South American Fer-de-Lance (Bothrops atrox)

PNYC - Pampa Pescado, Pasco, Peru. Oct 15, 2020

comments (6)

Thibaud Aronson

Lion

That night I woke up to a growling hoot right above my tent - a Crested Owl! I scrambled to get dressed, grab my camera, binoculars, and lights, but by the time I got out, it had moved to the edge of camp. I followed it around for a while, but couldn't get a look, hidden as it was in the canopy.
When I'm out at night in tropical forests, I always carry two flashlights, one to search the canopy, and one to light the path, and I never take a step without looking at the ground before me. Once again, that proved to be wise, as I suddenly came upon this Fer-de-lance coiled right on the path.
Veeeery slowly I went around it, skirting the bushes on the other edge of the path, keeping at least a meter between us as he watched me pass. Of course, I never found the owl, but that provided the excitement for the night! Posted 4 years ago
1. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  WOW! I bet that got your adrenaline going! Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Yikes! Good luck getting back to sleep after such excitement. Posted 4 years ago
  2. Thibaud Aronson
    
    Lion
    
    Haha indeed! What's most impressive with these guys is that every time I've encountered a fer-de-lance, they've never moved an inch. They're not aggressive, but they certainly don't slither away like most snakes. They always stand their ground, cool as cucumbers. Posted 4 years ago

Wesley Goorachan

Lion

Magnificent photo and species, proof that sometimes the photo is more appreciated when there's a good story behind it! Posted 4 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Wesley! Are there a lot of venomous snakes on T&T? Posted 4 years ago

The Common Lancehead

"Bothrops atrox" — also known as the common lancehead, "fer-de-lance", "barba amarilla" and "mapepire balsain" — is a highly venomous pit viper species found in the tropical lowlands of northern South America east of the Andes. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Info 12 0

Similar species: Snakes And Lizards

Species identified by Thibaud Aronson