#bothrocophias

[herpsandbirds]

Amazonian Toad-headed Pit Viper (Bothrocophias hyoprora), family Viperidae, Bolivia

photograph by Eduardo Navia

[exotic-venom]

(Bothrocophias hyoprora) : Amazonian Toad Headed pit viper

[exotic-venom]

(Bothrocophias campbelli) Campbell’s toadheaded viper or the Ecuadorian toadheaded pitviper

Potent hemotoxic venom, envenomation by 3 closely-related species in this genus have caused human deaths, frequently cause severe necrosis, & may lead to amputation of human limbs. Habitat found mainly in lower montane wet forests & cloud forests of the highlands of western Ecuador.

[exotic-venom]

(Bothrocophias hyoprora) Amazonian toad headed pit viper

[exotic-venom]

(Bothrocophias myersi) Chocoan toad-headed pit viper

[exotic-venom]

Bothrocophias microphthalmus

Scientific Names: Bothrops microphthalma, B. m. microphthalma, B. microphthalmus, B. m. microphthalmus, Lachesis microphthalmus, L. pleuroxanthus, Porthidium microphthalmum, Trimeresurus microphthalmus

Common Names: Engl.: Small-eyed toadheaded pitviper, Bolivia: yoperojobobo, Brazil: jararaca, Columbia: mapana, taya, talla, Ecuador: hoja podrida, Peru: dukamp, equis, equis jergon, jergon, jergon podridora, jergon shushupe, makanch

Habitat: Found mainly on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, & Brazil; from 1,000 to 2,350 m elevation. Mainly lives in lower montane wet forests & cloud forests.

Activity and Behavior: Not much known. Probably mainly nocturnal & terrestrial. Probably ovoviviparous (litter size not reported) & mainly preys on small mammals, birds & possibly lizards (as available). Also See Bothrocophias campbelli.

Venom Characteristics: Potent hemotoxin, but not well characterized. Venom of this species may be the most toxic of any in this genus. Preliminary studies have indicated that this snake’s venom is poorly neutralized by some commercially available antivenoms.

[exotic-venom]

(Bothrocophias hyoprora) Amazonian toad-headed pitviper

[exotic-venom]

(Bothrocophias colombianus) Colombian toad-headed pitviper

Habitat: Found almost exclusively in lower montane wet forests & cloud forests of the Pacific slopes of the Andes in western Columbia, at 800-2,000+ m elevation.

Activity and Behavior: Not well known. Mainly nocturnal & terrestrial. Prey mainly on available small mammals, lizards, & sometimes birds. Closely-related species are all ovoviviparous, but there is one report that this species lays eggs (& "broods" them).

Venom Characteristics: Not much known. One reported bite by a juvenile of this species caused grade IV envenomation (the most severe stage), w/ renal complications, thrombosis, & necrosis.