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Viperidae

Lansberg's Hognose Viper

Venomous

Porthidium lansbergii

Lansberg's Hognose Viper
Porthidium lansbergii, © Carlos Ceballos
Lansberg's Hognose ViperLansberg's Hognose ViperLansberg's Hognose ViperLansberg's Hognose ViperLansberg's Hognose Viper

6 photographs of the Lansberg's Hognose Viper. © Carlos Ceballos.

The Lansberg's Hognose Viper (Porthidium lansbergii) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 4 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 Lansberg's Hognose Viper

Common names: Lansberg's hognosed pit viper.

Porthidium lansbergii is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to eastern Central America and northwestern South America. Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Etymology

The specific name, lansbergii, is in honor of "M[onsieur]. de Lansberge" (Reinhart Frans von Lansberge), Dutch consul at Caracas, Venezuela, in 1841.

Description

Adults of P. lansbergii average 30–50 cm (11+3⁄4–19+5⁄8 in) in total length (including tail), with a maximum of 90 cm (35+1⁄2 in). A terrestrial snake, it is moderately slender.

Common names

Common names for P. lansbergii include Lansberge's hog-nosed pit-viper. It is also called patoca in Colombia and Panama.

Geographic range

P. lansbergii is found in extreme eastern Central America in the xeric coastal lowlands of central and eastern Panama, in northern South America in the Atlantic lowlands of Colombia and northern Venezuela, as well as in the Pacific lowlands of Ecuador. The type locality given is "les environs de Turbaco [Department de Bolívar], en Colombie ". According to Amaral (1929), the holotype is likely from Tumaco.

According to the range map provided by Campbell & Lamar (2004), the subspecies P. l. rozei and P. l. lansbergii intergrade in the northern part of the Guajira Peninsula.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of P. lansbergii is forest, from sea level to 1,270 m (4,170 ft).

Subspecies

Nota bene: A trinomial authority (taxon author) in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Porthidium.

Taxonomy

Campbell & Lamar (2004) elevated P. arcosae (originally P. l. arcosae) to full species.

Reproduction

P. lansbergii is viviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Lansberg's Hognose Viper

Is the Lansberg's Hognose Viper venomous?
Yes. The Lansberg's Hognose Viper (Porthidium lansbergii) 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 Lansberg's Hognose Viper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Lansberg's Hognose Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Lansberg's Hognose Viper 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 Lansberg's Hognose Viper live?
The Lansberg's Hognose Viper has verified records in 4 countries, including Colombia, Panama, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Lansberg's Hognose Viper?
The specific name, lansbergii, is in honor of "M[onsieur]. de Lansberge" (Reinhart Frans von Lansberge), Dutch consul at Caracas, Venezuela, in 1841.

If you are bitten by the Lansberg's Hognose Viper

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

ColombiaPanamaVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)Nicaragua

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

Keep learning

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