Eyelash vipers are nocturnal hunters, using their keen vision to spot prey. Additionally, they ‘flick their tongues’ in order to detect chemical changes in the air.
They reproduce throughout the year in warm climates. Males mate at night and carry their eggs internally for up to 6 months, with females usually giving birth to 2-20 live young per brood.
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Frogs
Eyelash vipers feed on frogs and other small animals at night. These snakes are nocturnal, often spending time in trees where they can wait patiently for their prey to appear. They possess a long prehensile tail which they use for navigation through the tree canopy.
They also employ caudal luring, a technique in which they wiggle their tail in an eerie motion to attract prey closer. This allows them to strike when not expected and easily take down birds, lizards and other smaller creatures.
Female snakes mate all year, producing eggs which hatch after 6 months of incubation. The young snakes, known as snakelets, live independently from their parents from birth onwards.
These snakes possess hemotoxic and neurotoxic venom, meaning it contains procoagulants and other hemorrhagic chemicals which can be fatal for humans if bitten. As such, they should not be kept as pets; however some people keep them in their homes or zoos.
Lizards
Eyelash vipers have scales on their heads that resemble eyelashes, which help them blend in with dense vegetation.
They can be found throughout Central and South America, such as Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Peru. Typically they live in forests or densely wooded areas.
Snakes are nocturnal and use heat sensitive pits on either side of their head between the eyes and nostrils to detect prey. This sixth sense allows them to differentiate environmental temperatures from that of prey they’re hunting.
Adult eyelash vipers feed on a variety of prey, such as small mammals, birds and lizards. They are fast predators that can strike quickly to capture hovering hummingbirds before they can escape and inject lethal hemotoxic venom into their victims.
These snakes are ovoviviparous (they give birth to live young) and their gestation period lasts six months. Females gain weight and slow down during this time, leaving them vulnerable to predation during this period.
Birds
The Eyelash viper, Bothriechis schlegelii (commonly referred to as an Eyelash Pit Viper), is a venomous snake found throughout Central and South America. It gets its name from its large scales above its eyes which give it the appearance of having eyelashes.
This snake feeds on a variety of prey, such as small mammals, birds and lizards. It has the unique ability to detect its prey’s body temperature through heat sensitive pits located on either side of its head between the nostril and eye.
In addition, this snake is highly camouflaged by the flowers and foliage around it. It waits for unsuspecting prey before striking when it senses an opportunity to catch its meal.
Male eyelash vipers use their cloacae to find partners, and during the mating ritual known as the “dance of adders”, males face each other with heads held erect in a cobra-like stance while trying to push the other snake off onto the ground. This can go on for hours.
Small Mammals
The eyelash viper is a nocturnal, arboreal snake that feeds on small mammals, lizards and birds. Its ambush tactics allow it to quickly ensnare prey in hiding places.
Snake venom is highly toxic and contains pro-coagulants and hemorrhagins that quickly paralyze its victim’s central nervous system and cardiovascular systems. Signs may include difficulty breathing, pain, bruising, and changes to heart rate.
Snakes like this species can be found throughout Central and South America, such as Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru. They tend to prefer rainforests and humid tropical areas with dense foliage for protection.
Their coloration can range from yellow, brown, red, green or pink depending on their environment. They have evolved to camouflage in order to blend in with their environment and can alter hue according to what they see around them.
