Mixcoatlus browni

Description

Mixcoatlus browni (commonly known as Brown's montane pit viper, sometimes Mexican montane pitviper) is a species of pit viper found at high elevations in Guerrero, Mexico. This species was previously placed in the Agkistrodon genus, where it was considered to be a junior synonym of Cerrophidion barbouri. Molecular evidence has since demonstrated that M. browni is a distinct species and the genus name was subsequently changed. The genus Mixcoatlus is derived from the Nahuatl word Mixcoatl or "cloud serpent", a deity of the Aztec and several other Mesoamerica civilizations. This name also refers to the geographic restriction of this clade to elevations above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).