Jumping Pit Viper
Metlapilcoatlus nummifer

f16 @ 1/40s, ISO:1250, Nikon D3S w 105mm macro


"Jumping Pit Viper," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Commonly known as Mexican jumping pitviper or jumping viper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Mexico. Adults are short and exceedingly stout, commonly growing to 18–24 inches (46–61 centimetres) in total length. The snout is rounded with a sharp canthus. At midbody there are 23-27 rows of dorsal scales that are strongly keeled, tubercular in large specimens. The ventral scales are 121-135, while the subcaudals are 26-36 and mostly single. The eye is separated from the labial scales by 3-4 rows of small scales. The color pattern consists of a tan, light brown or gray ground color that is overlaid with a series of around 20 dark brown or black rhomboid blotches. The lower tips of these blotches often connect with spots on the flanks to form narrow crossbands. The top of the head is dark with oblique postorbital stripes, below which the side of the head is a lighter color. The belly is whitish, occasionally with dark brown blotches. These snakes have sometimes been mistaken for young bushmasters (Lachesis muta), but can easily be identified by their lack of a specialized tail tip.
El Valle de Anton, Panama
 
02/19/2019