Is the Olmecan Pit Viper venomous?

Yes. The Olmecan Pit Viper (Metlapilcoatlus olmec) 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 Olmecan Pit Viper poisonous?

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

Where does the Olmecan Pit Viper live?

The Olmecan Pit Viper has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Viperidae

Olmecan Pit Viper

Venomous

Metlapilcoatlus olmec

Olmecan Pit Viper — Metlapilcoatlus olmec, © Daniel Pineda Vera

6 photographs of the Olmecan Pit Viper. © Daniel Pineda Vera.

The Olmecan Pit Viper (Metlapilcoatlus olmec) 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 Olmecan Pit Viper

Common names: Tuxtlan jumping pit viper, Olmecan pit viper

Metlapilcoatlus olmec is a pit viper species found in Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Extremely stout, females are known to reach a maximum of 77.0 cm in length, males 61.8 cm.

Geographic range

Found at elevations of 800–1,500 m in Mexico on the upper slopes of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas in southern Veracruz. Also found in eastern Oaxaca, and from northwestern Chiapas to Guatemala.

The type locality given is "crest of Cerro Egega, 1100 m, municipality of Catemaco" (Veracruz, Mexico).

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Olmecan Pit Viper

Is the Olmecan Pit Viper venomous?: Yes. The Olmecan Pit Viper (Metlapilcoatlus olmec) 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 Olmecan Pit Viper poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Olmecan Pit Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Olmecan 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 Olmecan Pit Viper live?: The Olmecan Pit Viper has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Olmecan 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

Mexico Guatemala

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: Metlapilcoatlus
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Metlapilcoatlus olmec

Keep learning

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