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Bothrops atrox — also known as the common lancehead, fer-de-lance, barba amarilla, [3] and mapepire balsain — is a highly venomous pit viper species found in the tropical lowlands of northern South America east of the Andes, as well as the Caribbean island of Trinidad. [2] No subspecies are currently recognized. [4]
Bothrops lanceolatus — known as the fer-de-lance, Martinican pit viper, [3] and Martinique lancehead [1] [4] [5] — is a species of pit viper endemic to the Caribbean island of Martinique. [1] [4] Some reserve the common name fer-de-lance for this species, while others apply that name to other Bothrops species, as well.
The venom of the fer-de-lance is so potent that didelphine opossums (i.e., opossums like the Virginia opossum), which are normally immune to the venom of pit vipers and rattlesnakes, are still capable of succumbing to the venom of this snake. This is especially the case if the opossum is not fully grown (and thus the venom is more concentrated ...
Fer-de-Lance is French for spearhead (literally "iron of the lance"), and may refer to: Snakes of the genus Bothrops, especially: B. lanceolatus, the Martinique lancehead snake; B. caribbaeus, the Saint Lucia lancehead; B. atrox, the common lancehead, native to tropical South America east of the Andes and to Trinidad
Bothrops is a genus of highly venomous pit vipers endemic to the Neotropics. [1] The generic name, Bothrops, is derived from the Greek words βόθρος, bothros, meaning ' pit ', and ὄψ, ops, meaning ' eye ' or ' face ', together an allusion to the heat-sensitive loreal pit organs.
Four species are venomous: two coral snake species (Micrurus spp. [note 1]), the fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox) and the South American bushmaster (Lachesis muta). The common coral ( Micrurus fulvius ) is found on at least two of the Bocas Islands: Gaspar Grande and Monos.
In Brazil, 70-90% of accidents are caused by Bothrops species. The most important are Bothrops asper known as the Fer-de-Lance or Terciopelo, found in Mexico, Central America and north South America, Bothrops atrox or Common lancehead endemic to the Amazon, and Bothrops jararaca found in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
In Brazil and probably also in other countries in their area of distribution, this species is probably the most dangerous rattlesnake. After the fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper), it is the most common cause of snake envenoming. In the first half of the 20th century as well as in the 1950s and 1960s, 12% of treated cases ended fatally.