Central American Bushmaster

About the Central American Bushmaster

Lachesis stenophrys, commonly called the Central American bushmaster, is a species of pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to Central America. The specific name, stenophrys, is derived from the Greek words stenos, meaning "narrow", and ophrys, meaning "brow" or "eyebrow". There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Campbell and Lamar (2004) also recognized Lachesis acrochorda (García, 1896) as a valid species, which McDiarmid et al. (1999) had treated as a synonym of L. stenophrys. The Reptile Database follows the position of Campbell and Lamar.

Adults of L. stenophrys commonly grow to more than 200 cm (6 feet 6¾ inches) and may exceed 330 cm (10 feet 10 inches) in total length (including tail). Ditmars (1910) reported a specimen from Costa Rica that was 11 feet 4 inches (349 cm). Many accounts exist of much larger specimens, but these are poorly documented. Solórzano (2004) cites historical records that put the maximum length at 360 cm (11 feet 9¾ inches).

It has a broadly rounded head and a snout that is not elevated. Typically, the species has a pronounced middorsal ridge that is most distinct on the... Wikipedia →