What are the poisonous snakes of El Salvador?

Answer 1

Agkistrodon bilineatus

[ TOC ]

IdentificationFamily: Viperidae

Scientific Names: Ancistrodon bilineatum, A. bilineatus, Agkistrodon bilineatum, A. bilineatus bilineatus, A. b. howardgloydi, A. b. lemosespinali, A. b. russeolus, Trigonocephalus bilineatus, T. specialis

Common Names: Cantil, Mexican Moccasin, Mokassinslange, common cantil, vibora castelana, k'an ti, q'an ti, cazadora, cumcoatl, cantil de agua, cuatro narices, gammarrilla, volpochh, bil palka, kantiil [plus >10 additional local dialect names]

DescriptionLarge, heavy-bodied pitviper, adults usually 80-120 cm (max. 138 cm) long w/ fairly long slender tail, fangs may be 12 mm long. Color variable, usually dark gray to almost black w/ 10-19 (usually 12-15) brown to black crossbands, often outlined by thin whitish lines; body may also have yellow, red, or lavendar scales; w/ 2 distinct pale lines along sides of head. Belly dark grayish to reddish-brown, lightest along middle, w/ scattered whitish spots (& often w/ dark chestnut-brown lateral spots).

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HabitatMost commonly found in seasonally dry, tropical deciduous scrub forest & large grassy plains w/ scattered trees, mainly in coastal foothills in parts of southern & western Mexico & Central America. Often shelters in crevices or under rocks. Mainly found in lower to moderate elevations, usually <600 m (max. about 1,500 m). Also found in the Rio Chixoy (Negro) Valley in central Guatemala. Activity and BehaviorMainly terrestrial & mainly nocturnal. Agressive when provoked; will strike repeatedly. Ovoviviparous w/ each female bearing about a dozen 10-inch long neonates/ litter. Preys on available small mammals, lizards, birds, amphibians & reptiles. Juveniles often eat invertebrates, too. Venom CharacteristicsPrimarily hemotoxic, necrotic effects reportedly often extensive; serious human envenomations & fatalities have occurred. This apecies is the third most frequent cause of snake envenomations of humans in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Atropoides occiduus[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Viperidae

Scientific Names: Atropoides nummifer (in part), Bothriechis nummifera (in part), Bothriopsis affinis (in part), Bothrops affinis, Bothrops nummifer nummifer, B. n. occiduus, Porthidium nummifer occiduum, Trimeresurus nummifer (in part), T. n. nummifer (in part)

Common Names: Guatemalan jumping pitviper, mano de piedra, cantil sapo, chinchintor, sulcuat

DescriptionSmall to medium-sized, very stout-bodied, terrestrial pitviper, adults usually 35-60 cm long (max. 79.5 cm). Body usually pale brown to burgandy-brown (rarely pinkish or purplish) w/ dark brown rhomboidal dorsal blotches, usually joined at vertebral line forming a zigzag pattern (at least on posterior half). Wide, dark brown postocular stripe. Middorsal scales strongly keeled, 21-27 midbody dorsal scale rows, belly usually lighter, often w/ dark spots or blotches, especially along sides. HabitatMainly found in subtropical wet forest along the Pacific versant from southeastern Chiapas, Mexico to western El Salvador; but also in seasonally dry pine-oak forest near Guatemala City. Found mainly at medium to higher elevations (1,000-1,600 m). Activity and BehaviorTerrestrial, mainly nocturnal, but sometimes basks in sun. Sluggish, non-aggressive during the day. Can only strike for about 1/2 its body length (does not actually "jump" or launch itself). May open mouth very wide in a defensive display (usually while coiled) if molested. Sometimes holds onto prey after striking it. Ovoviviparous, preys mainly on small mammals, birds (sometimes also lizards & frogs). Venom CharacteristicsNot well known, but probably mainly hemotoxic (w/ possible cytotoxic factors). Reportedly similar to A. mexicanus in having relatively less potent venom than other pitvipers found in the same areas (e.g., B. asper). Has envenomated humans, but only recently named, and may have been confused w/ similar species previously. No definitely documented human fatalities have been caused by this species so far. Cerrophidion godmani[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Viperidae

Scientific Names: Bothrops godmani, Bothriechis godmani, B. trianguligera, Lachesis godmani, Porthidium godmani, Trimeresurus godmani

Common Names: Engl.: Godman's montane pitviper, Ger.: Godman-Berggrubenotter, Costa Riac: borot kabi, dudaban, toboba de altura, Guatemala: cantil frijolillo, sheta, tamagas, Honduras: timbo chingo, tamagas cafe, Mexico: nauyaca del frio, Nicaragua: toboa oscura, toboita

DescriptionSmall, moderately-stout, terrestrial pitviper, adults usually 46-50 cm long (max. 82 cm); colors & patterns quite variable, body usually brown, reddish-brown, grayish-brown to nearly orange; dark brown blotches often merge to form a zigzag dorsal stripe, 21 midbody dorsal scale rows, dark postorbital stripe, venter pale yellow to orange w/ no mottling, darker toward tail.

