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Monday, February 26, 2024

Species Fact Profile: Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)

                                                           Eyelash Viper

                                            Bothriechis schlegelii (Berthold, 1846)

Range: Southern Mexico, Central America, Northern South America
Habitat:  Rainforests up to 2700 meters elevation.  Highly arboreal
Diet:  Small Birds, Bats, Reptiles, Amphibians
Social Grouping: Solitary
Reproduction: Polygynous.  Ovoviviparous.  Breeds year round.  Females carry eggs for 6 months before they hatch internally.  2-20 young are born live (15-20 centimeters long), very similar to adults in appearance, independent at birth.  Sexually mature at two years old.
Lifespan: 10-20 Years
      Conservation Status:  IUCN Least Concern


  • Adults measure 55-82 centimeters long, with females being longer than males.  Wide, triangular-shaped head, strongly prehensile tail.  Scales are rough and keeled.  Modified scales above eyes look like eyelashes, providing the common name.  
  • Highly variable in color.  May be green, pink, red, or brown, with some brown or black mottling in many cases.  The most famous color variant is a striking electric yellow.  No color differences between the sexes
  • Ambush predator, sometimes wriggling its tail as a worm lure to attract prey within range.  Have been reported to select and return to favored ambush positions, especially during bird migrations.  Color type may influence the kind of habitat that the vipers use to maximize camouflage; for example, yellow vipers blend in well near bananas
  • Heat sensitive pits between eyes and nostrils help the snake detect prey.  A hemotoxic/neurotoxic venom is injected through large fangs that, when not in use, are folded up against the roof of the snake's mouth
  • Males sometimes engage in courtship rituals in which they try to intimidate each other with their size, then wrestle until one is pushed down.  Bouts may last hours, and are known as "dance of the adders"
  • Sometimes have been shipped across the world after being accidentally crated up in shipments of bananas

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