Honduran palm pit viper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Honduran palm pit viper |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Bothriechis
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| Species: |
marchi
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The Honduran palm pit viper (scientific name: Bothriechis marchi) is a type of venomous snake. It's also known as March's palm pit viper. This snake belongs to a group called pitvipers, which are part of the Viperidae family. You can only find this snake in Central America, meaning it's endemic there. There are no different types or subspecies of this snake known.
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Why is it Called March's Palm Pit Viper?
The second part of the snake's scientific name, marchi, honors a scientist named Douglas H. March. He studied reptiles and amphibians, which are called herpetologists. Sadly, he passed away in 1939 from a bite by another type of snake called a fer-de-lance.
What Does it Look Like?
Adult Honduran palm pit vipers often grow to be more than 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) long. The longest one ever recorded was 96.8 centimeters (about 38 inches). This snake is usually green and has a slender body. It also has a special tail that can grip things, which is called a prehensile tail.
Where Does it Live?
The Honduran palm pit viper is found on the Atlantic side of northwestern Honduras. It might also live in eastern Guatemala. Reports of it being in Nicaragua are probably not correct. This snake prefers to live in moist forests. It can be found at elevations from 500 to 1,500 meters (about 1,640 to 4,920 feet) above sea level. The first place where this snake was officially found was near the Gold Mines at Quimistan in the Santa Barbara area of Honduras.
Reproduction
The Honduran palm pit viper is a viviparous snake. This means that instead of laying eggs, the mother snake gives birth to live young.
