Where is the 'blue viper' native to?

Found across the lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, this venomous, island-dwelling snake is an aggressive predator, and its tendency towards fight over flight has made it an intimidating presence in the streets of Bali, where it’s one of the most common causes of venomous bites.

Called the white-lipped island pit viper ('Trimeresurus insularis'), it’s related to the white-lipped pit viper ('T. albolabris'), endemic to Southeast Asia.

As a species, they usually keep to the bushlands and bamboo forests of Southeast Asia, but are known for creeping into populated areas in search of food like mice and lizards. And while their venom rarely kills, it’s incredibly unpleasant to get a bite from a white-lipped island pit viper – they have a ‘hemorrhagic’ venom, which can cause pain, swelling, necrosis of the flesh, and severe bleeding, both internally and externally.