Jararacussu
| Jararacussu | ||||||||||||
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Jararacussu ( Bothrops jararacussu ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Bothrops jararacussu | ||||||||||||
| Lacerda , 1884 |
The Jararacussu ( Bothrops jararacussu ) is a pit viper from the genus of the American lance viper ( Bothrops ). The first scientific description was carried out in 1884 by the Brazilian doctor João Baptista de Lacerda . Subspecies are not known.
features
The Jararacussu is a very large viper , it reaches a total length of 150 cm. Females occasionally grow to over 200 cm. The lance-shaped head is clearly separated from the neck and has eight shields of the upper lip ( scutum supralabiale ), eleven shields of the lower lip ( scutum sublabiale ) and a small eye with a pupil slit vertically when light falls on it. The top of the head is glossy black and is separated by a light band from a dark temple band that runs between the eye and the corner of the mouth. The underside of the head is yellowish to orange-yellow in color. Around the middle of the body are 23 to 27 rows of strongly keeled back scales. The upper side of the body is drawn by black, alternating triangular and diamond-shaped angular spots that partially converge to form a zigzag pattern. On the yellowish-colored and irregularly dark-spotted side of the abdomen, there are 166 to 188 abdominal shields ( scutum ventrale ) and 44 to 66 under- tail shields ( scutum subcaudale ).
Snake venom
As a viper, the Jararacussu has tubular, retractable poisonous teeth in its front upper jaw (solenoglyphic tooth position) through which a snake venom (ophiotoxin) produced in poison glands is injected into the bite wound. The fangs of this species are noticeably long and their venom is very potent. Added to this is the extremely large amount of poison, up to 300 milligrams, that can be released with a single bite. The mortality rate in cases of non-medically supervised courses is between 15 and 18 percent. As a result of a bite of this kind, damage to the blood system and cardiovascular system as well as tissue damage and even necrosis occurs . Blindness may occur.
Way of life
The Jararacussu leads a mostly nocturnal way of life close to the water and proves to be a good swimmer. It hides in the undergrowth of vegetation near the shore and between rock formations and scree on water. In the vicinity of the hiding spots he can occasionally be seen sunbathing during the day. In general, however, the species lives very secluded, so that there is hardly any contact with humans. In addition to small mammals , the range of prey also includes various frogs . During the cooler season between July and September, winter hiding places such as holes in the ground, crevices or similar structures are sought out. The hibernation is also interrupted in the meantime. The Jararacussu reproduces through ovoviviparia , so the females give birth to live young. Litters of up to 40 young snakes are known from offspring in captivity. The animals measure around 28 cm at birth and molt for the first time five days after birth.
distribution
The Jararacussu occurs in the northeast of Argentina , in the south of Bolivia and in Paraguay as well as within Brazil from Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul in the middle east to Espírito Santo . The species is listed in the IUCN Red List as “least concern” (not endangered), due to the wide distribution and the existence of intact forest ecosystems in the distribution area. The local threat is the destruction of habitats that occurs everywhere. The habitats inhabited are moist forests and primeval forests. The Jararacussu can often be found in the immediate vicinity of water bodies (lakes, ponds, swamps and rivers). It can also be found partly in cultivated terrain. The Jararacussu is not as common as other Bothrops species.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Bothrops jararacussu in The Reptile Database ; accessed on April 21, 2012.
- ↑ IUCN Red List: Bothrops jararacussu ; accessed on April 21, 2012.
literature
- Ludwig Trutnau: poisonous snakes . Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1998. ISBN 3-8001-7371-9 .
