The first time I saw a Fer de Lance I had never heard of it nor did I have any idea how dangerous it was. The jararaca, or yarará, is found chiefly in Brazil, where it is abundant in grassy regions. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences—covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to the... Few animals strike as much fear into people as venomous snakes. Yes – Females gives birth to 60 to 80 live babies after pregnancy of 3 to 4 months. The term is used to refer to a few different species of pit vipers that have slight variations, although all are known for being well-camouflaged in their environments. The fangs release a strong, fast acting hemotoxic venom. It is found throughout Southern Mexico, Central America and the northwestern coast of South America. Despite its aggressive reputation, unprovoked attacks on humans have not been proved, and it is responsible for only a small number of deaths annually. In this post, you’ll learn 23 Fer de Lance facts, including diet, size, habitat, unique features and more. The eyes are rather large and the head is darker in color on top and a light creamish-yellow on the underside. This article was most recently revised and updated by, fer-de-lance - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Its bite can be fatal to humans. They are semi arboreal and actively climb trees, but tend to lose this habit when they become adults. This organ relays thermal information to the snake about the position of their prey. Although the chances of running into a venomous snake, much less being bitten and dying from the toxin injected into one’s body, are miniscule compared to dying from cancer, heart disease, or an automobile accident, this seemingly unreasonable fear remains very real for many people. They are mainly nocturnal and hide for the majority of the day. In Argentina the name yarará also serves as an alternative name for the wutu and the Patagonian lancehead (B. ammodytoides). A fer-de-lance is a venomous and aggressive snake found in wooded and open areas in parts of Central and South America. The common French name fer-de-lance, or “lance head,” originally referred to the Martinique lancehead (Bothrops lanceolatus) found on the island of the same name in the West Indies. The “black,” or black-mouthed, mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) inhabits rocky savanna and can often be encountered on the ground, where it seems to be fond of termite mounds. Younger snakes prefer small lizards and invertebrates. They are brighter colored than their parents, with either beige or yellow tails. They inhabit pine and broadleaf forests, often looking for refuge in crevices, underneath rocks, and among patches of leaves and wooded debris. Fer-de-lance specialize in hunting warm blooded prey such as rodents and birds. Copyright 2020, 23 Interesting Facts About The Fer De Lance. Its fangs inject hemotoxic venom into its prey, which quickly coagulates the blood and breaks down capillary walls causing internal bleeding and swelling. It is a species of snake in the family vipers. Its venom is essentially a neurotoxin that induces paralysis. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In captivity it can live more then 20 years.. Six Fascinating Festivals from Around the World. The snake’s venom is so strong and so voluminous that it can kill an elephant in just a few hours. They are responsible for the highest number of snake bite deaths in Belize. These snakes are listed as the most deadly in all the countries where they live. I started Tico Travel™ way back in 1992 and have always dedicated it and myself to providing the most up to date and accurate information on all aspects of travel to Costa Rica. Plus photos and a video or two of the world’s most deadliest snake. John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. The large head is V-shaped like a lance and quite distinguishable from the neck. The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) may be the deadliest of all snakes, since scientists believe it to be responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The name fer-de-lance has also been used collectively to describe all snakes of the Central and South American genus Bothrops and the Asian genus Trimeresurus. The fer-de-lance, known in Spanish as barba amarilla (“yellow chin”), is a pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae)—i.e., distinguished by a small sensory pit between each eye and nostril. Among these snakes, all venomous, are the habus (T. flavoviridis and related species, such as Wagler’s pit viper [T. wagleri]); the jararaca (B. jararaca); the wutu, or urutu (B. alternatus); and the jumping viper, or tommygoff (B. nummifera). The banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) is a highly venomous relative of the cobra. Its venom, however, is not especially dangerous to humans. The snakes described here live primarily in tropical regions, but some might be living in research centers and zoos near you. The Okinawa habu (T. flavoviridis) is a large, aggressive snake found on the Amami and Okinawa island chains in the Ryukyu Islands, often in human dwellings. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Although uncommon, females have been observed at lengths of 8.2 feet. The wutu, a dangerous South American snake, is about 1.2 metres long. We were going around Costa Rica photographing birds, monkeys and the like and we were in Carara National Park when we saw it. The venom of some species, including the Okinawa habu (T. flavoviridis), an aggressive snake that often enters human dwellings in the Ryukyu Islands, is mildly dangerous. The bite of an inland or western taipan—Oxyuranus microlepidotus, also called, appropriately, the fierce snake—delivers a veritable witch’s brew of toxins. In the wild well thats up alot of other factors. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn! The coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) produces venom that is nearly identical to that of its inland cousin. The fer-de-lance is a highly venomous pit viper species that resides from southern Mexico to northern South America. Fer-de-lance, any of several extremely venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) found in diverse habitats from cultivated lands to forests throughout tropical America and tropical Asia. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Fer-de-lance or Terciopelo snake in spirit, used for healing. It is gray or brown, marked by a series of black-edged diamonds often bordered in a lighter colour. Luckily the friend I was with did! It has a broad triangular head and is usually about 1.2 to 2 metres (4 to 7 feet) long. The Fer-de-lance, Bothrops asper, is a large, aggressive pit viper and ranges from southern Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. The fer-de-lance, a pitviper species, is known as the terciopelo in Costa Rica. It is considered one of the country’s most dangerous snakes, as it is both highly venomous and aggressive – a trait not shared by many snakes, which bite primarily as a defense mechanism. Its venom is not especially potent but sometimes causes disability or death. As it prepares to strike, it flattens its head and neck in a manner similar to Asian and African cobras. It is also a favorite of certain birds of prey like falcons and eagles. No they are solitary snakes and prefer to be on their own. Adults are typically between 4 and 6 feet in length .