Is the March's Palm Pit Viper venomous?

Yes. The March's Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis marchi) 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 March's Palm Pit Viper poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The March's Palm Pit Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.

Where does the March's Palm Pit Viper live?

The March's Palm Pit Viper has verified records in 3 countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Viperidae

March's Palm Pit Viper

Venomous

Bothriechis marchi

The March's Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis marchi) 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 March's Palm Pit Viper

Bothriechis marchi, also known commonly as the Honduran palm pit viper and March's palm pit viper, is a species of pit viper, a venomous snake, in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to Central America. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Etymology

The specific name, marchi, is in honor of herpetologist Douglas H. March, who died from the bite of a fer-de-lance in 1939.

Description

Adults of Bothriechis marchi often grow to more than 80 centimetres (31 in) in total length (tail included). The largest specimen on record was 96.8 centimetres (38.1 in). March's palm pit viper is green and relatively slender with a prehensile tail.

Geographic range

Bothriechis marchi is found on the Atlantic versant of northwestern Honduras. Its range might extend into eastern Guatemala. Records from Nicaragua are probably in error. It occurs in mesic forest at elevations of 500–1,500 metres (1,600–4,900 ft) altitude. The type locality given is "the Gold Mines at Quimistan [probably El Oro, Municipio de Quimistán, in the Sierra de Espíritu Santo to the northwest of the town of Quimistán], [Departamento de] Santa Barbara, Honduras Republic".

Reproduction

Bothriechis marchi is viviparous.1

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: March's Palm Pit Viper

Is the March's Palm Pit Viper venomous?: Yes. The March's Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis marchi) 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 March's Palm Pit Viper poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The March's Palm Pit Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the March's Palm Pit 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 March's Palm Pit Viper live?: The March's Palm Pit Viper has verified records in 3 countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the March's Palm Pit Viper?: The specific name, marchi, is in honor of herpetologist Douglas H. March, who died from the bite of a fer-de-lance in 1939.

If you are bitten by the March's Palm Pit 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.

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

Honduras Guatemala United States of America

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: Bothriechis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Bothriechis marchi

Keep learning

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