Eyelash viper

Bothriechis schlegelii · The eyelash viper is a small, tree-dwelling pit viper with eyelash-like scales above its eyes, found in the mostly highland regions of Colombia.

Also called Eyelash pit viper, Eyelash palm-pitviper, Eyelash palm viper, Schlegel's eyelash-pitviper, Highland eyelash-pitviper.

Eyelash viper
Photo: Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Eyelash viper
Photo: Jose Arbelaez 78, CC BY-SA 4.0
Eyelash viper
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyViperidae
GenusBothriechis
SpeciesBothriechis schlegelii

Where it lives

Humid forests from southern Mexico through Central America to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Fun facts

  • The eyelash-like scales above its eyes are thought to help camouflage the snake by breaking up its outline among the leaves where it hides.
  • Young eyelash vipers may wriggle their tails like a worm to lure hungry frogs or lizards close enough to strike.
  • Some individuals pick a favorite ambush spot and return to it each year in time for the spring bird migration.
  • Folktales say the snake winks its eyelashes at a bitten victim, but snakes have no true eyelids and cannot close their eyes.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).