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HabitatFound in a wide range of low montane wet forest & cloud forest, lower montane dry forest, largely pin oak; & high montane forest & meadow. Occurs at 1,400-3,491 m elevation. Limited to higher elevations of parts of southeastern Mexico & Central America. Activity and BehaviorMainly terrestrial, & mainly diurnal, often seen crawling or coiled along forest paths. May rarely climb up onto a log or stump, but usually found beside or under logs, rocks, or other large pieces of debris. Can move very rapidly, usually avoids humans, but will strike quickly if disturbed. Ovoviviparous w/ 2-12 young/ litter observed for captured specimens. Prey on a variety of available arthropods, small mammals, reptiles (mainly lizards), salamanders, & sometimes birds. Venom CharacteristicsNot well known. Mainly hemotoxic, w/ potent myotoxic & proteolytic factors. Symptoms of envenomation of humans may include: intense local pain, extensive local swelling (may involve whole limb), widespread itching, fever, headache, nausea & light-headedness (to the point of collapse in one observed case). Few bites & no fatalities of humans reported for this species. Crotalus simus[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Viperidae

Scientific Names: Crotalus durissus (in part), C. d. culminatus, C. d. durissus, C. d. neoleonensis, C. d. tzabcan, C. s. culminatus, C. s. tzabcan, C. s. simus, C. terrificus (in part), C. t. copeanus

Common Names: Middle American rattlesnake, cascabel, vibora de cascabel, cascabela, chil-chil, kwechwah, quiakxop, sochaj, ahau-can, ah tsab ti'kkan, sakk ahaw kan, shunu, teotlacozauhqui, tepocolcoatl, teuhtlacozauhqui

DescriptionMedium-to-large, stout rattlesnake, adults usually 130-160 cm long (max. about 180 cm); body gray-brown, reddish-brown, yellowish-gray, yellowish-olive, straw, or orange; w/ 18-35 rhombic or diamond-shaped dorsal blotches, 27-33 midbody dorsal scale rows, belly whitish, yellowish or buff w/ gray blotches darker posteriorly, dark postocular stripe, conspicuous spinal ridge of strongly-keeled scales, tail w/ dark crossbands. HabitatFound mainly in semi-arid regions, w/ dry to very dry tropical forest, arid scrub forest, & thorn woodlands, but also sometimes in mesic forests in limestone outcrop areas, & along breaks in cloud forests. Ranges from central Mexico to western Costa Rica. Usually below 1,000 m but sometimes found at 1,500-2,200 m elevation. Also occurs on the Atlantic coast of Columbia; but no verified specimens from Panama. Activity and BehaviorNot well documented. Mainly diurnal, but often active at night, & mainly terrestrial. Ovoviviparous w/ 21 young/ litter reported for a captured female. Prey on available small mammals (sometimes also lizards &/or other snakes). Venom CharacteristicsMainly hemotoxic, but may have some tissue-necrotic factor(s). Bites often locally painful, may progress to swelling & necrosis if severaly envenomated.Crotalus spp.[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Viperidae

Scientific Names: Aploaspis, Aechmophrys, Caudisona, Crotalinus, Crotalophorus, Crotalurus, Haploaspis, Paracrotalus, Urocrotalon, Uropsophus [Note: This genus includes at least 30 currently named spp., & is most diverse on the Mexican plateau & surrounding mountains.]

Common Names: Rattlesnakes, pitvipers ("new world"), vipers

DescriptionSmall to large, mainly terrestrial, fairly stout-bodied pitvipers, w/ multiple hollow "scales" (at least 1) at the tail tip, usually retained through molting & "rattle" if tail is shaken. Body color may be brown, gray, green, red, pink or yellow, usually w/ dorsal pattern of darker rhombs, blotches or spots (varies by spp.), & belly lighter w/ darker spots or blotches, tail usually w/ multiple alternate dark & light rings (blend well w/ usual surroundings), w/ 2 folding, upper front fangs. HabitatFound in a wide range of habitats (varies by spp.), but most are found in brushy edges of open areas of forests or margins of dry, or seasonally dry (often desert), & often rocky areas. Found from below sea level to 4,500+ m elevation (varies w/ spp., see individual spp. listed). Activity and BehaviorMost spp. mainly terrestrial & mainly nocturnal, but varies w/ physical conditions of typical habitat (esp. temperatures), & sometimes w/ season of the year. Most spp. wait in typical sites to ambush prey (usually small mammals, lizards etc.; & varies by spp.). All are ovoviviparous, litter numbers vary w/ spp. & female's body size. Venom CharacteristicsMost spp. have mainly hemotoxic venom, often w/ additional tissue-necrotic factors (& sometimes neurotoxic or cardiotoxic factors). Many species can & do cause serious human envenomations & deaths each year (varies by individual spp.). Micrurus nigrocinctus[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Elapidae

Scientific Names: Elaps divaricatus, E. fulvius, E. melanocephalus, E. nigrocinctus, Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul, M. n. coibensis, M. n. divaricatus, M. n. mosquitensis, M. n. nigrocinctus, M. n. ovandoensis, M. n. ruatanus, M. n. wagneri, M. n. yatesi, M. n. zunilensis, Micrurus pacheoi

Common Names: Central American coral snake, coral, Coral Centroamericana, coralillo, gargantilla, salviara, limlim, babaspul, coral macho

DescriptionMedium-sized 3-colored coral snake, adults usually 60-75 cm long (max. 115 cm). Quite variable; may be 2- or 3-colored. Snout black, usually w/ a yellow ring (red in bicolored specimens) of variable width on head at about the midpoint. Body pattern usually fairly broad red rings separated by much narrower sets of yellow-black-yellow rings (rybyr). Usually w/ 10-24 black rings on body, & 3-8 more on tail.

