# Central American Eyelash-Viper (*Bothriechis nigroadspersus*) The Central American Eyelash-Viper is a colorful snake that can be bright green, yellow, or even orange! It has special scales that look like eyelashes, which help it blend into the leaves where it lives. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Eyelash Viper ![Central American Eyelash-Viper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bothriechis_nigroadspersus_149780709.jpg&width=800) Photo: Paul Prior, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bothriechis_nigroadspersus_149780709.jpg) ## Appearance The Central American Eyelash-Viper has distinctive keeled scales above its eyes, giving it a spiky "eyelash" look. Its body color varies wildly from bright yellow to green, brown, or even pink, often with darker blotches, helping it blend into diverse foliage. It has a triangular head and a slender, arboreal body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Viperidae - **Genus:** Bothriechis ## Interesting facts - Its "eyelashes" are actually modified scales! - Sometimes they hang upside down, waiting for prey below! - They can be bright pink or orange, not just green or yellow! - This venomous snake gives birth to live babies, not eggs! ## Special abilities - **Chameleon Camouflage:** Central American Eyelash-Viper can change its skin color to perfectly match its surroundings, which helps them hide from both prey and predators. - **Heat-Seeking Vision:** Central American Eyelash-Viper has special pit organs that help them detect the body heat of warm-blooded prey, allowing them to hunt in total darkness. - **Prehensile Grip:** Central American Eyelash-Viper has a strong prehensile tail that helps them grip branches securely, making them excellent climbers. - **Lightning Strike:** Central American Eyelash-Viper can strike with incredible speed from its hidden perch, which helps them ambush unsuspecting prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-80 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-10 ## Diet & Feeding This venomous hunter eats small animals, ambushing them from its leafy perch. - **Primary Foods:** Rodents, Lizards, Frogs, Small birds - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Slender Anole (*Anolis limifrons*) — A common lizard prey species in its habitat. - **Hunts:** [Red-eyed Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-eyed-tree-frog) (*Agalychnis callidryas*) — Ambushes these frogs that frequent the same trees. - **Eaten by:** [Ocelot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ocelot) (*Leopardus pardalis*) — Ocelots are opportunistic predators of smaller snakes. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate If you see a snake, keep a safe distance and tell an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Central American Eyelash-Viper? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Central American Eyelash-Viper? 50-80 cm ### How much does Central American Eyelash-Viper weigh? 0.1-0.3 kg ### How long does Central American Eyelash-Viper live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Central American Eyelash-Viper move? 5 km/h ### What does Central American Eyelash-Viper eat? This venomous hunter eats small animals, ambushing them from its leafy perch. ### Where is Central American Eyelash-Viper usually found? Forests ### How does Central American Eyelash-Viper hunt? Ambush ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Central American Eyelash-Viper Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/central-american-eyelash-viper)