Tag: handsome

exotic-venom:

(Bitis nasicornis) rhinoceros viper

Habitat: Found mainly in rain forests, swamps, marshes, & floodplains; river, stream, & lake shores. Seldom goes
into woodlands. Well camouflaged among fallen leaves of forest floor. Sometimes tolerated by Kenyan
villagers as it resides in roofs of their huts.

Activity and Behavior: Mainly nocturnal, partially aquatic, climbs well; often basks in shrubs & trees. Usually lethargic & slow to
strike even in self-defense. Makes loud hissing noise if provoked, but usually is reluctant to strike. 

Venom Characteristics: Few bites of humans recorded; however, venom highly cytotoxic. May cause massive swelling & tissue
necrosis. Tissue necrosis resulting in amputation has been reported.

Source: exotic-venom

exotic-venom:

(Bothrocophias campbelli) Ecuadorian toadheaded viper

Habitat: Found mainly in lower montane wet forests & cloud forests of the highlands of western Ecuador, at 1,300-
2,000 m elevation; among herbaceous plants, shrubs & trees (typically in margins of forest edges or
clearings).
Activity and 

Behavior: Mainly nocturnal & terrestrial, usually found on forest floor & near a stream or body of water. Prey mainly
on rodents, lizards, or various other available prey. Captured specimens have been observed to bear 6-
36 live young, each about 18 cm long. 

Venom Characteristics: Potent hemotoxic venom, envenomation by 3 closely-related species in this genus have caused human
deaths, frequently cause severe necrosis, & may lead to amputation of human limbs.

Source: exotic-venom

exotic-venom:

(Bothrocophias

colombianus) Colombian toad-headed pitviper

Habitat: Found almost exclusively in lower montane wet forests & cloud forests of the Pacific slopes of the Andes
in western Columbia, at 800-2,000+ m elevation.

Activity and Behavior: Not well known. Mainly nocturnal & terrestrial. Prey mainly on available small mammals, lizards, &
sometimes birds. Closely-related species are all ovoviviparous, but there is one report that this species
lays eggs (& “broods” them).

Venom Characteristics: Not much known. One reported bite by a juvenile of this species caused grade IV envenomation (the
most severe stage), w/ renal complications, thrombosis, & necrosis.

Source: exotic-venom