noun
Okinawan habu; Trimeresurus flavoviridis
A venomous pit viper native to the Ryukyu Islands, especially Okinawa. The name distinguishes it from other habu species.
See also: ハブ
沖縄ではホンハブに咬まれないように注意が必要だ。
In Okinawa, you need to be careful not to get bitten by an Okinawan habu.
ホンハブはハブ属の代表的な種です。
The Okinawan habu is a representative species of the genus Trimeresurus.
ハブ is a broader term for habu snakes, while ホンハブ specifically refers to Trimeresurus flavoviridis, the most well-known species in Okinawa.
The name combines 本 (hon, 'main' or 'true') with ハブ (habu), the Okinawan name for pit vipers, to distinguish this species from other habu. The exact origin of 'habu' is uncertain, but it is a local Ryukyuan word.