Viperidae
Chocoan bushmaster
VenomousLachesis acrochorda
The Chocoan bushmaster (Lachesis acrochorda) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
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 Chocoan bushmaster
Lachesis acrochorda, also known commonly as the Chocoan bushmaster, is a species of pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to Central America and South America.
Taxonomy
L. acrochorda was formerly considered a synonym of Lachesis stenophrys.
Description
L. acrochorda has a light brown head and black postocular stripes that can range from 1–2 scales wide. The longest recorded length of a male individual in Ecuador was 2.327 m (7.63 ft); for females it was 2.342 m (7.68 ft).
Geographic range
L. acrochorda is found in Panama, northern and western Colombia (in the Departments of Chocó, Cauca and Antioquia), and northwestern Ecuador.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of L. acrochorda is lowland forest, premontane wet forest, and montane wet forest, mostly in mature forests, at altitudes from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft).
Behavior
L. acrochorda is terrestrial and nocturnal.
Reproduction
L. acrochorda is oviparous.
Venom
The venom of L. acrochorda is extremely dangerous in that a snakebite incident will result in a 90% chance of death. Its venom can cause serious side effects, such as vasodilation and blood anti-coagulation.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Chocoan bushmaster
- Is the Chocoan bushmaster venomous?
- Yes. The Chocoan bushmaster (Lachesis acrochorda) 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 Chocoan bushmaster poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Chocoan bushmaster is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Chocoan 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 Chocoan bushmaster live?
- The Chocoan bushmaster has verified records in 3 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Panama. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Chocoan bushmaster
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
South American BushmasterLachesis muta
Central American BushmasterLachesis stenophrys
Atlantic Forest bushmasterLachesis rhombeata
Black-headed BushmasterLachesis melanocephala
Western RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus
Western Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox
Eastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix
Northern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus
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.