Atlantic Forest Bushmaster

About the Atlantic Forest Bushmaster

Lachesis muta, also known as the Southern American bushmaster or Atlantic bushmaster, is a pit viper species found in South America, as well as the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Two additional subspecies, L. m. melanocephala and L. m. stenophrys, had earlier been recognized. However, both were elevated to species level by Zamudio and Green in 1997 (see L. melanocephala and L. stenophrys). Adults grow to an average of 2 to 2.5 m (6½-8 feet), although 3 m (10 feet) is not too unusual. The largest recorded specimen was 3.65 m (12 feet) long, making the species the longest of all vipers and the longest venomous snake in the Western Hemisphere. Lachesis muta is the third longest venomous snake in the world, exceeded in length only by the king cobra and the black mamba. Weight in this species is estimated at an average of 3 to 5 kg (6.6 to 11.0 lb), somewhat less than the heaviest rattlesnakes (like the eastern diamondback rattlesnake) or Bitis vipers (such as the Gaboon viper and rhinoceros viper).

The head is broad and distinct from the narrow... Wikipedia →