Bothrops moojeni

The specific name, moojeni, is in honor of Brazilian zoologist João Moojen de Oliveira (1904-1985).[3]

Grows on average 160 cm, with a maximum of 230 cm already reported, has a tan, gray-brown or olive-gray color, with fourteen to twenty-one trapezoidal side marks that are dark gray or completely black, 23 to 29 lines of dorsal scale of the average body, with the belly usually white or cream with dark gray spots scattered, while juveniles have a white tail. It is terrestrial, of nocturnal habits.[4] it is considered very aggressive, able to make vertical boats, sometimes reaching the highest parts of the body.[5] its body is viscous, varying from medium to heavy, broad head, flattened in a lance when seen from above and distinct from the narrow neck, the snout is not elevated, the eyes are medium in size, with lipid pupils vertically, while the scales back are keeled.[6] B. moojeni is viviparous.[7] Gestation lasts around four months, occurs once a year and 12 to 14 puppies are usually born. Live an average of 15 years.[8] It feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes and amphibians.[8]

B. moojeni is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.[7]

The type locality is Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.[7] B. moojeni inhabits Araucaria moist forests and the Cerrado.[9]

In South America common names for B. moojeni include caiçaca, caissaca, caiçara, jacuruçu, and jararação.

Its venom has hemolytic and proteolytic action.[10] B. moojeni venom contains a wide variety of enzymes, such as acidic phospholipase, base A phospholipase, metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, L-amino acid oxidase, and a myotoxin phospholipase A2. The myotoxin phospholipase A2 causes necrosis in muscle fibers, releasing creatinine kinase.[11] Symptoms may include intense local pain, edema, muscular necrosis.The venom has an anticoagulant effect on the blood, makes the blood uncoagulable, causes severe hemorraghes and strokes.[12][13] The venom has a lethal dose of 0.205 mg / kg for horses.[14] The average yield for an adult female is 335 mg, 63 mg for newborns, specimens from Minas Gerais, Brazil have been reported to be 118 mg, specimens from Argentina have a yield of 248.0 ± 37 mg.[6]

• Hoge AR (1966). "Preliminary account on Neotropical Crotalinae (Serpentes: Viperidae)". Memórias do Instituto Butantan 32 [1965]: 109–184. (Bothrops moojeni, new species).