Metlapilcoatlus nummifer

Metlapilcoatlus nummifer, commonly known as Mexican jumping pitviper[2] or jumping viper,[3] is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Mexico.

Metlapilcoatlus nummifer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Metlapilcoatlus
Species:
M. nummifer
Binomial name
Metlapilcoatlus nummifer
(Rüppell, 1845)
Synonyms
  • Atropos nummifer Rüppell, 1845
  • T[rigonocephalus]. nummifer
    – Jan, 1859
  • T[eleuraspis]. nummifer
    – Cope, 1860
  • B[othrops]. nummifer – Jan, 1863
  • Th[anotos]. nummifer
    – Posada Arango, 1889
  • Th[anotophis]. nummifer
    – Posada Arango, 1889
  • Bothriechis nummifera
    – Günther, 1895
  • Lachesis nummifer – Boulenger, 1896
  • Lachesis nummifera – Boettger, 1898
  • Trimeresurus nummifer
    – Mocquard, 1909
  • Bothriochis mammifera
    Recinos, 1913 (ex errore)
  • Bothrops nummifera – March, 1929
  • T[rimeresurus]. n[ummifer]. nummifer – Dunn, 1939
  • Bothrops nummifer nummifer
    – Burger, 1950
  • Bothrops nummifer veraecrusis Burger, 1950
  • Porthidium nummifer
    – Campbell & Lamar, 1989
  • Atropoides nummifer
    – Werman, 1992[1]

Description

Adults are short and exceedingly stout, commonly growing to 18–24 inches (46–61 centimetres) in total length. The snout is rounded with a sharp canthus.[3]

At midbody there are 23-27 rows of dorsal scales that are strongly keeled, tubercular in large specimens. The ventral scales are 121-135, while the subcaudals are 26-36 and mostly single. The eye is separated from the labial scales by 3-4 rows of small scales.[3]

The color pattern consists of a tan, light brown or gray ground color that is overlaid with a series of around 20 dark brown or black rhomboid blotches. The lower tips of these blotches often connect with spots on the flanks to form narrow crossbands. The top of the head is dark with oblique postorbital stripes, below which the side of the head is a lighter color. The belly is whitish, occasionally with dark brown blotches.[3]

These snakes have sometimes been mistaken for young bushmasters (Lachesis muta), but can easily be identified by their lack of a specialized tail tip.[3]

Geographic range

Found in eastern Mexico from San Luis Potosí southeastward on the Atlantic versant and lowlands. Found in various types of forest, including cloud forest and rain forest at 40–1,600 m (130–5,250 ft) altitude. The type originally lacked locality information, but apparently "Mexico" was filled in some time later. A restriction to Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, was proposed by Burger (1950).[1] Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus and Metlapilcoatlus occiduus were both formerly considered subspecies.

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[4] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.[5]

References
  1. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
  3. U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
  4. Atropoides nummifer at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 14 September 2007.
  5. 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 14 September 2007.

Further reading
  • Rüppell, E. 1845. Verzeichnis der in dem Museum der Senckenbergischen naturforschenden Gesellschaft aufgestellten Sammlungen. Dritte Abteilung: Amphibien. Mus. Senckenbergianum 3 (3): 293-316. (Atropos nummifer)
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