Bothrops barnetti


Bothrops barnetti is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Peru. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Etymology

The specific name, barnetti, is in honor of Burgess Barnett, who collected the holotype and paratypes. Dr. Barnett was Curator of Reptiles at the London Zoo and Superintendent of the Rangoon Zoological Gardens.

Description

Bothrops barnetti is patterned in white and black triangles. Males usually grow to 120 cm in total length, whereas females are quite smaller and thinner. The body is heavily shaped and stocky.

Common names

English common names for B. barnetti are Barnett's lancehead and Barnett's pit viper. In Peru it is referred to as cascabel, cascabel falso, macanche, sancarranca, and zancarranca.

Geographic range

Bothrops barnetti is found along the Pacific coast of northern Peru. It occurs at low elevations in arid, tropical scrub.
The type locality given is "from the mouths of Quebradas Honda and Perines, between Lobitos and Talara, northern Peru".