Bothrops erythromelas

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Viperoidea

Familia: Viperidae
Subfamilia: Crotalinae
Genus: Bothrops
Species: Bothrops erythromelas
Name

Bothrops erythromelas Amaral, 1923
Vernacular names
English: Caatinga lancehead
português: Jararaca-da-Caatinga, Jararaca-da-seca

Bothrops erythromelas, commonly known as the Caatinga lancehead or the jararaca-da-seca, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae.[3] It is endemic to Brazil.[4] It belongs to reptile class.

Etymology

The specific name, erythromelas, is from the Ancient Greek words έρυθρός (érythrós), meaning "red", and μέλας (mélas), meaning "black", referring to this snakes coloration.
Geographic range

It is found in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, and Sergipe.

The type locality is "near Joazeiro, State of Bahia, Brazil".[2]
Description

Adults may attain a total length of 54 cm (21 in), which includes a tail 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long.

Dorsally, B. erythromelas is reddish brown, with a double series of black or dark brown triangular markings, which may be alternating or opposite. The head is dark brown on the top and sides, with some darker markings. Ventrally, it is yellowish, speckled with brown, and with dark spots extending from the sides of the ventrals onto the first two dorsal rows.

The strongly keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 21 rows at midbody. Ventrals 144-155; anal plate entire; subcaudals divided 33–35.[5]
Habitat

This species' common name refers to its habitat, the Caatinga, a large ecoregion in northeastern Brazil, which consists of xeric shrubland and thorn forest.
References

Martins, M. (2010). "Bothrops erythromelas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T178643A7587055. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178643A7587055.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
"Bothrops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 November 2006.

Amaral. 1923. p. 96.