Photos / Sounds

What

Guatemala Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis bicolor)

Observer

greglasley

Date

March 25, 1993

Description

I was leading a birdwatching trip through the mountains just below the cloud forest at El Triunfo, Chiapas, Mexico. We were near a location known as Canyon Honda when this green pit viper was found coiled on a small limb along the trail. I had seen this species in this area once before, in 1987 and I have one poor quality slide of that animal as well. This location is at an elevation of ca. 1530 meters. This animal was identified from my photos by herpetologist Dr. Jon Campbell of the University of Texas at Arlington a number of years ago. It was formerly known as Bothrops ornatus I believe. In 1987, I was able to visit personally with Dr. Miguel Alvarez del Toro, a noted Mexican herpetologist, who identified my 1987 observation as that species.