Bothrops pirajai
| Bothrops pirajai | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Crotalinae |
| Genus: | Bothrops |
| Species: | B. pirajai |
| Binomial name | |
| Bothrops pirajai Amaral, 1923 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
- Common names: Piraja's lancehead.[2]
Bothrops pirajai is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Brazil. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
Etymology
The specific name, pirajai, is in honor of Brazilian parasitologist Pirajá da Silva, who in 1923 was director of the Bahia branch of the Instituto Butantan.[4]
Description
The maximum total length recorded for this species is 137 cm (54 in). It is stocky and terrestrial.[2]
Geographic range
Found in Brazil in central and southern Bahia. Possibly, it may also occur in Minas Gerais. The type locality given is "Ilheos, Bahia, Brazil".[1]
Conservation status
This species is classified as vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List for the following criteria: A1c (v2.3, 1994).[5] This means that it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered, but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future due to population reduction in the form of an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 20% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2000.[6]
The rainforest inhabited by this species is unfortunately decreasing in area and quality, while becoming increasingly fragmented through deforestation. The areas that have been cleared are mainly being used for cocoa plantations.[5]
See also
- List of crotaline species and subspecies
- Bothrops by common name
- Bothrops by taxonomic synonyms
- Crotalinae by common name
- Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ "Bothrops pirajai". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ↑ Amaral. 1923. p. 100.
- 1 2 Bothrops pirajai at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
- ↑ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
Further reading
- Amaral, A. 1923. New Genera and Species of Snakes. Proceedings of the New England Zoölogical Club 8: 85-105. ("Bothrops pirajai sp. nov.", pp. 99-100.)
External links
- Bothrops pirajai at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 September 2007.