Bothriopsis medusa

Taxobox
name = "Bothriopsis medusa"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Viperidae
subfamilia = Crotalinae
genus = "Bothriopsis"
species = "B. medusa"
binomial = "Bothriopsis medusa"
binomial_authority = (Sternfeld, 1920)
synonyms = * "Lachesis medusa" - Sternfeld, 1920
* "Bothrops eneydae" - Sandner-Montilla, 1976
* "Bothrops medusa" - Amaral, 1930
* "Bothriopsis medusa" - Campbell & Lamar, 1989McDiarmid 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).]

:"Common names: Venezuelan forest-pitviper.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.] ""Bothriopsis medusa" is a venomous pitviper species found in Venezuela. No subspecies are currently recognized.ITIS|ID=634845|taxon="Bothriopsis medusa"|year=2008|date=10 August]

Description

Adults usually grow to 50-70 cm in length. The maximum reported length is 80 cm (Roze, 1966) or slightly longer (Sandner-Montilla, 1975). The body is moderately slender.

The scalation includes 20-21 (usually 21) rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 160-168/153-162 ventral scales in males/females and 51-62/46-56 mostly undivided subcaudal scales in males/females. On the head, the canthals, internasals and rostral are elevated to form a distinct canthal ridge. There are 1-6 intersupraoculars, 6-9 (usually 7) supralabial scales and 8-10 sublabial scales.

The color pattern consists of a tan, yellowish brown, reddish brown, gray or olive ground color overlaid with a series of long and irregular transverse bands. These bands are dark brown with pale centers, weakly subdivided latterally and separated from each other with short and lightly colored interspaces. In some individuals the contrast may be so poor that they appear to have a uniform dorsal coloration. The belly is yellow with many small and dark spots and flecks. On the head, a dark postocular stripe is present that frequently fuses with the first lateral body blotch. It is marked above and below by a pale narrow border.

Geographic range

Found in Venezuela, including the Cordillera de la Costa (coastal range), the Federal District and the states of Aragua, Bolívar and Carabobo. The type locality given is "Caracas" (Venezuela).

ee also

* List of crotaline species and subspecies
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* Snakebite

References

External links

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