Porthidium porrasi

Porthidium porrasi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Porthidium
Species:
P. porrasi
Binomial name
Porthidium porrasi
Lamar, 2003

Porthidium porrasi is a species of hognose pit viper endemic to south-west Costa Rica.[1] Like all pit vipers, P. porrasi is venomous.[2]

Description

Distinguished from similar species with its extremely upright nose and various scale morphologies, the white-tailed snub-nose viper is named commonly after another distinguishing characteristic, its white tail tip which is sometimes cream or yellow. It grows to a maximum of 50 cm.[2] Its head is broad and distinct from its neck.[3]

Behaviour

Porthidium porrasi is a nocturnal/crepuscular, terrestrial snake.[2] It prefers to stay camouflaged under leaf litter and its preferred habitat is rainforests, from sea level to 200 m of elevation.[3]

Reproduction

The white-tailed snub-nose viper is considered to be either ovoviviparous or viviparous.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ "(PDF) The endemic herpetofauna of Central America: A casualty of anthropocentrism". ResearchGate. Archived from the original on 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Porthidium porrasi". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
  3. ^ a b c "Porthidium porrasi | Instituto Clodomiro Picado". icp.ucr.ac.cr. Retrieved 2026-03-01.