Atlantic Forest bushmaster

About the Atlantic Forest bushmaster

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Atlantic Forest bushmaster

Is the Atlantic Forest bushmaster venomous?

Yes. The Atlantic Forest bushmaster (Lachesis rhombeata) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.

Is the Atlantic Forest bushmaster poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Atlantic Forest bushmaster is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.

Is the Atlantic Forest bushmaster dangerous?

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Where does the Atlantic Forest bushmaster live?

The Atlantic Forest bushmaster has verified records in 1 country, including Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Atlantic Forest bushmaster

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Where it is found

More Viperidae snakes

• 
  South American Bushmaster
  Lachesis muta
• 
  Chocoan bushmaster
  Lachesis acrochorda
• 
  Central American Bushmaster
  Lachesis stenophrys
• 
  Black-headed Bushmaster
  Lachesis melanocephala
• 
  Western Rattlesnake
  Crotalus oreganus
• 
  Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
  Crotalus atrox
• 
  Eastern Copperhead
  Agkistrodon contortrix
• 
  Northern Cottonmouth
  Agkistrodon piscivorus

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards

Squamata

FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits

Viperidae

GenusA close-knit group of very similar species

Lachesis

SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name

Lachesis rhombeata

Keep learning

• Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
• Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
• Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
• What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.