Terciopelo
Terciopelo
Bothrops asper
Reptilia
UNCOMMON

Stats

Lifespan
15-21 yrs
Size
Large
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Social
Solitary
Biome
Tropical rainforest
Range
Central America
Movement
Slithering
Breeding
Live Birth
Defense
Venom
Status
Uncommon

About

The terciopelo is the most medically significant venomous snake in Central America, responsible for more human snakebite deaths than any other species in its range. Females are notably larger than males and can give birth to clutches of up to 86 live young.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    hatchling
    A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
  3. 3.
    adult
    Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Viperidae
Genus
Bothrops
Species
Bothrops asper