For clinical data see section “Risk” below
Genus/Species
Cerrophidion spp., Montane pitvipers
Clinical entries
formerly genus Bothrops or Porthidium
Species
- 1. Cerrophidion godmani
- 2. Cerrophidion petlalcalensis
- 3. Cerrophidion sasai
- 4. Cerrophidion tzotzilorum
- 5. Cerrophidion wilsoni
Species of this new genus were formerly assigned to the genus Porthidium (Campbell and Lamar 2004).
The former species Cerrophidion barbouri is now assigned to the new genus Mixcoatlus (Jadin et al. 2011)
Taxonomy
Serpentes; Viperidae; Crotalinae
Common names
Montane pitvipers
- 1. Godman's montane pitviper
- 2. Petlalcala montane pitviper
- 3. Costa Rica monrtane pitviper
- 4. Tzotzil montane pitviper
- 5. Honduras montane pitviper
Distribution
Mexico and Central America. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
Biology
C. godmani sensu lato has a wide range, but has now been split into new species in the southern part of its former range (C. sasai and C. wilsoni).
Varying head scales, some of them enlarged. Appearance similar to small montane rattlesnakes, but lacking the rattle. Also similar to Bothrops spp. in appearance, but on average smaller (<1 m). C. tzotzilorum barely reaches 50 cm. Basic colouring in shades of brown, grey and yellow. Smaller to large, dark, triangular or trapezoidal blotches both sides of the spine.
Habitat: lower montane wet forest, cloud forest, lower montane dry forest and high montane forest and meadows, 1,400–3,491 m (C. godmani); pine-oak forest, 2,100–2,300 m (C. petlalcalensis); humid pine-oak forest, 2,050–2,500 m (C. tzotzilorum).
Risk
Only a few cases reported, none of them fatal. Venom of C. godmani might have a haemotoxic, locally cytotoxic and myotoxic action (Campell and Lamar 2004).
Literature (biological)
Campbell and Lamar 2004, Jadin et al. 2011, 2012