Viperidae
Desert Lancehead
VenomousBothrops pictus
The Desert Lancehead (Bothrops pictus) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 2 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 Desert Lancehead
Bothrops pictus, commonly known in English as the desert lancehead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to South America.
Geographic range
B. pictus is found along the coast of Peru, at altitudes from sea level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).
Description
Adults of B. pictus may attain a total length of 31 cm (12 in), which includes a tail 4.3 cm (1.7 in) long.
Dorsally, B. pictus has a pale brown ground color, overlaid with a series of large brown black-edged squarish blotches, which may merge to form a thick wavy or zig zag stripe. On each flank is a series of smaller roundish blotches of the same color as the dorsal blotches. There is a dark streak from behind the eye to the corner of the mouth. Ventrally, it is yellowish with brown dots or spots.
The strongly keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 21 to 23 rows at midbody. Ventrals 157–172; anal plate undivided; subcaudals divided, 40-74 pairs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Desert Lancehead
- Is the Desert Lancehead venomous?
- Yes. The Desert Lancehead (Bothrops pictus) 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 Desert Lancehead poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Desert Lancehead is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Desert Lancehead 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 Desert Lancehead live?
- The Desert Lancehead has verified records in 2 countries, including Peru, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Desert Lancehead
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
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.