Yellow-blotched palm-pitviper

Description

Common names: yellow-blotched palm-pitviper,[ Guatemalan palm viper.Bothriechis aurifer is a venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Guatemala.No subspecies are currently recognized.Adults generally grow to less than 70 centimetres (28 in) in length,but sometimes to over 1 metre (3 ft 3 in).The body is relatively slender with a prehensile tail.The scalation includes 1-5 intersupraocular scales,8-12 supralabials,9-13 infralabials and 18-21 (mode 19) rows of dorsal scales at midbody.The second supralabial is fused with the prelacunal to form a lacunolabial and the interrictals number 16-21.Males have 148-167 ventral scales and 58-64 subcaudals (mostly undivided),while females have 152-162 ventrals and 48-61 subcaudal scales.The color pattern consists of a green ground color overlaid dorsally with a series of yellow blotches that are bordered in black.Between the botches,an irregular,often broken,dorsal stripe can be seen.The yellowish green belly is often lighter than the dorsum.On the head,a dark postocular stripe is present.The iris is usually yellowish-green,sometimes bronze,with black specks or reticulations.Over 90% of all specimens have the usual dark dorsal pattern,but a few are uniform green and have no postocular stripes.The juvenile coloration includes a pale lime green ground color and a colorful tail tip.