Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Bothrops pirajai Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Viperidae Higher classification Bothrops | |
Similar Bothrops, Snake, Bothrops itapetiningae, Bothrops iglesiasi, Bothrops brazili | ||
Bothrops pirajai is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Brazil. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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Etymology
The specific name, pirajai, is in honor of Brazilian parasitologist Pirajá da Silva, who in 1923 was director of the Bahia branch of the Instituto Butantan.
Description
The maximum total length recorded for this species is 137 cm (54 in). It is stocky and terrestrial.
Geographic range
Found in Brazil in central and southern Bahia. Possibly, it may also occur in Minas Gerais. The type locality given is "Ilheos, Bahia, Brazil".
Conservation status
This species is classified as vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List for the following criteria: A1c (v2.3, 1994). This means that it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered, but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future due to population reduction in the form of an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 20% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2000.
The rainforest inhabited by this species is unfortunately decreasing in area and quality, while becoming increasingly fragmented through deforestation. The areas that have been cleared are mainly being used for cocoa plantations.