Picado's jumping pitviper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atropoides |
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| A Mexican Jumping Pit viper, Atropoides nummifer | |
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Atropoides
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Atropoides is a group of venomous snakes known as Pit vipers. You can find them in Mexico and Central America. There are currently three different types, or species, of Atropoides snakes. People often call them "Jumping Pit vipers" or "Jumping Vipers" because of how they strike!
Contents
What are Jumping Vipers like?
Jumping Vipers can grow quite long, usually around 90 centimeters (about 3 feet). The longest one ever found was an amazing 120.2 centimeters (almost 4 feet) long! These snakes have thick bodies. The Mexican Jumping Pit viper is the thickest, while the Picado's Jumping Pit viper is a bit slimmer.
They have a big head with small eyes and a rounded snout. Their tail is quite short. Their skin can be gray-brown, reddish-brown, or even black. They also have brown blotches or spots on their bodies.
Where do Jumping Vipers live?
These interesting snakes live in different parts of North and Central America. You can find them in the mountains of eastern Mexico. They also live in the lowlands of Central America and Panama.
How do Jumping Vipers behave?
Even though they are called "Jumping Vipers," these snakes don't actually jump around like a rabbit. The name comes from how powerfully they strike! When they attack an enemy or catch prey, they strike with such force that they might lift off the ground for a moment.
Jumping Vipers are usually slow-moving snakes. They are not known for being very aggressive. They can be active both during the day and at night. However, those that live in higher places, like mountains, tend to be more active during the daytime.
What do Jumping Vipers eat?
Adult Jumping Vipers mostly eat small mammals, like mice, and different kinds of lizards. Young Jumping Vipers have a slightly different diet. They prefer to eat orthopteran insects, which include things like grasshoppers and crickets. They also enjoy eating skinks, which are a type of small lizard.
Types of Jumping Vipers
There are three main species of Atropoides snakes:
- Mexican Jumping Pit Viper, known scientifically as A. nummifer
- Tuxtlan Jumping Pit Viper, known scientifically as A. olmec
- Picado's Jumping Pit Viper, known scientifically as A. picadoi
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