Lachesis acrochorda

Lachesis acrochorda, also known as the Chocoan bushmaster,[2] is a venomous pit viper species found in Central and South America.

Lachesis acrochorda
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Lachesis
Species:
L. acrochorda
Binomial name
Lachesis acrochorda
(García, 1896)
Synonyms
  • Bothrops achrochordus García, 1896

Taxonomy

It was formerly considered a synonym of Lachesis stenophrys.[3]

Description

Lachesis acrochorda has a light brown head and black postocular stripes that can range from 1-2 scales wide. The highest recorded length of a male individual in Ecuador was 2.327 m; for females it was 2.342 m.[3]

Distribution and habitat

L. acrochorda is found in Panama, north and western Colombia (in the Departments of Chocó, Cauca and Antioquia) and northwestern Ecuador in lowland forest, premontane wet forest, and montane wet forest, mostly in mature forests.[1]

Venom

The venom of this species is extremely dangerous in that a snakebite incident will result in a 90% chance of death. Lachesis acrochorda venom can cause serious side effects, such as vasodilation and blood anti-coagulation.[4]

References
  1. Ibáñez, R.; Jaramillo, C.; Ortega, A.; Caicedo, J.R. (2021). "Lachesis acrochorda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2021: e.T203667A2769578. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T203667A2769578.en.
  2. Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
  3. Lachesis acrochorda at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 5 September 2015.
  4. Angel-Camilo, Karen Leonor; Guerrero-Vargas, Jimmy Alexander; Carvalho, Emanuella Feitosa de; Lima-Silva, Karine; de Siqueira, Rodrigo José Bezerra; Freitas, Lyara Barbosa Nogueira; Sousa, João Antônio Costa de; Mota, Mario Rogério Lima; Santos, Armênio Aguiar dos; Neves-Ferreira, Ana Gisele da Costa; Havt, Alexandre (2020-09-01). "Disorders on cardiovascular parameters in rats and in human blood cells caused by Lachesis acrochorda snake venom". Toxicon. 184: 180–191. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.06.009. ISSN 0041-0101. PMID 32585218.


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