Bothriopsis taeniata

Bothriopsis taeniata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Bothriopsis
Species:	B. taeniata
Binomial name
Bothriopsis taeniata (Wagler, 1824)
Synonyms
Bothrops taeniatus Wagler, 1824 Lachesis taeniatus - Fitzinger, 1826 Bothrops Castelnaudi A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Atropos Castelnautii - Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 T[eleuraspis]. Castelnaui - Cope, 1860 Bothriopsis quadriscutatus W. Peters, 1861 Bothriopsis castelnavii - Cope, 1871 Th[anatos]. Castelnaudi - , 1889 Th[anatophis]. Castelnaudi - Posada Arango, 1889 Lachesis castelnaudi - Boulenger, 1896 Bothrops castelnaudi - , 1925 Bothrops castelnaudi - , 1966 Bothrops taeniata - Cunha & Nascimento, 1978 Bothrops castelnaudi castelnaudi - Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1981 Bothrops t[aeniatus]. taeniatus - & Gruber, 1983 Bothriopsis taeniata - Campbell & Lamar, 1989 Bothriopsis taeniata taeniata - Campbell & Lamar, 1989 Bothriechis taeniatus - Schätti & Kramer, 1991 Bothriechis taeniatus taeniatus - Golay et al., 1993

Bothriopsis taeniata is a species of pit viper found in the equatorial forests of South America. The specific name, taenia, is derived from the Greek word, tainia, meaning ribbon bandage or stripe, in reference to the slender body. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Adults are usually less than 100 cm (39 in) in total length, although some may grow to as much as 150 cm (59 in). The maximum total length is 175 cm (69 in) for a specimen from Tepoe, Suriname.

The body is relatively slender with a prehensile tail. The color pattern is extremely complex, varying overall from lavender gray to yellow green, while juveniles undergo considerable ontogenetic color change as they mature into adults.

It is distinguished from other members of this genus by having mostly single subcaudal scales and a row of bold white spots where the dorsal and ventral scales meet.

Widespread in the equatorial forests of South America in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. The type locality given is "flumen Amazonum", which according to Vanzolini (1981) refers to the section of the Amazon River between the mouth of the Tajapuru river (01°02'S, 51°02'W) and the mouth of the Negros river (03°08'S, 59°55'W).

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