Bothrops fonsecai

Bothrops fonsecai, also known commonly as Fonseca's lancehead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Etymology

The specific name, fonsecai, is in honor of Dr. , who was head of the laboratory of parasitology at the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil.

Geographic range

B. fonsecai is found in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of B. fonsecai is forest, at altitudes up to .

Description

Adults of B. fonsecai have a total length (including tail) of about .

Behavior

B. fonsecai is terrestrial.

Diet

B. fonsecai preys upon small mammals.

Reproduction

B. fonsecai is ovoviviparous. Litter size is 14 or less.

References

Further reading

• , , , (2009). "Morphological and molecular evidence for phylogeny and classification of South American pitvipers, genera Bothrops, Bothriopsis, and Bothrocophias (Serpentes: Viperidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3): 617–640. (Rhinocerophis fonsecai, new combination).
• , (1959). "Uma nova espécie de Bothrops do Brasil (Serpentes) ". Memórias do Instituto Butantan 28: 195–206. (Bothrops fonsecai, new species). (in Portuguese).
• , , , (2019). "Bothrops fonsecai (Fonseca's Lancehead). Reproduction". Herpetological Review 50 (3): 586–587.