Interesting Creatures…Bothrops atrox is a venomous pit viper species found in the tropical lowlands of South America. No subspecies are currently recognized. This species is very dangerous and is the cause of more human fatalities than any other American reptile.These reptiles have been found in southeastern Colombia, southern and eastern Venezuela, Guyana,NFL Jerseys Outlet, Suriname, French Guiana, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia and the northern half of Brazil. The type locality is listed as “Asia”, which is obviously a mistake since researchers Schmidt and Walker (1943:295) proposed that this be corrected to “Suriname.”A Bothrops atrox in its habitatA terrestrial species, adults usually grow to total length 75–125 cm and are moderately heavy-bodied. Reports of the maximum size are not clear, as this species is often confused with other species. It has been reported that of a series of 80 specimens collected in northeastern Peru,China Jerseys Free Shipping, the largest was a female of 138.8 cm. The largest specimen measured by Campbell and Lamar (2004) was a female with a total length of 162 cm.The scalation includes 23-29 (usually 23-25) rows of dorsal scales at mid-body, 169-214/177-214 ventral scales in males/females, 52-86 (usually 75 or fewer) subcaudal scales in males, which are usually divided, and 47-72 subcaudals in females. On the head the rostral scale is about as high, or slightly higher, than it is wide. There are 3-11 (usually 5-9) keeled inter-supraocular scales, 7-13 (usually 8-11) sublabial scales and 6-9 (usually 7) supralabial scales, the second of which is fused with the prelacunal to form a lacunolabial.The colour pattern is highly variable, including a ground colour that may be olive, brown, tan, grey, yellow, or (rarely) rusty. The body markings are highly variable,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, as is the degree of contrast: in some specimens the pattern is very well defined, while in others it may be virtually absent.In general, however, the body pattern consists of a series of dorsolateral blotches that are rectangular or trapezoidal in shape and extend from the first scale row to the middle of the back. These blotches may oppose or alternate across the midline, often fusing to form bands. They also have pale borders, which in some cases may be prominent, and may be invaded from below by tan or grey pigment, occasionally dividing them into pairs of ventrolateral spots. The belly may be white, cream or yellowish grey, with an increasing amount of gray to black mottling posteriorly that may fade again under the tail. The head usually does not have any markings other than a moderately wide postocular stripe that runs from behind the eye back to the angle of the mouth. The iris is gold or bronze, with varying amount of black reticulation, while the tongue is black.Despite the vast destruction of rain forests,Cheap Basketball Jerseys, it is amongst the most numerous of pit vipers and is not endangered. In Trinidad it prefers wet lowland forests.Although generally terrestrial, it is also an excellent swimmer and even climbs trees when necessary to reach prey. Generally nocturnal, but may forage at any time of the day if necessary. These snakes are also very easily agitated and strike quite often.The main diet includes most small mammals and birds,Cheap Jerseys, but also frogs and lizards. Larger prey is struck and released, after which it is tracked down via its scent trail.They are said to breed year-round. After mating, females with developing embryos travel in and out of sunlight to keep them at a constant temperature. In equatorial regions, the gestation period is approximately 3–4 months, with an average of 60 young per litter. At birth the young are about 30 cm in length, more brightly coloured than adults, and have yellow or beige tails.These snakes are known to search for rodents in coffee and banana plantations. Workers there are often bitten by the snakes, which can lie camouflaged for hours, nearly undetectable, and striking with high speed.They are much feared because their venom is a hemotoxin that is particularly lethal and fast-acting. The fatality rate used to be high,China Jerseys Cheap, but nowadays treatment is usually possible if the victim receives medical attention soon enough. Venom yield averages 124 mg, although it may be as much as 342 mg. The fatal dose in humans is just 62 mg.The enzyme, reptilase (batroxobin), derived from this snake’s venom is used in modern medical laboratories to measure fibrinogen levels and to measure blood coagulation capability. The test is considered to be a replacement