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Viperidae

Talamancan Palm Pit Viper

Venomous

Bothriechis nubestris

Talamancan Palm Pit Viper
Bothriechis nubestris, © Konshau Duman
Talamancan Palm Pit ViperTalamancan Palm Pit ViperTalamancan Palm Pit ViperTalamancan Palm Pit Viper

5 photographs of the Talamancan Palm Pit Viper. © Konshau Duman.

The Talamancan Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis nubestris) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 1 country.

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 Talamancan Palm Pit Viper

Bothriechis nubestris, the Talamancan palm-pitviper, is a species of pit viper native to cloud forests and montane rainforests in Costa Rica, specifically San José, Cartago and Limón. The snake was mistaken for Bothriechis nigroviridis.

Description

The snake is a small-medium size, slender snake. It lives in trees and has a green-black coloration. The snake grows up to 30 inches, but many grow less than 24 inches. It is only discovered in Costa Rica. The snake kills with a toxin which is likely to be nigroviriditoxin. The toxin itself was discovered in 2015, and B. nubestris would be the first new-world viperid outside of rattle snakes to produce it.

The snake lacks supercillary scales, differing the species from both B. schlegelii and B. supraciliaris. B. nubestris also differs from most other Bothriechis species with its colouring - only similar in that respect to B. nigroviridis, which it differs to in its scale numbers and shapes (specifically, B. nubestris has thin 'kidney-shaped' supraoculars.)

Discovery

The snake was first spotted by the University of Central Florida in 2001, but was mistaken for another species. It was discovered by DNA tests and named recently.

Etymology

'nubestris' means 'belonging to the clouds' as it is a combination of the Latin noun nubes (meaning 'cloud') and the Latin suffix '-estris' (meaning 'belonging to'). This is in reference to the cloud forests it generally lives near.

Reproduction

B. nubestris reproduce sexually and are ovoviviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Talamancan Palm Pit Viper

Is the Talamancan Palm Pit Viper venomous?
Yes. The Talamancan Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis nubestris) 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 Talamancan Palm Pit Viper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Talamancan Palm Pit Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Talamancan 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 Talamancan Palm Pit Viper live?
The Talamancan Palm Pit Viper has verified records in 1 country, including Costa Rica. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Talamancan Palm Pit Viper?
'nubestris' means 'belonging to the clouds' as it is a combination of the Latin noun nubes (meaning 'cloud') and the Latin suffix '-estris' (meaning 'belonging to'). This is in reference to the cloud forests it generally lives near.

If you are bitten by the Talamancan 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.

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

Costa Rica

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 nubestris

Keep learning

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