Bothrops insularis, commonly known as the golden lancehead, is a highly venomous pit viper species endemic to Ilha da Queimada Grande, off the coast of São Paulo state, in Brazil. The species is named for the light yellowish-brown color of its underside and for its head shape that is characteristic of the genus Bothrops. No subspecies of Bothrops insularis are currently recognized. It is one of the most venomous snakes in Latin America.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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VenomousVenom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
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DangerousDangerous animals demonstrate aggression and a propensity to attack or harass people or other animals without provocation.
Highly venomous animals are able to produce the most toxic venom which is considered to be one of the most debilitating and potentially deadly.
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starts withThe Golden lancehead is a highly venomous pit viper species found only on a small island off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean. This snake is named for the light yellowish-brown color of its underside and for its distinctive head shape, which is somewhat elongated and comes to a point at the nose. It is one of the most venomous snakes in Latin America.
Golden lanceheads occur in moist forests of Ilha da Queimada Grande, off the coast of São Paulo state, in Brazil.
Golden lanceheads can be both terrestrial or arboreal, even though they do not have a truly prehensile tail. They prefer to spend time singly and can usually be found either in the trees hunting for prey, or seeking shelter among leaf litter or in rock crevices, especially during unfavorable weather or after having just ingested their prey.
Because of the isolated habitat of B. insularis, and the lack of mammal prey species, the venom of B. insularis has evolved to be adapted to the prey species of the island, primarily native ectotherms, arthropods and migrating birds. As a result, their venom is more potent towards these groups than mammals, and becomes more potent as the snake matures. Chemical analysis of the venom of B. insularis suggests that it is five times as potent as that of B. jararaca and is the fastest acting venom in the genus Bothrops.
Because B. insularis is only found in an area uninhabited by humans, there has never been an official report of a human being bitten by one, but other lanceheads are responsible for more human mortality than any other group of snakes in either North or South America. Ludwig Trutnau reports four human envenomations, three of which were fatal. The mortality rate for lancehead envenomations is 0.5–3% if the patient receives treatment and 7% if the patient does not receive treatment. The effects of envenomations by golden lanceheads include swelling, local pain, nausea and vomiting, blood blisters, bruising, blood in the vomit and urine, intestinal bleeding, kidney failure, hemorrhage in the brain and severe necrosis of muscular tissue.
Golden lanceheads are carnivores and their diet consists mostly of perching birds. However, they have been reported to eat lizards, and even resort to cannibalism. Newborn and juvenile Golden lanceheads prey primarily upon invertebrates.
Golden lanceheads breed during August and September. Like most vipers, they give birth to live young. The average size for a litter is usually 6 newborns.
The main threat to this species is the destruction of its native habitat. Because the island on which the Golden lancehead is found is so small, it can only support a small population, which means that the range between the number of snakes required for the population to survive and the maximum number of snakes the island can support may be small; this makes the species especially sensitive to any other problems. Also, because the island of Woody Grande is the only place where Golden lanceheads are found in the wild, if that population is wiped out, then the species will be extinct in the wild.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Golden lancehead total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangers (CR) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are stable.
