Atropoides Explained

Atropoides picadoi, also known as Picado's jumping pitviper,^[1] is a species of venomous snake, a pitviper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Costa Rica. There are no subspecies that are recognised as being valid. It is monotypic in the genus Atropoides.

Etymology

The specific name, picadoi, is in honor of Costa Rican herpetologist Clodomiro Picado Twight.^[2]

Description

Adults of A. picadoi commonly reach a total length (including tail) of 75- with a maximum of 120.2cm (47.3inches). A. picadoi is extremely stout, though not quite so much as A. mexicanus.^[1]

Geographic range

Atropoides picadoi is found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama at 50- altitude. Its geographic range includes the Cordillera de Tilarán, the Cordillera Central, and the Cordillera de Talamanca. The type locality given is "La Palma, [San José Province], Costa Rica, 4500 feet".

Further reading

• Dunn ER (1939). "A New Pit Viper from Costa Rica". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 52: 165-166. (Trimeresurus nummifer picadoi, new subspecies).

Notes and References

1. Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1500 plates. .
2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Atropoides picadoi, p. 207).