Bothrops alternatus

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Bothrops alternatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Bothrops
Species: B. alternatus
Binomial name
Bothrops alternatus
Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
Synonyms
  • Craspedocephalus Brasiliensis - Gray, 1849
  • Bothrops alternatus - Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
  • Trigonocephalus alternatus - Jan, 1859
  • Lachesis alternatus - Boulenger, 1896
  • Lachesis alternata - Boettger, 1898
  • Lachesis inaequalis - Magalhaes, 1925
  • Bothrops alternata - Amaral, 1925
  • Lachesis (Bothrops) alternata - Gliesch, 1931
  • Trimeresurus alternatus - Pope, 1944
  • Bothrops alternatus - Peters & Orejas-Miranda, 1970[1]

Common names: urutu.[2]  
 
Bothrops alternatus is a venomous pit viper species found in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.[1] Withing its range, it is an important cause of snakebite. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Contents

[edit] Description

Large and stout, this species reportedly exceeds 2 m in length, although the verified maximum is 169.0 cm. The average length is 80-120 cm with females being significantly longer and heavier than males.[2]

[edit] Common names

Urutu.[2]

In Argentina, it is referred to as kiririóg-aká-kurussú, mboí cuatía, víbora de la cruz, yarará (Guaraní dialect) and yarará grande. In Brazil it is called boicoatiara, boicotiara (Tupi dialect), coatiara, cotiara (southern Brazil), cruzeira, cruzeiro, jararaca de agosto (Rio grande do Sul, Lagoa dos Patos region), jararaca rabo-de-porco (Rio Grande do Sul), urutú. In Paraguay it is called mbói-cuatiá, mbói-kwatiara (Gí dialect), yarará acácusú (Guaraní dialect). In Uruguay it is referred to as crucera, víbora de la cruz and yarará.[2]

[edit] Geographic range

Found in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina (in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba, Corrientes, Chaco, Entre Ríos, Formosa, La Pampa, Misiones, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán. The type locality is listed as "Amérique méridionale" and "Paraguay."[1]

[edit] Behavior

Terrestrial.[2]

[edit] Venom

An important cause of snakebite within its range, bites are rarely fatal but frequently cause severe local tissue damage.[2]

[edit] Cited references

  1. ^ a b c McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
  3. ^ Bothrops alternatus (TSN 634851). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 7 November 2006.
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