Bothrops medusa

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 medusa

Common names: Venezuela forest pit viper,[1][3] Venezuelan forest-pitviper.[4]

Bothrops medusa is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Venezuela.[1][3] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Etymology

The specific name, medusa, refers to the Greek mythological female monster, Medusa, who had venomous snakes for hair.[5]
Description

Adults of B. medusa usually grow to 50–70 cm (1.6–2.3 ft) in total length (including tail). The maximum reported total length is 80 cm (2.6 ft) (Roze, 1966) or slightly longer (Sandner-Montilla, 1975). The body is moderately slender.[4]

The scalation includes 20–21 (usually 21) rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 160–168/153–162 ventral scales in males/females and 51–62/46–56 mostly undivided subcaudal scales in males/females. On the head, the canthals, internasals and rostral are elevated to form a distinct canthal ridge. There are 1–6 intersupraoculars, 6–9 (usually 7) supralabial scales and 8–10 sublabial scales.[4]

The color pattern consists of a tan, yellowish brown, reddish brown, gray or olive ground color overlaid with a series of long and irregular transverse bands. These bands are dark brown with pale centers, weakly subdivided laterally and separated from each other with short and lightly colored interspaces. In some individuals the contrast may be so poor that they appear to have a uniform dorsal coloration. The belly is yellow with many small and dark spots and flecks. On the head, a dark postocular stripe is present that frequently fuses with the first lateral body blotch. It is marked above and below by a pale narrow border.[4]
Geographic range

B. medusa is found in Venezuela, including the Cordillera de la Costa (coastal range), the Federal District and the states of Aragua, Bolívar and Carabobo. The type locality given is "Caracas" (Venezuela).[2]
References

Rivas, G.; Schargel, W. (2019). "Bothrops medusa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T15203642A15203682. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T15203642A15203682.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
Bothrops medusa at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 March 2021.
Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.

Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Bothriopsis medusa, p. 175).