Bothriechis aurifer

Common names: yellow-blotched palm-pitviper.^[2]

Bothriechis aurifer is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[3]

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Daily Visual Balance Check

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Description

Adults generally grow to less than 70 cm in length, but sometimes to over 1 m. Relatively slender and green with a prehensile tail.^[2]

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."^[1]

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).^[4] 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.^[5]

See also

• List of crotaline species and subspecies
• Crotalinae by common name
• Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References