Caatinga Lancehead

About the Caatinga Lancehead

Bothrops erythromelas, commonly known as the Caatinga lancehead or the jararaca-da-seca, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. It is endemic to Brazil. The specific name, erythromelas, is from the Ancient Greek words έρυθρός (érythrós), meaning "red", and μέλας (mélas), meaning "black", referring to this snake's coloration.

It is found in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, and Sergipe. The type locality is "near Juazeiro, State of Bahia, Brazil". Adults may attain a total length of 54 cm (21 in), which includes a tail 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long. Can grow to a maximum of about 0.85 m.

Dorsally, B. erythromelas is reddish brown, with a double series of black or dark brown triangular markings, which may be alternating or opposite. The head is dark brown on the top and sides, with some darker markings. Ventrally, it is yellowish, speckled with brown, and with dark spots extending from the sides of the ventrals onto the first two dorsal rows. Eyes are moderately large in size, with vertically elliptical pupils.

The strongly keeled dorsal... Wikipedia →