Eyelash viper Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Eyelash viper

An eyelash viper in Melbourne Zoo, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Crotalinae
Genus:	Bothriechis
Species:	B. schlegelii

The eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) is a species of venomous pit viper found in Central and South America. The scientific name Bothriechis schlegelii is for the German ornithologist, Hermann Schlegel.

Description
Behavior
- Feeding
Common names
Where they live
- Habitat
Images for kids
See also

Description

The eyelash viper is a small species of snake, and rarely ever grows longer than the length of 75 cm (2.5 ft). Females are larger than males. It gets the name "eyelash viper" because it has a small group of scales over its eyes which make it look like the snake has eyelashes. The eyelash viper comes in many colors like green, yellow, red, brown or even pink.

Behavior

Like other snakes of the genus Bothriechis, this species is arboreal, meaning it lives in trees. The eyelash viper is nocturnal. It is not known to be aggressive, but if annoyed or disturbed it doesn't hesitate to strike. The viper is viviparous, meaning it gives live birth. It gives birth to around 10 to 12 young at a time. When they are born, young vipers are 5-9 inches long.

Feeding

Eyelash vipers capture their prey by ambushing. They feed on small rodents, small birds, frogs, and lizards.

Common names

The eyelash viper is also known as the 'eyelash mountain viper", the "horned palm viper", Schlegel's viper", and the "eyelash palm-pit viper". It is also known as the "bocaracá" in Costa Rica and other Central and South American countries.

Where they live

The eyelash viper is found in southern Mexico, southeastward to the Atlantic lowlands, through Central America to northern South America in Colombia and Venezuela. It is also found in parts of Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Peru.