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Viperidae

Western Hognose Viper

Venomous

Porthidium hespere

Western Hognose Viper
Porthidium hespere, (c) eddie_rivera, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Western Hognose ViperWestern Hognose Viper

3 photographs of the Western Hognose Viper. (c) eddie_rivera, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Western Hognose Viper (Porthidium hespere) 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 Western Hognose Viper

Common names: Colima hognosed pit viper.

Porthidium hespere is a pit viper species found in western Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Known from only four specimens: two females with locality data and two other specimens without. The former were moderately stout and were 31.5 and 57.9 cm (12+1⁄2 and 22+3⁄4 in) in total length. The snout is unelevated to only slightly elevated.

Geographic range

Found in western Mexico (Colima). The type locality given is "on a west-facing slope of the foothills ca. 12 airline km NE of Tecomán, Municipio de Ixlahuacán [= Ixtlahuacán], Colima, Mexico, ... at an elevation of approximately 300 m."

Conservation status

This species is classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. It may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category of threat. Listing of taxa in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and a threatened status. If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, and a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified. The population trend is unknown. Year assessed: 2007.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Western Hognose Viper

Is the Western Hognose Viper venomous?
Yes. The Western Hognose Viper (Porthidium hespere) 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 Western Hognose Viper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Western Hognose Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Western 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 Western Hognose Viper live?
The Western Hognose Viper has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Western 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

Mexico

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 hespere

Keep learning

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