Bothrocophias

Bothrocophias is a genus of venomous snakes in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae, known by the common name toadheaded pit vipers.[1] The genus is endemic to northern South America.[2]

Bothrocophias
Bothrocophias hyoprora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Bothrocophias
Gutberlet & Campbell, 2001

Taxonomy

Bothrocophias is a relatively recently identified genus that consists of four[3] to seven[2] species, most of which were traditionally placed in Bothrops.

Oviparity

Recent evidence published by Campbell and Lamar (1989, 2004) suggests that Bothrocophias colombianus may lay eggs rather than give birth to live young. This would make it almost unique among New World pitvipers (but not Asian species). The only other American pitvipers known to lay eggs are the four species of bushmaster (Lachesis).

Species

The following seven species are recognized as being valid.[2]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Bothrocophias.

References
  1. Surgery, Department of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and (September 1, 2013). "Venomous Snakes of the World: A Manual for Use by U.S. Amphibious Forces". Simon and Schuster – via Google Books.
  2. Bothrocophias at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 June 2019.
  3. Bothrocophias . ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist. Consulted: 2010-08-15.

Further reading
  • Campbell JA, Lamar WW (1989). The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates. 440 pp. ISBN 978-0801420597.
  • Gutberlet RL, Campbell JA (2001). "Generic Recognition for a Neglected Lineage of South Amnerican Pitvipers (Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae), with the Description of a New Species from the Colombian Chocó ". American Museum Novitates (3316): 1-15. (Bothrocophias, new genus, p. 4). (Bothrocophias myersi, new species, p. 7).


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