The Common Lancehead is a species of venomous Pit Viper that is native to the Northern parts of South America and the island of Trinidad.
This snake is sometimes referred to as the Barba Amarilla or the Fer De Lance. However, there is another related species more widely recognised as the Fer De Lance.
The Spanish name Barba Amarilla translates to yellow beard and is a reference to the pale-yellow coloration around their ‘chin’.
Common Lancehead Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The family that the Common Lancehead belongs to is called Viperidae or simply the Viper family of snakes.
This is one of the most popular families of venomous snakes in the world along with the Elapid family.
Vipers are found throughout most of the world but an interesting fact about vipers is that they are not native to Australia. The majority of venomous snakes in Australia are from the Elapid family.
Even though Australia has ‘Adders’, such as the Common Death Adder, these ‘Adders’ are not related to the ‘Viper’ Adders of Africa and actually belong to the Elapid Family.
Some other well known species of vipers include the Berg Adder, the Bamboo Viper, the Cottonmouth, the Desert Horned Viper and the Eastern Copperhead Snake.
Genus
The genus that the Common Lancehead belongs to is called Bothrops. This is a genus of highly venomous Pit Vipers.
The species of this genus are native to the neotropical regions of Central and South America as well as some of the Caribbean Islands.
The name Bothrops is derived from two Greek words ‘bothros’ and ‘ops’ which translate to ‘pit’ and ‘face’. This is a reference to the snake’s heat sensing pits.
There are currently 48 recognised species in the Bothrops genus. Some of the other species include the Common Lancehead, the Golden Lancehead and the Painted Lancehead.
Species
The scientific name for the Common Lancehead is Bothrops atrox and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
The species was first described in 1758 by a Swedish taxonomist named Carl Linnaeus.
Common Lancehead Description
The Common Lancehead is a relatively large and robust snake with males typically growing between 1.2 to 1.8 meters in length.
Females are usually slightly larger, reaching lengths of up to 2 meters.
They have a triangular-shaped head, distinct from the neck, which is broad and slightly flattened.
The body of the Common Lancehead is thick and cylindrical and is covered in keeled scales. The coloration of the snake can vary, but it commonly consists of a dark brown or greyish-brown background.
This is usually overlaid with a series of darker blotches along the back, often forming a zig-zag pattern.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Common Lancehead is widely distributed throughout northern South America, including countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and parts of Guyana.
They like to live in a range of environments, from rainforests and tropical forests to savannas and grasslands.
These snakes are often found near water sources, as they are semi-aquatic and excellent swimmers.
Common Lancehead Behaviour
The Common Lancehead is an ambush predator, feeding on a variety of prey. Its diet primarily consists of small mammals such as rodents, but it also consumes birds, amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally other snakes.
The snake’s excellent camouflage allows it to lie in wait for unsuspecting prey to pass by, and it then strikes with lightning speed, injecting venom to immobilize and begin digesting its meal.
The Common Lancehead is ovoviviparous, meaning females give birth to live young.
After a gestation period of several months, the female will give birth to a litter of 10 to 30 baby snakes, which are fully developed and capable of fending for themselves.
This species is primarily nocturnal, meaning it is most active during the night.
They have well-developed heat-sensing pits located between their eyes and nostrils, which helps them locate warm-blooded prey in low-light conditions.
During the day, they typically seek shelter in protected areas such as logs, rock crevices, or dense vegetation.
The Common Lancehead is known for its aggressive temperament and defensive behavior.
When threatened or cornered, they may adopt a defensive posture, coiling their body, raising their head, and hissing loudly to deter potential threats.
If further provoked, they can deliver quick and accurate strikes to defend themselves.