#jumping pit viper

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer) Jumping pit viper

Mainly hemotoxic. Found in rainforests, forested hills, and adjacent cleared areas or plantations in Mexico and Central America. May strike at intruders with such force that they throw their whole body off the ground. When very frightened, they sometimes will flail about trying to strike wildly and quickly, turning to keep the threat in sight.

[iloveveterinary]

Jumping Pit Viper - Video by Dr. Evan Antin

Jumping Pit Viper – Video by Dr. Evan Antin

A video by Dr. Evan Antin about how to handle a jumping pit viper.

I spent time at a private serpentarium Costa Rica and worked with a thick Jumping Pit Viper, who gave me an excellent demonstration of his solenoglyphous venom delivery system (aka hinged, hollow fangs). Checks out how long those fangs are and how much venom can be delivered in ONE bite! Thanks for watching 🙂

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO…

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[ainawgsd]

Jumping Pit Viper

Atropoides nummifer (common names: Mexican jumping pitviper, jumping viper) is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Mexico and Central America. Currently, three subspecies are recognized.  Adults are short and exceedingly stout, commonly growing to 18–24 inches in total length. The color pattern consists of a tan, light brown or gray ground color that is overlaid with a series of around 20 dark brown or black rhomboid blotches. The lower tips of these blotches often connect with spots on the flanks to form narrow crossbands. The top of the head is dark with oblique postorbital stripes, below which the side of the head is a lighter color. The belly is whitish, occasionally with dark brown blotches.

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. Mehrtens (1987) states that they live up to their name, striking at their assailants with such force that they actually leave the ground. 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.

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

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 A. mexicanus (A. 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 (A. nummifer) is not venomous. Laboratory studies suggest that Atropoides venoms are unlikely to lead to consumption coagulopathy and incoagulable blood in humans. However, other research revealed that of ten different Costa Rican pit viper venoms tested on mice, that of A. picadoi was the most hemorrhagic .

Found in eastern Mexico from San Luis Potosí southeastward on the Atlantic versant and lowlands through northern Guatemala, southern Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to central Panama. On the Pacific versant in disjunct populations from southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. Found in various types of forest, including cloud forest and rain forest at 40–1,600 m (130–5,250 ft) altitude. The type originally lacked locality information, but apparently "Mexico" was filled in some time later.

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer) Mexican jumping pitviper

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 A. mexicanus (A. 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 (A. nummifer) is not venomous. Laboratory studies suggest that Atropoides venoms are unlikely to lead to consumption coagulopathy and incoagulable blood in humans. However, other research revealed that of ten different Costa Rican pit viper venoms tested on mice, that of Atropoides picadoi was the most hemorrhagic.

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer) Mexican jumping pit viper

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer) jumping pit viper

[exotic-venom]

(Atropoides nummifer) Mexican jumping pitviper, jumping pitviper