- Source: Bothrops ayerbei
Bothrops ayerbei, commonly known as the Patian lancehead and Ayerbe's lancehead, is a species of viper from Colombia. The species is named after Santiago Ayerbe Gonzáles, physician, pediatrician, herpetologist and toxinologist, who thought of the species as distinct years before its description. This name is contentious as the description was produced online before 2011, and is therefore against the Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
Description
Bothrops ayerbei is a medium-sized snake, with males measuring around 110 cm (43 in) and females measuring around 130 cm (51 in). However, individuals have been sighted at 210 cm (83 in). The head is long and narrow, resembling the shape of an arrowhead.
Its colour and pattern consists of 14-19 black triangles (lined up in near-symmetrical pairs) with light grey/cream edges and two dark rounded spots at the bottom of the triangles as well as two more spots between pairs of triangles. The underside of the mouth is also usually cream-coloured, with a cream and black mottle on the snake's underside.
Habitat
The Patian lancehead is distributed within the upper Patía river valley Departments of Cauca and Nariño, southwestern Colombia. Generally it will be at an elevation of 400 to 1,800 m (1,300 to 5,900 ft).
Sexual dimorphism
Bothrops ayerbei exhibits sexual dimorphism mainly in the number of scales the different sexes have. Males tend to have less ventral scales than females, but males can sometimes have just barely more subaudal scales than females.
However, it exhibits sexual dimorphism in colours as well, specifically as neonates, with males displaying yellow on their tails. This colouration remails for at least two years.
Reproduction
Bothrops ayerbei reproduce sexually and are viviparous.