Bothriechis schlegelii, known commonly as the eyelash viper or the eyelash pit viper, is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae, native to Latin America. Somewhat small, arboreal snakes, B. schlegelii is perhaps best known for the namesake superciliary ("eyelash") scales above its eyes, and for having distinctly keeled or "raised" scales covering the bulk of its body. The species is also known for producing a veritable rainbow of color forms (morphs). It is the most common of the green palm-pitvipers (genus Bothriechis), and is often present in zoological exhibits, owing to its general hardiness. The specific name schlegelii honors Hermann Schlegel, who was a German ornithologist and herpetologist.[1]
For other common names, see below. No subspecies are currently recognized as being valid.
The eyelash viper is a relatively small species of pitviper, with adults ranging from 55cm–82cmcm (22inches–32inchescm) long, and females being longer and more variable in size than males, which can grow to 69cm (27inches) long. It has a wide, triangular-shaped head, and eyes with vertical pupils. Like all pit vipers, it is solenoglyphous, having large, hypodermic needle-like fangs in the front of the upper jaw that fold back when not in use, and has heat sensitive organs, or pits, located on either side of the head between the eye and nostril.
Its most distinguishing feature, and origin of its common name, is the set of modified scales above the eyes that look much like eyelashes. The eyelashes are thought to aid in camouflage, breaking up the snake's outline among the foliage where it hides. The eyelash viper occurs in a wide range of colors, including red, yellow, brown, green, even pink, as well as various combinations thereof. It often has black or brown speckling on the base color. No external features distinguish the two sexes.
Common names of B. schlegelii include the eyelash viper,[2] eyelash pit viper, eyelash palm viper, eyelash palm-pitviper,[3] Schlegel's viper,[2] Schlegel's pit viper,[4] Schlegel's palm viper,[5] eyelash snake, eyelash lancehead,[6] eyelash mountain viper,[2] and horned palm viper.[7] In Spanish, the primary language of countries comprising its distribution, common names include bocaracá,[8] oropel (golden morph),[8] víbora bocaracá, toboba pestañas,[9] víbora de pestañas[3] (eyelash viper), and serpiente loro[3] (parrot snake).
The geographic range of B. schlegelii extends from tropical southern Mexico (roughly northern Chiapas state), stretching to the southeast along the Central American Atlantic plains and lowlands, being known from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panamá, and further south into N.W. South America (Colombia and Venezuela). It is also found on the Pacific versant and adjacent low-lying areas of Costa Rica, Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador and Perú. Across its range, the eyelash viper occurs in mesic forest, at elevations from sea level to nearly 2640m (8,660feet) in altitude. The type locality is Popayán (Popayán, Colombia).
B. schlegelii prefers lower altitude, humid, tropical areas with dense foliage, generally not far from a permanent water source.[10] One study noted the preference of B. schlegelii for deep, shady ravines.[11] They are rarely found on the forest floor and prefer to spend most of their time on tree branches or vines. [12]
Eyelash pit vipers inhabit a wide array of forested or shrubby environments. They can be found in diverse locations, ranging from near sea level and streamside vegetation in moist lowlands to the foothills of mountains and the elevated realms of montane and cloud forests. Their presence has been documented at altitudes spanning from NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet). These snakes thrive in habitats near water sources, which offer abundant and varied prey, including small birds, amphibians, and reptiles.[13]
Like other Bothriechis species, B. schlegelii is adapted to a nearly completely arboreal lifestyle, possessing a strong, prehensile tail with which it secures itself around tree limbs, often coiled into a tight bundle during the day, as the species is primarily nocturnal. After dark, the eyelash viper awakens and awaits the presence of small, tree-dwelling animals that may cross its path, including mammals (rodents, bats), amphibians (tree frogs), birds or lizards (anoles, geckos, juvenile iguanas).[14]
In typical ambush-predator fashion, B. schlegelii waits patiently for potential, unsuspecting prey to wander by. In some cases, individuals have been known to select specific ambush sites, returning each year in-time for the spring bird migration. Studies have indicated that individuals of B. schlegeli perfect their own strike accuracy with practice, over time.http://sydney.edu.au/science/biology/shine/publications/reprints_legal/284africantyphlopids.pdf Sometimes, B. schlegelii (especially juveniles) will employ what is known as "caudal luring", wriggling their tail in a "worm"-like fashion to entice potential prey, such as hungry frogs or lizards, to move within striking-range.
The eyelash viper is not known to be an aggressive snake towards humans, and is likely to be avoidant of creatures larger than itself, but will not hesitate to strike if repeatedly harassed. Certain local mythologies and folktales (notably in remote areas of northern South America) describe how after one is bitten by an eyelash viper, the snake will "wink" its "eyelashes" at the victim. In reality, no snake is physiologically capable of such behaviors as they possess no true eyelids and cannot close their eyes; however, most reptiles possess a thin, membranous "eyelid" as a retractable "shield" for their eyes, mainly when resting.[15]
The most important components of B. schlegeli venom are phospholipase A2 related to the production of edema, tissue damage and myotoxicity, metalloproteases with dermonecrosis, L-amino acid oxidases with tissue damage, serine proteases with tissue damage and hemorrhagic diathesis, lectin type C with tissue damage and hemorrhagic diathesis, disintegrins with detachment of cells from their extracellular matrix leading to blisters and platelet function impairment, bradykinin-potentiating peptides with hypotension, enzymes that degrade fibrinogen, plasminogen activators, prothrombin activators, factor V activators, factor X activators, and anticoagulant activities (including inhibitors of prothrombinase complex formation, inhibitors of thrombin, phospholipases, and protein C activators).[16]
Snakebites inflicted by B. schlegelii in humans are characterized by pain, edema, and ecchymosis at the site of the bite, rarely with blisters, local necrosis, or defibrination.[17] Some investigations using venom samples of B. schlegelii from the northern region of Colombia have reported a typical bothropic envenomation characterized by pain, rapid local tissue damage, edema and inflammatory reactions at the site of the bite, followed by systemic alterations such as coagulopathy and acute renal failure.[18]
The eyelash viper reaches sexual maturity at around two years of age, and the ovoviviparous species reproduces throughout the year in warm environments.[14] Females carry eggs for around six months before they hatch internally, where the young complete their development.[14] Pregnant females have enlarged lower abdomens, and may stop eating in later stages of pregnancy.[14] In a typical brood they give birth to 2–20 live young, which are 15– in length and appear physically similar to adults.[14]
Males engage in a sometimes hours-long courtship ritual called a "dance of the adders", in which two males posture and intimidate one another in an upright, "cobra-like" stance until one is pushed away or falls to the ground.[14] They are polygynous, and usually mate at night.[14]
Despite the inherent danger of its venom, B. schlegelii is frequently available in the exotic animal trade, and is well represented in zoos worldwide. It is frequently captive bred for color and pattern. Exporting from the wild is not as common as it once was, but is not unknown. In general they make hardy captives, readily feeding on provided mice.
Some authorities also recognize a montane form that is treated either as a subspecies (B. s. supraciliaris) or as a species (B. supraciliaris).[2] Found in the province of San José in Costa Rica,[19] it was sometimes referred to as the eyelash mountain viper,[2] while more recent publications recognizing the species designation refer to it as the blotched palm-pitviper.[20] [21]
Eyelash vipers have not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List, and were removed from CITES Appendix III in 2002.[14] While not listed as threatened, they could be at risk of habitat loss from increased deforestation for timber, agriculture, and urbanization.[14]