Painted Lancehead

About the Painted Lancehead

Bothrops diporus, also known in Portuguese as Bocuda, Cabeça-de-Capanga, Jararaca-do-Chaco, Jararaca-do-Rabo-Branco, Jararaca-Pintada, Jararaca-Pintada-Argentina and Jararaca-Pintada-do-Sul, is a species of viper from the forests of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. As with all vipers, it is venomous.

Bothrops diporus is identifiable by its dark pattern, which consists mainly of fused dark triangular markings on a lighter base colour, similar to that of B. ayerbei with the two rounded dark blotches at the base of each triangle.

Bothrops diporus have been sighted at a length of around 70–80 cm (28–31 in). Bothrops diporus has been sighted partaking in ophiophagy of Chironius maculoventris and Epictia albipuncta, however it is known for its largely mammalian diet, including rodents, frogs and lizards. Bothrops diporus is one of the main causes of snakebite in Argentina: between 1960 and 1975, according to Esteso (1985), 80% of the approximately 500 cases reported each year were attributed to this species.

Bothrops diporus has been found in the Vermejo River region, on the boundary of Paraguay and Argentina. Wikipedia →