It seemed to be trying to get some sun to warm up as the clouds had moved in earlier.
I had been distracted by the many pieces of flourescent green grass cutter plastic which had been thrown away along the roadside (and at many other locations all around the island where grass cutting is done) and was about to take a few steps forward when the distinctive coils of a green snake jumped out from the grassy verge and I stopped immediately. It was the same colour of the grass around it. A quick look at the triangular head of the snake showed it to be that typical of a pit viper. It did not move much at all and did not seem at all bothered with the attention it got after I motioned for the rest of the group to walk over from their birding stop.
It was indeed surprising to see this viper on the grass verge away from any vegetation as one would normally expect pit vipers to seek refuge on shrubs.The mountain top had been covered in mist and the cool moist air must have caused the viper to seek warmth from the morning sun which occasionally peeked through the cloud mist.
Estimated length : between 40 to 50 cm.
read more about this snake here :
http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/siamese-peninsula-pit-viper.htm
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