''Bothrops monsignifer'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

snake Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...

in the family

Viperidae The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs th ...

. It is native to

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

and Bolivia.

Taxonomy

The specific epithet for the species is composed of the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

words for mountain''(mons)'' and fire''(igifer)'', which together mean volcano, in reference to the place where the first specimen in Bolivia was photographed, Refugio Los Volcanes in Santa Cruz.

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in Cordillera Oriental of the Central Andes from southern Peru to central Bolivia. It is restricted to

montane forests Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

with lower humidity and which lack large trees.

References

monsignifer Snakes of South America Reptiles of Bolivia Reptiles of Peru Reptiles described in 2019 Taxa named by Juan Carlos Chaparro Taxa named by Pablo J. Venegas {{Alethinophidia-stub