Bothrocophias is a genus of pit vipers in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae, known by the common name toadheaded pit vipers.[1] The genus is endemic to South America.[2]
Bothrocophias | |
---|---|
Bothrocophias hyoprora | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Subfamily: | Crotalinae |
Genus: | Bothrocophias Gutberlet & Campbell, 2001 |
Taxonomy
editBothrocophias is a relatively recently identified genus that consists of four[3] to nine[2] species, most of which were traditionally placed in Bothrops.
Oviparity
editRecent evidence published by Campbell and Lamar (1989, 2004) suggests that Bothrocophias colombianus may lay eggs rather than give birth to live young. This would make it almost unique among New World pitvipers (but not Asian species). The only other American pitvipers known to lay eggs are the four species of bushmaster (Lachesis).
Species
editThe following nine species are recognized as being valid.[2]
Image | Species | Common name | Geographic range |
---|---|---|---|
Bothrocophias andianus
(Amaral, 1923) |
Bolivia and Peru | ||
Bothrocophias campbelli
(Freire-Lascano, 1991) |
Campbell's toadheaded viper
the Ecuadorian toadheaded pitviper víbora boca de sapo |
Ecuador | |
Bothrocophias colombianus
(Rendahl & Vestergren, 1940) |
Colombian toad-headed pitviper | Columbia | |
Bothrocophias hyoprora
(Amaral, 1935) |
Amazonian toad-headed pitviper | Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia | |
Bothrocophias lojanus
(Parker, 1930) |
Lojan lancehead
macanchi macaucho |
Ecuador, Peru | |
Bothrocophias microphthalmus
(Cope, 1876) |
small-eyed toad-headed pit viper | Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Brazil | |
Bothrocophias myersi | Myers toadheaded pitviper | Colombia | |
Bothrocophias myrringae
Angarita-Sierra, Cubides-Cubillos, & Hurtado-Gómez, 2022 |
High-Andean Toad-Headed Pitviper | Colombia | |
Bothrocophias tulitoi
Angarita-Sierra, Cubides-Cubillos, & Hurtado-Gómez, 2022 |
Colombia |
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Bothrocophias.
References
edit- ^ Surgery, Department of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and (September 1, 2013). Venomous Snakes of the World: A Manual for Use by U.S. Amphibious Forces. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781628734164 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c Bothrocophias at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 June 2019.
- ^ Bothrocophias . ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist. Consulted: 2010-08-15.
Further reading
edit- Campbell JA, Lamar WW (1989). The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates. 440 pp. ISBN 978-0801420597.
- Gutberlet RL, Campbell JA (2001). "Generic Recognition for a Neglected Lineage of South Amnerican Pitvipers (Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae), with the Description of a New Species from the Colombian Chocó ". American Museum Novitates (3316): 1–15. (Bothrocophias, new genus, p. 4). (Bothrocophias myersi, new species, p. 7).