Snake FinderField Guide · Worldwide

Viperidae

Black-headed Bushmaster

Venomous

Lachesis melanocephala

Black-headed Bushmaster
Lachesis melanocephala, © Rob Foster
Black-headed BushmasterBlack-headed BushmasterBlack-headed BushmasterBlack-headed BushmasterBlack-headed Bushmaster

6 photographs of the Black-headed Bushmaster. © Rob Foster.

The Black-headed Bushmaster (Lachesis melanocephala) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 1 country.

If you are bitten

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.

Family
Viperidae
Danger
high

About the Black-headed Bushmaster

Lachesis melanocephala is a species of pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to Costa Rica and Panama. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Common names

Common names for L. melanocephala include black-headed bushmaster, as well as cascabel muda ("silent rattlesnake") and matabuey in Spanish.

Description

Adults of L. melanocephala frequently grow to 1.9–2 m (6.2–6.6 ft) in total length (including tail). The largest reported specimens were 2.3 m (7.5 ft) by Solórzano (2004), and 2.4 m (7.9 ft) by Ripa (2001).

The top of the head is uniform black in color, to which the specific name, melanocephala, and common name refer.

Geographic range

L. melanocephala is found in Costa Rica on the Pacific versant of southeastern Puntarenas province from near sea level to about 1500 m (about 4,900 feet). It is also found in Finca Hartmann in Panama's Chiriqui Province. The type locality given is "tropical rainforest 9 km northern of Ciudad Neily in southeastern Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica."

Campbell and Lamar (2004) describe its range as southwestern Costa Rica and possibly extreme western Panama, but state that almost all locality records are from Puntarenas province. Savage (2002) and Dwyer & Perez (2009) confirmed its existence in Panama.

Diet

L. melanocephala preys predominately upon small rodents, especially spiny rats.

Reproduction

L. melanocephala is oviparous. In captivity, females typically lay clutches of 5-19 eggs in a burrow where the eggs will incubate for 60-80 days. Dean Ripa, who survived four envenomations from bushmaster snakes, was the first person to breed the black-headed bushmaster (L. melanocephala) in captivity, of which were supplied to zoos and research institutions internationally.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Black-headed Bushmaster

Is the Black-headed Bushmaster venomous?
Yes. The Black-headed Bushmaster (Lachesis melanocephala) 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 Black-headed Bushmaster poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black-headed Bushmaster is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Black-headed 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 Black-headed Bushmaster live?
The Black-headed Bushmaster has verified records in 1 country, including Costa Rica. See the distribution section below for its full range.
What does the Black-headed Bushmaster eat?
L. melanocephala preys predominately upon small rodents, especially spiny rats.
Why is it called the Black-headed Bushmaster?
Common names for L. melanocephala include black-headed bushmaster, as well as cascabel muda ("silent rattlesnake") and matabuey in Spanish.

If you are bitten by the Black-headed Bushmaster

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do

  • Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
  • Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
  • Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
  • Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
  • Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
  • Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

Do not

  • Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
  • Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
  • Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
  • Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
  • Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.

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

Costa Rica

More Viperidae snakes

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 melanocephala

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.