Bothriechis schlegelii

Bothriechis schlegelii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Bothriechis
Species:	B. schlegelii
Binomial name
Bothriechis schlegelii (Berthold, 1846)
Synonyms
Trigonocephalus Schlegelii Berthold, 1846 [Trigonocephalus] Schlegelii — Berthold, 1846 Lachesis nitidus Günther, 1859 T[eleuraspis]. Schlegeli — Cope, 1860 B[othrops]. Schlegeli — Jan, 1863 Bothrops (Teleuraspis) nigroadspersus Steindachner, 1870 Teleuraspis schlegelii — Cope, 1871 Teleuraspis nigroadspersus — Cope, 1871 Teleuraspis nitida — Cope, 1871 Bothrops Schlegelii — Jan & , 1875 Th[anatos]. Schlegelii — , 1889 Thanatos torvus Posada Arango, 1889 Th[anatophis]. Schlegelii — Posada Arango, 1889 Thanatophis torvus — Posada Arango, 1889 Bothriechis schlegeli — Günther, 1895 Lachesis nitida — Günther, 1895 Lachesis schlegelii — Boulenger, 1896 Thanatophis colgadora Garcia, 1896 Lachesis schlegeli — Boettger, 1898 Trimeresurus schlegelii — Mocquard, 1909 Bothriechis schlegelii — Cuesta Terron, 1930 Bothrops schlegelii supraciliaris Taylor, 1954 [Bothrops schlegelii schlegelii ] — Taylor, 1954 Bothrops schlegeli supraciliaris — & Berg, 1962 [Bothrops supraciliaris] — , 1963 Bothrops schlegeli — , 1966 Trigonocephalus schlegelii — Hoge, 1966 Bothriechis schlegelii — Campbell & Lamar, 1989

Bothriechis schlegelii, the eyelash viper, is a venomous pit viper species found in Central and South America. Small and arboreal, this species is characterized by a wide array of color variations, as well as the superciliary scales above the eyes. It is the most common of the green palm-pitvipers (genus Bothriechis), and is often present in zoological exhibits. The specific name schlegelii honors Hermann Schlegel, who was a German ornithologist and herpetologist. For other common names see below. No subspecies are currently recognized.

The eyelash viper is a relatively small species of pitviper, with adults ranging from 55–82 cm (22–32 in) long, and females being longer and more variable in size than males, which can grow to 69 cm (27 in) long. It has a wide, triangular-shaped head, and eyes with vertical pupils. Like all pit vipers, it is solenoglyphous, having large, hypodermic needle-like fangs in the front of the upper jaw that fold back when not in use, and has heat sensitive organs, or pits, located on either side of the head between the eye and nostril.

Its most distinguishing feature, and origin of its common name, is the set of modified scales above the eyes that look much like eyelashes. The eyelashes are thought to aid in camouflage, breaking up the snake's outline among the foliage where it hides. B. schlegelii occurs in a wide range of colors, including red, yellow, brown, green, even pink, as well as various combinations thereof. It often has black or brown speckling on the base color. No external features distinguish the two sexes.

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Wikipedia