Bothriechis lateralis

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Bothriechis lateralis
Groengele-groefkopadder-2.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. lateralis
Binomial name
Bothriechis lateralis
Peters, 1862
Synonyms
  • Bothriechis lateralisPeters, 1862
  • B[othrops]. (Bothriechis) lateralisMüller, 1877
  • Lachesis lateralisBoulenger, 1896
  • Bothrops lateralisAmaral, 1930
  • Bothriechis lateralisCampbell & Lamar, 1979 [2]
Common names: side-striped palm pitviper [3] side-striped palm viper, [4] more.

Bothriechis lateralis is a pit viper species found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. [2] No subspecies are currently recognized. [5]

Contents

Description

Adult specimens may exceed 100 centimetres (39 in), but are usually less than 80 centimetres (31 in) in length. These are relatively slender snakes and have a prehensile tail. [3]

B. lateralis Groengele-groefkopadder-5.jpg
B. lateralis

The color pattern consists of an emerald green to bluish green ground color, overlaid with a series of yellow alternating paravertebral vertical bars. Some of the scales adjacent to the yellow in this pattern may be blue or black-tipped. The belly is a uniform yellowing-green, bordered on either side by a pale yellow stripe running along the lower portion of the paraventral scales and the extreme lateral part of the ventral scales. The head is uniformly green on top and a blue or blue-gray postocular stripe may be present. If a postocular stripe is present, it is weakly defined, especially in large adults. The iris is yellow. [3] [6]

Juvenile specimens are usually brown with dark brown markings on the head, bronze irises, postocular stripes, paravertebral makings that are edged with yellow, and a tail tip that is yellow or chartreuse. Captive juveniles retain this color pattern for about six months, after which the ground color starts to become a dull lime green and the yellow edges of the paravertebral vertical bars more prominent. It is thought that the shift to adult coloration takes about 18–24 months to complete. [3]

Like many green snakes, captive adults tend to become blue over time, although blue specimens are sometimes found in the wild. [3]

Common names

Side-striped palm-pitviper, [3] side-striped palm viper, [4] green palm viper, [7] yellow-lined palm viper and parrot viper [6]

Geographic range

Found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, including the Cordillera de Tilarán, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca to the provinces of Chiriquí Province and Veraguas. Occurs at 850–980 m altitude. The type locality is listed as "Costa Rica vom Vulcan Barbo [Volcán Barba] ... und .. Veragua" [Panama]. [2]

Habitat

Occurs in lower montane forest, lower montane wet forest, and lower montane rainforest. Although this species is able to survive is some areas that have been altered for agricultural purposes, such as coffee plantations, it seems they are slowly disappearing from these places. On the other hand, it is common in some protected areas, where populations appear to be doing quite well. [3]

Behavior

This is an arboreal species that spends its time in the thick foliage of forest trees and shrubbery. It is often found at the base of palm fronds. These snakes prefer to remain coiled and still, relying on their camouflage to avoid detection, rather than defending themselves aggressively. However, they will strike quickly if touched. [6]

Feeding

The prehensile tail is not only used as an anchor when resting, but also when it strikes out to grasp its prey, which consists of small birds, rodents, lizards and frogs. [6]

Venom

Bites can be serious, but fatalities are rare. [7] A polyvalent antivenin that covers this species is produced by the Instituto Clodomiro Picado in Costa Rica. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Metlapilcoatlus</i> Genus of snakes

Metlapilcoatlus is a genus of pit vipers endemic to Mexico and Central America. Six species are currently recognized. The common names suggest they are able to leap at an attacker, but this is likely exaggerated. Common names for the species include jumping pitvipers and jumping vipers. The genus name comes from the Nahuatl name metlapilcohuatl, which means of the oblong grindstone held in the hand when grinding corn—alluding to the snake's short, stocky body.

<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 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>Bothriechis bicolor</i> Species of snake

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

Atropoides picadoi, also known as Picado's jumping pitviper, is a species of venomous snake, a pitviper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Costa Rica. There are no subspecies that are recognised as being valid. It is monotypic in the genus Atropoides.

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

Bothriechis aurifer is a 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 pit viper, 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>Trimeresurus sumatranus</i> Species of snake

Trimeresurus sumatranus is a species of venomous pitviper found in the tropical forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Arboreal by nature, its coloration is pale to neon-green, with some black vertical markings, and a red-tipped tail. As with other vipers, this species has prominent, “keeled” scales, which appear somewhat raised and give the snake a rough-textured appearance. Common names include Sumatran pitviper, Sumatran tree viper, and Sumatran pit viper.

<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.

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

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

Bothrops medusa is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Venezuela. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bothrops punctatus</i> Species of snake

Bothrops punctatus is a venomous pitviper species found in Ecuador, Mostly in the Chocó Department in Western Colombia and Panama. 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 pit viper species native to Guatemala and Honduras.

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

Bothriechis supraciliaris, commonly known as the blotched palm-pit viper and blotched palm-pitviper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to southern Pacific parts of Talamanca Mountain Range in Costa Rica and western Panama. No subspecies are recognized.

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

Bothriechis guifarroi is a species of green palm pit vipers discovered in 2010 in the Texiguat Wildlife Refuge, in Northern Honduras. Bothriechis guifarroi joins two other species of the genus Bothriechis, B. marchi and B. thalassinus, found in the Chortís Highlands of Honduras.

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

Bothriechis nubestris, the Talamancan palm-pitviper, is a species of pit viper native to cloud forests and montane rainforests in Costa Rica, specifically San José, Cartago and Limón. The snake was mistaken for Bothriechis nigroviridis.

References

  1. ↑ Acosta Chaves, V.; Batista, A.; García Rodríguez, A.; Saborío, G.; Vargas Álvarez, J. (2014). "Bothriechis lateralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T203658A2769431. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203658A2769431.en . Retrieved 20 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 5 6 7 Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. plate 1500. ISBN   0-8014-4141-2.
  4. 1 2 Bothriechis lateralis Archived January 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at Herps of Panama Archived November 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine . Accessed 27 November 2006.
  5. ↑ "Bothriechis lateralis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  7. 1 2 Green Palm Viper (Bothriechis lateralis) Archived September 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at Cloud Forest Alive Archived 2006-11-18 at the Wayback Machine . Accessed 27 November 2006.
  8. ↑ Bothriechis lateralis at Munich AntiVenom INdex. Accessed 27 November 2006.
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