Metlapilcoatlus

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Metlapilcoatlus
Atropoides-nummifer-1a.jpg
Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Metlapilcoatlus
Campbell, Frost, & Castoe, 2019

Metlapilcoatlus is a genus of venomous 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 [1] and jumping vipers. [2] 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 snakes short stocky body.

Contents

Description

All of these snakes are extremely thick-bodied, with M. nummifer being the most stout. The head is large, with small eyes and a broadly rounded snout. The tail is short, not prehensile, and accounts for only 15% of the total length. [1]

The color pattern usually consists of a gray-brown or reddish brown ground color (sometimes yellow, cream, purplish brown or black), overlaid with a series of lateral and dorsal blotches. The shape of these blotches is subject to some variation, but is sometimes still helpful for identification. [1]

Geographic range

Found in the mountains of eastern Mexico southeastward on the Atlantic versant and lowlands though Central America to central Panama. On the Pacific versant, they occur in isolated populations in east-central and southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. [3]

Behavior

The common name alludes to the supposed ability these snakes have to launch themselves at an attacker during a strike, thereby bridging a distance that is equal to or greater than the length of the body. [1] Mehrtens (1987) states that they live up to their name, striking at their assailants with such force that they actually leave the ground. [2] Campbell and Lamar (2004), on the other hand, describe this as greatly exaggerated, saying that actually these snakes are only able to strike about half of their own body length. In addition, they describe them as slow moving and non-aggressive. However, when provoked all species will put on a rather dramatic open-mouthed threat display. [1]

These snakes may be active both during the day and at night. On the other hand, populations found at higher altitudes seem to be active only during daylight hours and never at night. [1]

Feeding

Adults feed mainly on small mammals and lizards, while juveniles feed on orthopterans and skinks. [1]

Venom

Unlike most vipers, members of this genus will strike and then hold on and chew. In one case, a machete was used to pry off the jaws. March (1929) wrote that M. mexicanus (M. nummifer) will hang on and make half a dozen punctures unless quickly and forcibly removed. However, the effects of the venom include only transient pain and mild swelling. In one part of Honduras the locals even insist that the snake (M. nummifer) is not venomous. Laboratory studies suggest that Metlapilcoatlus venoms are unlikely to lead to consumption coagulopathy and incoagulable blood in humans.

Species

ImageSpecies [4] Taxon author [4] Subsp.* [4] Common name [1] Geographic range [3]
M. borealis [5] Tepos-Ramírez et al., 20210Boreal jumping pit viperMexico on the Sierra Madre Oriental, South of San Luis Potosi to Hidalgo and North of Veracruz.
M. indomitus Smith & Ferrari-Castro, 20080Botaderos jumping pit viperSierra de Botaderos and La Muralla of Honduras.
Atropoides-nummifer-1a.jpg M. mexicanus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 18540Central American jumping pit viperSouthern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama.
M. nummifer Rüppell, 18450Mexican jumping pit viperMexico, South of Veracruz to Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla.
M. occiduus Hoge, 19660Guatemalan jumping pit viperMexico, Guatemala, El Salvador.
M. olmec Pérez-Higareda, H.M. Smith & Juliá-Zertuche, 19850Tuxtlan jumping pit viperMexico on the upper slopes of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas in southern Veracruz.

*) Not including the nominate subspecies.
T) Type species. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pit viper</span> Subfamily of snakes

The Crotalinae, commonly known as pit vipers, or pit adders, are a subfamily of vipers found in Eurasia and the Americas. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head. Currently, 23 genera and 155 species are recognized: These are also the only viperids found in the Americas. The groups of snakes represented here include rattlesnakes, lanceheads, and Asian pit vipers. The type genus for this subfamily is Crotalus, of which the type species is the timber rattlesnake, C. horridus.

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

Bothrops lanceolatus — known as the fer-de-lance, Martinican pit viper, and Martinique lancehead — is a species of pit viper endemic to the Caribbean island of Martinique. Some reserve the common name fer-de-lance for this species, while others apply that name to other Bothrops species as well. No subspecies are currently recognized.

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

Bothriechis schlegelii, known commonly as the eyelash viper, is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to Central and South America. Small and arboreal, this species is characterized by a wide array of color variations, as well as the superciliary scales above the eyes. It is the most common of the green palm-pitvipers, and is often present in zoological exhibits. The specific name schlegelii honors Hermann Schlegel, who was a German ornithologist and herpetologist. For other common names see below. No subspecies are currently recognized as being valid.

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

Terciopelo is a species of pit viper found at low to moderate elevations in northeast Mexico and Central America, and into South America where it is known from elevations up to 2600 meters in the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, as well as into Venezuela. With a mass of up to 6 kilograms (13 lb) and a maximal length of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft), the terciopelo is among the largest pit vipers. It is light to dark brown in color, often with yellow zig-zag-shaped lines on each side of the body. Dubbed "the ultimate pit-viper" for its large size, fangs and venom yield, it has a fearsome reputation, responsible for the most snakebites within its range because of its defensive temperament and proximity to human residence. However, like other venomous snakes, it avoids confrontation with humans whenever possible. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bothriechis</i> Genus of snakes

Bothriechis is a genus of venomous 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>Porthidium</i> Genus of snakes

Porthidium is a genus of venomous pitvipers found in Mexico and southward to northern South America. The name is derived from the Greek word portheo and the suffix -idus, which mean "destroy" and "having the nature of", apparently a reference to the venom. As of August 2016 nine species are recognized as being valid. The snakes of the genus Hypnale in southern India and Sri Lanka look quite similar to those of this genus, possibly an example of convergent evolution.

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

Bothriechis bicolor is a venomous 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.

<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.

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 Central America. 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 venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Bothriechis marchi 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 tzotzilorum</i> Species of snake

Cerrophidion tzotzilorum is a venomous pit viper species which is native to southern Mexico. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<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.

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

Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Mexico and Central America.

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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN   0-8014-4141-2.
  2. 1 2 Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  3. 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).
  4. 1 2 3 "Atropoides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  5. ↑ Tepos-Ramírez M, Flores-Villela F, Velasco JA, Pedraza-Lara P, García-Rubio OR, Jadin RJ. 2021. Molecular Phylogenetics and Morphometrics Reveal a New Endemic Jumping Pitviper (Serpentes: Viperidae: Metlapilcoatlus) from the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico. Journal of Herpetology. 55(2): 81-191. June 2021

Further reading

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