Costa Rica's Deadliest Snake, Fer De Lance

You can find the deadliest snakes in the world living a solitary life in the southern most part of Costa Rica in Corcovado National Park. The Fer De Lance, is considered one of the most fierce and most violent snakes in the world.

This snake has pale yellow or cream-colored bands that crisscross the back and sides of the body, making spaces for a dark diamond pattern. The luster of these dark triangles is velvety and the triangles connect slightly on the back. Its head is large, triangularly shaped, and wider than the neck. This pit viper has the deep, visible, heat-detecting pit between each eye.

The Fer De Lance has a white to olive underbelly. The eyes are large and have a vertical pupil. The scales along the head and back are keeled. It can grow up to 3 meters in length.

Although these snakes are quite common in all types of forests, they aren't seen in dry forests. In human-controlled areas where rat populations have done well, this viper is not shy. In Costa Rica this species is common along the lowlands of both coasts up to 1,300 m in elevation.

Fer De Lance is deadly because it can inject around 260 mg of venom per bite and the record says that some can even inject 800mg! You will even be amazed after hearing that a single bite of a Fer De Lance has the power to kill at least 32 people! This infamous viper's large size, long fangs, and high venom production and toxicity are paired with an active and edgy disposition, making it one of the most dangerous creatures one can encounter in Costa Rica. It is the most dangerous snake in Central America. Venom from this species contains an anticoagulant and causes hemorrhaging.

This nocturnal serpent is more active on the ground as an adult, but as a juvenile may prefer the day and low vegetation. Younger fer-de-lance has a yellow-tipped tail to draw the attention of frogs or lizards before ambushing them. Prey size increases as the snake grows larger. It passes the day coiled up and hidden in vegetation, at dusk it will hunt along roads or trails through dense grass and forest. It is not afraid of human dwelling areas. When it feels agitated, the fer-de-lance may vibrate its tail before striking. It moves quickly when threatened. Other large vipers are more inclined to escape when they feel attacked, but the fer-de-lance is more likely to strike. It produces a lot of venom, so it is less reserved with this defense as other snakes.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Marina K. Villatoro, has lived in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She's traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. With her first hand experience, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

by: Marina K. Villatoro

Total views: 7 Word Count: 438 Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 Time: 8:51 AM - 0 comments

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