Author: Anders Nielsen | Ctrl-D saves this page
Bushmaster
There are two different myths about the Bushmaster. One is that it hunts in pairs and the other one is that they are attracted by camp-fires which, of course, is not true.
The Bushmaster snake can be found in the tropical forest of South and Central America - from Southern parts of Nicaragua through Brazil and Bolivia. In Brazil the Bushmaster is called jararacucu. It is a venomous snake and can cause death - but in most cases victims only experiences severe pain, vomiting, nausea, chills etc.
However, all fatalities caused by the Bushmaster snake may not have been accounted for. Some people bitten by this snake may never have been able to reach help before they succumbed to its venom.
Appearance
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The Bushmaster snake is largest among the pit-viper snakes. Typically, an adult Bushmaster reaches a length of 6 feet (2 meter). Larger specimens can reach lengths of 10-12 feet, but that is uncommon. It is a very sturdy and tough snake with a broad head and thick body. Its body coloration is made up of yellow, red and brown colors with a lot of irregularities and scales. |
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The Bushmaster is not an aggressive snake1 but it will defend both itself and its eggs if disturbed or threatened.
Diet and Life Cycle
The Bushmaster snake is perhaps most efficient as a nocturnal predator. It feeds on variety of other animals such as rodents, frogs, invertebrates and birds.
It lays egg and takes it's stand against intruders seeking to harm her eggs. Newly hatched juvenile snakes are approximately 8 inches long
References
1Jorge et al. SNAKEBITE BY THE BUSHMASTER (LACHESlS MUTA) IN BRAZIL: CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE,Toxicon Volume 35, Issue 4 (1997)
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