Highland eyelash-pitviper

Those ‘eyelashes’ are actually special scales that help them hide in the leaves

Ville Vehmaskangas


Highland eyelash-pitviper

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

Those ‘eyelashes’ are actually special scales that help them hide in the leaves

Population

A small but captivating snake that lives in the high-altitude forests of Central and South America. Known for its bright colors and unique “eyelash-like” scales above its eyes, this snake is as fascinating as it is beautiful. These scales give the pitviper a dramatic appearance, as if it’s wearing fancy eyelashes, but they also help break up its outline, making it harder for predators to spot. The highland eyelash-pitviper can come in many colors, ranging from yellow and green to orange and even reddish hues. Its coloration often blends seamlessly with its surroundings, like moss-covered branches or vibrant flowers, making it a master of camouflage.

This snake is relatively small, usually growing to about two feet long. Despite its size, it is an effective predator. It uses its heat-sensing pits, located between its eyes and nostrils, to detect the body heat of prey. This ability is especially useful in the dense, shadowy forests where it hunts. The highland eyelash-pitviper’s diet mainly consists of small animals such as birds, frogs, lizards, and small mammals. Its venom is strong enough to subdue its prey quickly, but the snake is not aggressive and usually avoids humans unless threatened.

One of the most interesting aspects of this snake is its arboreal lifestyle. It spends most of its time in trees, coiled up on branches or tucked into crevices, waiting patiently for prey to wander by. Its prehensile tail helps it hold onto branches, giving it extra stability as it moves through the trees. Highland eyelash-pitvipers are ambush predators, relying on their stillness and camouflage to catch unsuspecting prey.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Belize
2013
Colombia
2013
Costa Rica
2013
Ecuador
2013
Guatemala
2013
Honduras
2013
Mexico
2013
Nicaragua
2013
Panama
2013
Peru
2013
Venezuela
2013

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No