Bothriechis bicolor

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Bothriechis bicolor
Bothriechis bicolor.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bothriechis
Species:
B. bicolor
Binomial name
Bothriechis bicolor
(Bocourt, 1868)
Bothriechis bicolor distribution.png
Synonyms [2]
  • Bothrops bicolorBocourt, 1868
  • Bothrops (Bothriechis) BernoulliiMüller, 1877
  • Bothriechis BernoulliiMüller, 1878
  • Bothriechis bernoulliiCope, 1887
  • Bothriechis bicolorGünther, 1895
  • Lachesis bicolorBoulenger, 1896
  • [Bothrops] (Bothriechis) bernoulliiBoulenger, 1896
  • Trimeresurus bicolorMocquard, 1909
  • Bothriechis ornatusJuliá & Verela, 1978
  • Bothrops ornatusAlvarez del Toro, 1982
  • Bothriechis bicolorCampbell & Lamar, 1989
Common names: Guatemalan palm-pit viper, [3] Guatemalan tree viper. [4]

Bothriechis bicolor is a pit viper species found in southern Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. [1] The specific name refers to the contrasting ventral and dorsal colors. [3] No subspecies are currently recognized. [5]

Contents

Description

Adults are usually 60–70 centimetres (24–28 in) in length, but may reach 100 centimetres (39 in), and the body is relatively slender. [3]

The color pattern consists of a green or bluish green ground color. Usually this is without any pattern, but sometimes specimens from Mexico have black flecks and dots and/or blue blotches. The dorsum of the head is a uniform green without any postocular stripe. The interstitial skin is often blue, which can also be true for the borders of some scales. The belly has a somewhat lighter color, usually a uniform yellowish-green. [3]

Geographic range

Found along the Pacific versant from southeastern Chiapas in Mexico, east to south-central Guatemala. Also known from a few locations in Honduras in the southern part of the Sierra del Merendón and the Cerro Santa Bárbara. The type locality given is "Des forêts de Saint-Augustine, département de Solola (Guatémala), sur le versant occidental de la Cordillèra. 610 mètres d'altitude" [= Forests of St. [San] Augustín, on western slope of the Cordillera, Department of Sololá, Guatemala, 610 m]. Actually, San Augustín is on the southern slope of Volcán Atitlán. [2]

Habitat

Prefers rain forests and cloud forests between 500 metres (1,600 ft) and 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation. [2]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). [1] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Loxocemus</i> Genus of snakes

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<i>Bothriechis schlegelii</i> Species of reptile

Bothriechis schlegelii, known commonly as the eyelash viper or the eyelash pit viper, is a species of pit viper in the family Viperidae, native to Latin America. Somewhat small, arboreal snakes, B. schlegelii is perhaps best known for the namesake superciliary ("eyelash") scales above its eyes, and for having distinctly keeled or "raised" scales covering the bulk of its body. The species is also known for producing a veritable rainbow of color forms (morphs). It is the most common of the green palm-pitvipers, and is often present in zoological exhibits, owing to its general hardiness. The specific name schlegelii honors Hermann Schlegel, who was a German ornithologist and herpetologist.

<i>Bothriechis</i> Genus of snakes

Bothriechis is a genus of pit vipers, commonly called palm vipers or palm-pitvipers found predominantly in Mexico and Central America, although the most common species, B. schlegelii, ranges as far south as Colombia and Peru. All members are relatively slender and arboreal. The name Bothriechis is derived from the Greek words bothros and echis that mean "pit" and "viper" respectively. Ten species and no subspecies are currently generally recognized.

<i>Bothriechis lateralis</i> Species of snake

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<i>Agkistrodon bilineatus</i> Species of snake

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<i>Bothriechis nigroviridis</i> Species of snake

Bothriechis nigroviridis is a pit viper species found in the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama. No subspecies are currently recognized. The specific name is derived from the Latin niger (black) and viridis (green) in reference to its distinctive color pattern.

<i>Crotalus transversus</i> Species of snake

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<i>Crotalus triseriatus</i> Species of snake

Crotalus triseriatus is a venomous pit viper species found in Mexico. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Metlapilcoatlus nummifer</i> Species of snake

Metlapilcoatlus nummifer, commonly known as Mexican jumping pitviper or jumping viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Mexico.

<i>Bothriechis aurifer</i> Species of snake

Bothriechis aurifer is a venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bothriechis rowleyi</i> Species of snake

Bothriechis rowleyi is a species of pit viper, a venomous snake, in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Mexico. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Bothriechis marchi</i> Species of snake

Bothriechis marchi, also known as Honduran palm pit viper and March's palm pit viper, is a species of pitviper, a venomous snake, in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Central America. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Cerrophidion godmani</i> Species of snake

Cerrophidion godmani is a venomous pit viper species native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are recognized as being valid. It is also known commonly as Godman's montane pit viper or Godman's pit viper.

<i>Porthidium nasutum</i> Species of snake

Porthidium nasutum is a venomous pitviper species found in southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Ophryacus undulatus</i> Species of snake

Ophryacus undulatus is a venomous pitviper species found in the mountains of central and southern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bothrops bilineatus</i> Species of pit viper

Bothrops bilineatus, also known as the two-striped forest-pitviper, parrotsnake, Amazonian palm viper, or green jararaca, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in the Amazon region of South America. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. A pale green arboreal species that may reach 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, it is an important cause of snakebite throughout the entire Amazon region.

Metlapilcoatlus occiduus is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to southern Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

<i>Porthidium ophryomegas</i> Species of snake

Porthidium ophryomegas is a venomous pitviper species found in Central America. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bothriechis thalassinus</i> Species of snake

Bothriechis thalassinus, also known as Merendon palm-pitviper or Merendon palm pit viper, is a venomous pitviper species native to Guatemala and Honduras.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Campbell, J.A.; Muñoz-Alonso, A. (2014). "Bothriechis bicolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T64303A3134816. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T64303A3134816.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN   0-8014-4141-2.
  4. Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  5. "Bothriechis bicolor". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 8 September 2007.