Martinique Lancehead

Bothrops lanceolatus — known as the fer-de-lance, Martinican pit viper, and Martinique lancehead — is a species of pit viper endemic to the Caribbean island of Martinique. Some reserve the common name fer-de-lance for this species, while others apply that name to other Bothrops species, as well. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Geographic range

Bothrops lanceolatus is generally considered endemic to the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles. Along with Bothrops caribbaeus and B. atrox, it is one of three Bothrops species found in the West Indies. The type locality according to Bonnaterre (1790:11) is "La Martinique".

Description

It measures 1.5 to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) long. Its color is brown, black and gray.

Behavior

As ambush predators, Martinique lanceheads typically wait patiently somewhere for unsuspecting prey to wander by.They are known to select a specific ambush site and return to it every year in time for the spring migration of birds. Studies have indicated these snakes learn to improve their strike accuracy over time.

Diet

All of the various species are carnivorous, and eat other animals. Their diet primarily changes based on size and location. Larger individuals can feed on larger prey, while smaller species must eat smaller prey items. Martinican pit vipers hunt rats, mice, birds, rabbits, lizards, frogs, snakes, bats, and more.

Reproduction

With few exceptions, crotalines are ovoviviparous, meaning that the embryos develop within eggs that remain inside the mother's body until the offspring are ready to hatch, at which time the hatchlings emerge as functionally free-living young. In such species, the eggshells are reduced to soft membranes that the young shed, either within the reproductive tract, or immediately after emerging.

Venom

Their venom has toxins that can cause clotting and bleeding in humans, as well as muscle damage and swelling.

Vexillological trivia

The species is depicted on the 'snake flag' of Martinique, though the usage of this flag has been largely discontinued in recent years. This forms one of the few examples (the Gadsden flag and the First Navy Jack of the United States, and the flag of Mexico being others) of snakes being depicted on flags.