Barba Amarilla...

Known locally as the Barba Amarilla (yellow beard), Terciopelo or Fer-de-lance, Bothrops asper is a member of the lancehead family of pitvipers and is without doubt the most dangerous snake in Central and South America. It causes more human fatalities each year than any other species found in the region. Injecting an average 105 mg of venom with each bite, just 50 mg is considered a fatal dose for humans. The venom causes pain and swelling and has cytotoxic and hemotoxic qualities. If the bite doesn't kill it causes significant pain and tissue damage often resulting in the loss of limbs or severe disfigurement. 

6ft female Bothrops asper showing why it gets its
local name Barba amarilla

This snake is surprisingly common and is found throughout humid lowland forests up to approx 2000+ m from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama to Colombia, Venezuela and western Ecuador in South America.

Juvenile Bothrops asper.
Only 12 inches long but just as deadly as the parent.
Tapirus Lodge, Costa Rica

Being common certainly contributes to the number of encounters with people but it is also a highly irascible snake. It usually sits tight when disturbed and is often trodden on, it becomes easily aggravated and confrontational if interacted with. At Tapirus Lodge in Costa Rica, it was the most frequently encountered snake and we had several close encounters whilst walking to the restaurant in the evenings, including the juvenile above. The cameraman Mike Hutchinson, almost trod on this one in the dark between the restaurant and the accommodation.

Bothrops asper, male
Osa Biological Station, Costa Rica

Male Bothrops asper, Tapirus Lodge, CR
This one was sitting next to the path
outside my accommodation!

Same individual as above. This view clearly
shows the 'lancehead' formed by the
large venom glands behind the eyes.

Despite their terrifying reputation, bites can be mitigated if you are aware of their presence and take simple precautions - using a head torch/torch at night, wearing stout footwear and avoiding stepping blindly over logs and fallen trees across footpaths (their favourite ambush cover) will all help. Personally I can't wait to see these incredible reptiles again when travel allows.

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WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGE

For those in any doubt as to the seriousness of the effects of Terciopelo venom, the following image from Google clearly illustrate what happens to human flesh after a bite.

Guatemalan Beaded Lizard

The Guatemalan Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti) is one of the rarest reptiles in the world. Found only in a limited area of seasonally dry forest habitat of the Motagua in southern Guatemala, it is estimated there are less than 500 individuals left in the wild. The 'beaded' refers to the armour-like scales covering their body. They are perfectly designed for living in such challenging conditions.

The only way to safely hold a Beaded Lizard
is from underneath.

These phenomenal lizards are larger versions of their close relatives the better known Gila Monster, which has a wider distribution in the southwest United States down into New Mexico. Like the Gila Monster, the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard is venomous. Although relatively slow moving they can bite with surprising speed, flicking their head back and around with alarming dexterity. When handled they exude the saliva-like venom from their mouths, a thick clear liquid that smells surprisingly pleasant - like sugar and lemon! Although not life threatening the effects of a bite are very unpleasant. Daniel Ariano-Sánchez, a research biologist who has dedicated his career to studying the lizards, has taken a few bites in his time and describes feeling weak and nauseous with non-stop vomiting for about 24-48 hours.

Guatemalan Beaded Lizard

Their diet consists mostly of eggs, including the equally endangered Guatemalan Spiny-tailed Iguana Ctenosaura palearis (also endemic to the region). They are so closely linked that should the iguana population decline, the fate of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard would follow.

La Aurora Zoo in Guatemala City (under the direction of Indigo Expedition's Rowland Griffin) is now working with NGO's and universities to assist with the captive breeding programme, which will eventually allow reintroductions to boost the population. 

Researchers fitting a radio transmitter.

When we visited there were several conservation assistants who helped with the radio tagging in order to track their movements. However, like most projects of this nature, the Heloderma Reserve has been hit particularly hard by the Pandemic with no visitors in 2020 resulting in a reduction of staff to just a few core assistants.  If you feel you could help with the preservation of this amazing animal that's really living on the edge, please consider donating at their GoFundMe page.