For clinical data see section “Risk” below
Genus/Species
Ophryacus spp., Mexican horned pitvipers
Clinical entries
formerly genus Bothrops or Porthidium
Species
- 1. Ophryacus smaragdinus
- 2. Ophryacus sphenophrys
- 3. Ophryacus undulatus
This new genus was previously included in the genera Bothrops or Porthidium (Campbell and Lamar 2004).
Taxonomy
Serpentes; Viperidae; Crotalinae
Common names
Mexican horned pitvipers
- 1. Emerald horned pitviper
- 2. Broad horned pitviper
- 3. Mexican horned pitviper
Distribution
Southern and central Mexico. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
Biology
Appearance similar to Bothriechis schlegelii. Distinctive spine-like scales above the eyes. Dorsal zigzag or blotchy pattern.
O. undulatus semiarboreal but tail not prehensile, moderately stout body; greyish or brownish color with darker blotches, body lenght between 55 and 70 cm; live in pine-oak and cloud forests, 1'800-2'800 m.
O. smaragdinus greenish color with brown blotches, living in montane cloud forest, humid pine-oak woodland and pine forest, 1'400-2'340 m.
O. sphenophrys with greenish ground color and darker zigzag pattern; found on extremely humid windward slopes of the Sierra Madre del Sur, at elevations between 1'340-1'460 m.
Risk
The clinical effects of bites from these species are unknown.
Literature (biological)
Campbell and Lamar 2004, Grünwald et al. 2015