Viperidae
Broad-horned Pitviper
VenomousOphryacus sphenophrys
3 photographs of the Broad-horned Pitviper. (c) MarkEOlson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Broad-horned Pitviper (Ophryacus sphenophrys) 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 Broad-horned Pitviper
Common names: Broad-horned pitviper.
Ophryacus sphenophrys is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the mountains of eastern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
No rattle. Head wide with a pointed snout. Broad supraocular horn present, which is in contact with upper preocular. Horn shape is wider than tall. Internasal shape slightly keeled. Canth is pointed then fused with horn. 10 supralabials, 3 interoculabials, 10–12 intersupraoculars, 33 interrictals, 171 ventrals. There is a short and straight tail spine. Palatine teeth absent.
Body bright yellow with black stippling and reticulations all over the dorsum. There are 40 dark blotches, which are outlined in black. In mid dorsal region, it forms an undulating dark stripe. Head also bright yellow in color and contains black stippling. On the parietal portion of the head, there is a distinctive dark blotch in the shape of the letter “M”. Ventral surface yellow and flecked with small black spots. Tail darker olive-green with pale yellow banding. Scales of head speckled with green. There is a faint pale gray-green postocular stripe.
Geographic range
It is found in south-central Oaxaca. Habitats include montane cloud forest, humid pine–oak woodland and pine forest with secondary vegetation.
Behavior
Terrestrial and less arboreal.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Broad-horned Pitviper
- Is the Broad-horned Pitviper venomous?
- Yes. The Broad-horned Pitviper (Ophryacus sphenophrys) 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 Broad-horned Pitviper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Broad-horned Pitviper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Broad-horned Pitviper 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 Broad-horned Pitviper live?
- The Broad-horned Pitviper has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Broad-horned Pitviper
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
More Viperidae snakes
Mexican Horned Pit ViperOphryacus undulatus
Emerald Horned PitviperOphryacus smaragdinus
Western RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus
Western Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox
Eastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix
Northern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus
AdderVipera berus
Timber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
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.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.