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HabitatFound mainly in lowland rain forest, lowland dry forest, thorn forest, lower montane wet (or moist) forest, & lower montane dry forest. Occurs mainly from sea level to 1,300 m elevation (one report at 2,000 m). Occurs from southern Mexico to northwestern Colombia, except no specimens from Belize, so far. Activity and BehaviorMainly nocturnal, but active at dusk, dawn & sometimes after rains. Mainly terrestrial & burrows in loose soil & leaf litter. Usually not aggressive, but will bite if restrained or molested. Oviparous (clutch size reportedly 2-11 eggs) & eats locally available other snakes (cannibalistic), lizards, amphibians, & invertebrates. Venom CharacteristicsHas mainly potent neurotoxic venom which can be injected through a pair of grooved, upper, fixed front fangs. Due to the small size of their mouths, coral snake bites to humans usually occur on a finger or toe, & usually during attempts to catch the snake. This species is abundant throughout most of its range, & is the main cause of coralsnake bites of humans within its range. Pelamis platurus[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Hydrophiidae

Scientific Names: Anguis platura, Hydrophis bicolor var. sinuata, H. pelamis, Hydrus bicolor, H. platurus, Pelamis bicolor, P. b. var. sinuata, P. b. var. variegata, P. ornata. P. platurus, P. schneideri

Common Names: Yellow-bellied sea snake, Pelagic sea snake, cantil listada, zapatilla, serpiente de mar

DescriptionMedium-sized, slender sea snake, adults usually <75 cm long (max. 113 cm). The tail is laterally flattened & oarlike. Body color pattern is highly variable (in detail) but basically involves a black or brown dorsum w/ a yellow or cream venter (lower half). Color of tail is yellow, w/ alternating upper & lower large dark blotches (somtimes w/ 1 or more stripes) on both sides.

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HabitatFound only in the Pacific & Indian Oceans; sometimes drifts in large numbers in offshore waters w/ temperatures >20 degrees C. Can be found in coastal (or even open ocean) marine waters from South Africa, to the Persian Gulf, to India, to Australia, to the western coasts of Central & northern South America. Rarely, individual specimens may be found outside this range (e.g, on western Mexican coast). Activity and BehaviorUsually floats among flotsam or floating seaweed at the surface in tropical or subtopical zones of the Pacific & northern Indian Oceans. Captures small fish that happen near via a quick sideways lunge. Quite inoffensive, but when restrained or when stranded on a beach it will bite (& may actively strike) to defend itself. Venom CharacteristicsHighly potent venom containing post-synaptic neurotoxins. Most natural marine predators, like predatory fish & even sharks, usually avoid this snake. Scavengers also tend to avoid specimens which have been washed up onto a beach & are dying. Porthidium ophryomegas[ TOC ] IdentificationFamily: Viperidae

Scientific Names: Bothriechis ophryomegas, Bothropsis ophryomegas, Bothrops ophryomegas, B. lansbergii annectens, Trimeresurus lansbergii annectens, T. ophryomegas

Common Names: Slender hog-nosed pit viper, Western hog-nosed pit viper, vibora castellana, tamagas negro, toboba, toboba chinga, toboba gata, corniz, chatilla

DescriptionSmall, fairly slender pitviper w/ upturned snout, adults usually 40-50 cm long (max. 80 cm). Body may be tan, brown, gray, or grayish-brown, w/ a narrow white, yellow, or rust brown middorsal line, 23-28 (usually 25) midbody dorsal scale rows, & 24-40 dark rhombs along each side. Dark postocular stripe, belly paler w/ heavy dark brown mottling (esp. along front edge of each ventral scale). Some specimens very pale w/ much lighter markings. Tail heavily mottled on basal half, paler near tip.

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HabitatMainly found in seasonally dry forests, including tropical dry & arid forest, subtropical dry forest, & the drier portions of tropical moist forest. Occurs from sea level to 1,000 m elevation. May occur in suitable habitats in southeastern Mexico, but no specimens documented from there, so far. Activity and BehaviorMainly terrestrial & mainly nocturnal; most active during local rainy seasons. Alert & quick to strike, especially if molested. Ovoviviparous w/ 12-19 young/ litter observed for captured specimens. Preys mainly on lizards, frogs, & small mammals. Venom CharacteristicsNot much known, but probably mainly hemotoxic w/ tissue-necrotic factors. Reportedly has relatively low venom yield, & envenomation should usually have only mild to moderately severe effects (mainly pain & swelling). No human fatalities reported, so far, from bites by this species.