Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Order Squamata Scientific name Bothrops pictus | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | |
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Similar Bothrops barnetti, Bothrops brazili, Bothrops lojanus, Bothrops jonathani, Bothrops iglesiasi | ||
Bothrops pictus, commonly known in English as the desert lancehead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to South America.
Contents
Geographic range
B. pictus is found along the coast of Peru, at altitudes from sea level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).
Description
Adults of B. pictus may attain a total length of 31 cm (12 in), which includes a tail 4.3 cm (1.7 in) long.
Dorsally, B. pictus has a pale brown ground color, overlaid with a series of large brown black-edged squarish blotches, which may merge to form a thick wavy or zig zag stripe. On each flank is a series of smaller roundish blotches of the same color as the dorsal blotches. There is a dark streak from behind the eye to the corner of the mouth. Ventrally, it is yellowish with brown dots or spots.
The strongly keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 21 to 23 rows at midbody. Ventrals 157-172; anal plate undivided; subcaudals divided, 40-74 pairs.