Jumping lance vipers
| Jumping lance vipers | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Atropoides | ||||||||||||
| Werman , 1992 |
The Jumping Terciopelos ( Atropoides ) are a snake species from the subfamily of the pit vipers . The genus occurs with six species in Central America. All species are poisonous, but the toxicity in humans is low and limited to short-term pain and slight swelling. The German name refers to the alleged ability of the animals to be able to bridge distances of their own body length or more when striking. However, this is greatly exaggerated; in fact, when the animals strike, they only cover a little more than half their body length.
features
anatomy
Jumping lance vipers are small to medium-sized, but very strong and stocky snakes. The head is large, wide and clearly set off from the neck, the muzzle is broadly rounded and the eyes are relatively small. The tail is not suitable for grasping and is relatively short, making up less than 15% of the total length. The smallest species usually reaches overall lengths of 35 to 60 cm, the largest from 75 to 95 cm, max. 120 cm.
Scaling
The rostral is wider than it is tall and concave on the underside. There are three praeocularia , the upper one of which is significantly larger than the others. The species usually only show a narrow, elongated supraocular , but in some species it is also divided into several small, keeled scales in individual individuals. The top of the head is covered with small, keeled scales. The number of supralabialia is 8 to 12, the number of infralabialia 9 to 14. The number of ventral scales ( ventral shields ) varies between 103 and 155, the number of subcaudalia between 22 and 40 and the number of dorsal rows of scales in the middle of the body between 21 and 29
coloring
The basic color of the top is usually gray-brown or red-brown, but can also be yellow, cream-colored, brownish purple or black. For this reason, the animals show a series of large, more or less angular, dark spots on their backs, which are often connected to one another and thus form a zigzag band. On the flanks there are one or more rows of smaller spots below. All species show a narrower or wider dark postocular stripe that extends from the back of the eye to behind the corner of the snout.
distribution and habitat
Jumping lance vipers are restricted to Central America, the range extends from northeast Mexico to central Panama . The areas of the individual species are each comparatively small. Most species are restricted to moist, tropical forests from rainforests to cloud forests , but at least one species ( A. occiduus ) also inhabits dry pine forests at certain times of the year. Most species occur predominantly at altitudes over 1000 m.
Systematics
The number of species and subspecies has been controversial for a long time, Campbell & Lamar recognize 5 species, for each of which no subspecies are recognized. In 2008, Atropoides indomitus was described as another species .
- Atropoides mexicanus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril 1854)
- Atropoides nummifer (Rüppell, 1845)
- Atropoides occiduus (Hoge 1966)
- Atropoides olmec Pérez-Higareda, Smith & Juliá-Zertuche 1985
- Atropoides picadoi (Dunn 1939)
- Atropoides indomitus Smith & Ferrari-Castro 2008
According to molecular genetic investigations without taking A. indomitus into account , the monophyly of the genus Atropoides in this composition with regard to A. picadoi is doubtful, but the results so far are not clear.
Lifestyle, Diet and Reproduction
Almost all species of the genus are predominantly diurnal, more rarely nocturnal and almost exclusively living on the ground. The juveniles eat invertebrates and small lizards , the adults mostly small mammals . All species are viviparous, young animals are mostly born in the rainy season. Reproduction depends on size, between 8 and 45 young per litter have been proven.
Poison
In contrast to many other pit vipers , the species of the genus Atropoides do not immediately let go after biting, but hold the bite upright and make chewing movements. All species are poisonous, but the toxicity in humans is low and limited to short-term pain and slight swelling.
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ Smith, EN & j. A. Ferrari-Castro: A new species of jumping pitphia of the genus Atropoides (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from the Sierra de Botaderos and the Sierra La Muralla, Honduras. Zootaxa 1948, 2008: pp. 57–68 ( description of A. indomitus on the reptile database )
literature
- David A. Warrell: Snakebites in Central and South America: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Clinical Management . In: Jonathan A. Campbell, William W. Lamar: The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock; Ithaca, London. 2004. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2 : pp. 709-761.
- Jonathan A. Campbell, William W. Lamar: The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock; Ithaca, London; 2004 ISBN 0-8014-4141-2
