Bothrops ammodytoides

Patagonia - lance (Bothrops ammodytoides )

The Patagonia - lance (Bothrops ammodytoides ), in her home known as Cenicienta or Yararanata ', is a South American pit viper, which is located exclusively in Argentina. This relatively small poisonous snake is distributed at the most southern of all snake species on earth.

Features

The body length is max. 1 m, the average value, however, lies at 70 cm or less. The main feature is the spa located on the tip of the nose spike. The basic coloration of the body varies depending on the region between brown to gray, it is provided with dark spots. The head is, as with most Viperidae, deposed triangular and distinct from the neck.

Dissemination

The Cenicienta comes only in Argentina, where only the east front of the Andes. The distribution area extends into southern Patagonia ( about 47 ° S latitude ), no other snake on earth lives south. It occurs at altitudes of up to 2000 m.

Food

Bothrops ammodytoides feeds mostly on lizards and frogs.

Etymology

The word comes from the Greek ammodytoides. It consists of ammos, which stands for sand, dytes means divers and the suffix - oides, " the form of have something." This taxonomic name was the type on the basis of their sandy habitat and the conspicuous spine on the snout.