The Bone-Tailed Viper

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HERP.MX
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Joined: June 30th, 2014, 10:47 pm
Location: Mexico
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The Bone-Tailed Viper

Post by HERP.MX »

The Bone-Tailed Viper

Few snakes in Mexico are as feared as Agkistrodon bilineatus. These beautiful vipers are known from a variety of local names including cantil, pichicuate, zolcuate, cola de hueso, rabo-hueso, and wolpoch, among others. Within their range the stories their bite can be common and most farmers and ranchers can relate a tale with endings ranging from severe swelling to disfigurement to death.
Once considered a single wide-ranging species, A. bilineatus subspecies A. b. taylori, A. b. howardgloydi and A. b. russeolus were later elevated to full species based upon molecular evidence. Agkistrodon bilineatus is now restricted to the pacific coast and connected inland basins. The specimen shown here is from coastal Oaxaca.

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Kelly Mc
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Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper

Post by Kelly Mc »

God that's beautiful
mwentz
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Joined: December 8th, 2012, 3:06 pm

Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper

Post by mwentz »

Beautiful! What is the meaning or story behind the common name? On first reading, I would think "bone tail" would have more to do with a rattlesnake, or a snake with a white tail.
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HERP.MX
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Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper

Post by HERP.MX »

Juveniles, and some adults, have a pale tail tip that apparently at some point was interpreted as being bone.

-HERP.MX
mwentz
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Joined: December 8th, 2012, 3:06 pm

Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper

Post by mwentz »

HERP.MX wrote:Juveniles, and some adults, have a pale tail tip that apparently at some point was interpreted as being bone.

-HERP.MX

Super cool. Thanks for the info!
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

WOW!
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