Bothrops fonsecai, also known commonly as Fonseca's lancehead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae.[3] The species is endemic to Brazil.[4]

Bothrops fonsecai
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bothrops
Species:
B. fonsecai
Binomial name
Bothrops fonsecai
Synonyms[2]
  • Rhinocerophis fonsecai
    Fenwick et al., 2009

Etymology

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The specific name, fonsecai, is in honor of Dr. Flavio da Fonseca, who was head of the laboratory of parasitology at the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil.[2][5]

Geographic range

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B. fonsecai is found in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.[2]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of B. fonsecai is forest, at altitudes up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft).[1]

Description

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Adults of B. fonsecai have a total length (including tail) of about 1 m (39 in).[1]

Behavior

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B. fonsecai is terrestrial.[1]

Diet

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B. fonsecai preys upon small mammals.[1]

Reproduction

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B. fonsecai is ovoviviparous.[2] Litter size is 14 or less.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Silveira AL, Prudente ALC, Argôlo AJS, Abrahão CR, Nogueira CC, Barbo FE, Costa GC, Pontes GMF, Colli GR, Zaher HD, Borges-Martins M, Martins MRC, Oliveira ME, Passos PGH, Bérnils RS, Sawaya RJ, Cechin CTZ (2021). "Bothrops fonsecai ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T15203927A123738694.en. Accessed on 04 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Species Bothrops fonsecai at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  4. ^ "Bothrops ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 November 2006.
  5. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Bothrops fonsecai, p. 91).

Further reading

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  • Fenwick AM, Gutberlet RL Jr, Evans JA, Parkinson CL (2009). "Morphological and molecular evidence for phylogeny and classification of South American pitvipers, genera Bothrops, Bothriopsis, and Bothrocophias (Serpentes: Viperidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3): 617–640. (Rhinocerophis fonsecai, new combination).
  • Hoge RA, Belluomini HE (1959). "Uma nova espécie de Bothrops do Brasil (Serpentes) ". Memórias do Instituto Butantan 28: 195–206. (Bothrops fonsecai, new species). (in Portuguese).
  • Menezes FA, Furtado SG, Feio RN, Almeida-Santos SM (2019). "Bothrops fonsecai (Fonseca's Lancehead). Reproduction". Herpetological Review 50 (3): 586–587.