The Green Pit Viper is a venomous snake family found worldwide. In Vietnam, the species of green pit vipers are mostly green, which is why we often see green snakes such as the Red-tailed Green Pit Viper, the Green Pit Viper, and others.
However, not all green pit vipers are green; their colors can be quite diverse. One particularly striking species is the Guatemalan Palm Viper (Scientific name: Bothriechis supraciliaris).
Guatemalan Palm Viper (Bothriechis supraciliaris). (Photo: Raby Núñez)
The Guatemalan Palm Viper typically measures about 50–60 cm in length when fully grown and can reach up to 80 cm. The coloration of this snake varies greatly depending on its environment, featuring shades such as moss green, yellow, or reddish-brown.
This species has prominent scales above its eyes resembling eyelashes, which is why it is also referred to as the Eyelash Palm Viper; its eyes have vertical pupils similar to those of a cat, a characteristic feature of pit vipers.
Guatemalan Palm Viper (Scientific name: Bothriechis supraciliaris). (Photo: Derechos reservados)
This snake species is primarily distributed in Central and South American countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. They are typically found in mesic forests at elevations of up to 2,640 meters above sea level.
The Guatemalan Palm Viper is most active in the late afternoon and at night; it is an excellent climber and can camouflage itself well with its surroundings. Its primary diet consists of birds, lizards, frogs, and toads.
Due to its ability to blend into its environment, this snake can be quite difficult to detect, leading to relatively frequent incidents of bites among gardeners and farmers. Although it possesses dangerous venom and is hard to spot when in trees, it rarely causes fatalities. Generally, this snake strikes its target quickly to inject venom before following the trail of its prey to consume it.
