''Bothriechis guifarroi'' is a species of

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a st ...

ous green palm pitvipers discovered in 2010 in the Texiguat Wildlife Refuge, in Northern Honduras. ''Bothriechis guifarroi'' joins two other species of the genus ''

Bothriechis ''Bothriechis'' is a genus of venomous pit vipers, commonly called palm vipersMehrtens JM. 1987. ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . or palm-pitvipersCampbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. ''The Venomous Rept ...

'', ''B. marchi'' and ''B. thalassinus'', found in the Chortís Highlands of Honduras. Its color pattern and scalation is similar to other Honduran palm pitvipers, but genetic analysis reveals it to be more closely related to the '' B. lateralis'' and '' B. nigroviridis'' species more than 600 km to the southeast, in the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama.

Description

Adult ''B. guifarroi'' are brightly colored green, with a yellowish hue towards the ventral side. The juveniles have a green phase and a brown phase, before acquiring the adult coloration. The holotype (adult) measured 734 mm total length, with a tail length of 136 mm.

Distribution

The population of ''B guifarroi'' was found at elevations between 1015 m and 1450 m in western Cordillera Nombre de Dios, inside the Texiguat Wildlife Refuge, Honduras. More specifically, specimens were found in the Premontane Wet Forest and Lower Montane Wet Forest formations of Holdridge.

Habitat

''B. guifarroi'' has been found in rainforest and cloud forests at elevations above 1000 m.

Etymology

''B. guifarroi'' was named after Honduran environmental activist Mario Guifarro. Guifarro was killed while on a conservation mission in the Tawahka territory of eastern Honduras in 2007.

Status

The 2013 study describing the species recommended its immediate classification as Critically Endangered due to limited knowledge of its population and distribution, and potential for human reduction or degradation to its habitat. It also recommended immediate consideration for

CITES CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...

protection, given its likely demand and exploitation by the pet trade.

References

External links

* More detailed information about Mario Guifarro, for whom the species is named. {{Taxonbar, from=Q14392906 guifarroi Snakes of Central America Reptiles of Honduras Endemic fauna of Honduras Reptiles described in 2013