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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The Bone-Tailed Viper
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper
God that's beautiful
Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper
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.
Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper
Juveniles, and some adults, have a pale tail tip that apparently at some point was interpreted as being bone.
-HERP.MX
-HERP.MX
Re: The Bone-Tailed Viper
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!
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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