Bothriechis aurifer

Taxobox
name = "Bothriechis aurifer"

---

status = VU
status_system = iucn3.1
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Viperidae
subfamilia = Crotalinae
genus = "Bothriechis"
species = "B. aurifer"
binomial = "Bothriechis aurifer"
binomial_authority = (Salvin, 1860)
synonyms = * "Thamnocenchris aurifer" - Slavin, 1860
* "Bothriechis aurifera" - Cope, 1871
* "B" ["othrops" ("Bothriechis")] . "aurifer" - Müller, 1877
* "Lachesis aurifera" - Boulenger, 1896
* "Trimeresurus aurifer" - Mocquard, 1909
* "Bothrops nigroviridis aurifera" - Barbour & Loveridge, 1929
* "Trimeresurus nigroviridis aurifer" - H.M. Smith, 1941
* "Bothrops nigroviridis aurifer" - H.M. Smith & Taylor, 1945
* "B" ["othriechis"] . "aurifera aurifera" - Juliá & Verela, 1978
* "Bothriechis aurifer" - Campbell & Lamar, 1989McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).]

:"Common names: yellow-blotched palm-pitviper,Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.] Guatemalan palm viper.Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.] ""Bothriechis aurifer" is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.ITIS|ID=585765|taxon="Bothriechis aurifer"|year=2007|date=14 September]

Description

Adults generally grow to less than 70 cm in length, but sometimes to over 1 m. The body is relatively slender with a prehensile tail.

The scalation includes 1-5 intersupraocular scales, 8-12 supralabials, 9-13 infralabials and 18-21 (mode 19) rows of dorsal scales at midbody. The second supralabial is fused with the prelacunal to form a lacunolabial and the interrictals number 16-21. Males have 148-167 ventral scales and 58-64 subcaudals (mostly undivided), while females have 152-162 ventrals and 48-61 subcaudal scales.

The color pattern consists of a green ground color overlaid dorsally with a series of yellow blotches that are bordered in black. Between the botches, an irregular, often broken, dorsal stripe can be seen. The yellowish green belly is often lighter than the dorsum. On the head, a dark postocular stripe is present. The iris is usually yellowish-green, sometimes bronze, with black specks or reticulations. Over 90% of all specimens have the usual dark dorsal pattern, but a few are uniform green and have no postocular stripes. The juvenile coloration includes a pale lime green ground color and a colorful tail tip.

Geographic range

Found in Mexico in the mountains of eastern Chiapas, and in northern Guatemala. Occurs in cloud forest at 1200-2300 m altitude. The type locality given is "Cobán, [Alta] Vera Paz, Guatemala."

Conservation status

This species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii,v) (v3.1, 2001).Redlist species|no=64302|genus=Bothriechis|species=aurifer|date=14 September|year=2007] A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that the extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 20,000 km², the population to be severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations, and that a continuing decline has been observed, inferred or projected in the area, extent and/or quality of habitat and in the number of mature individuals. It is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2007.Redlist CC2001|date=14 September|year=2007]

ee also

* List of crotaline species and subspecies
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* Snakebite

References

External links

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