Need help identifying a snake - experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Belryan on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
http://members.shaw.ca/jsrlee/PICT0238.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/jsrlee/PICT0239.JPG I know some are you might be distrubed that we stabbed them through the head while they were mating. However, I would like to know what kind of snake this is. It was found in the dry tropical forrest in Agua Blanca, in the Machalilla National Park, in Manabi, Ecuador. I believe the locals told us that it was quite venemous. Thanks

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by copperheadkid15 on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Ok I will not judge you yet, I am a hunter and a trapper. I kill many animals every year. Although since I care so much about them I don’t kill snakes but I don’t hold grudges with those who do kill snakes. I only hold grudges to those who kill without a reason. If you kill a animal just for the fun of killing it then you have sever mental instabilities. It is proven that people who are needlessly violent to animals tend to be the same with people. So I want to ask, why did you kill them, Did you eat them? Ps. isn’t illegal to kill animals in a nation park? Just my .02 cent

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Belryan on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I don't know the specific legalities regarding the killing of animals in national parks in Ecuador. At the time, we were conducting a sytematic pedestrian survey of the area looking for archaeological ruins, and cultural material left behind by the Manteno culture. We were in the suspected 'capital' of the Manteno chiefdom. The snakes were killed so they could be brought back to camp and shown to everyone to serve as a warning - a guide, as to what to watch out for while trudging through the dry tropical forrest. Our guide, who was from the area, was the one who sharpened the stick and drove it through the heads of both snakes.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Snake17 on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
It is clearly a Bothrops, a species of Lance-Head. It is a pit viper and venomous.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Belryan on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
That was the conclusion I came to. However, I can't narrow down the specific species.. teh markings on the back are very distinctive, especially the solid line.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by bush_viper17 on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
You killed them to show people to be carefull? No you didnt. YOu killed them so you would look brave after "Coming back from the Jungle" with your trophy. I bet you told people that they chased you and spat venom in your eyes and stole your wallet. You brought them back to put fear into people. NOt be careful, but to carry a long stick with them to kill what ever animal doesnt look you us. The reason im being so quick to judge is because I see it all the time.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Belryan on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
No, they didn't chase us... they were busy mating. It was our guide's decision to kill it. He was about twenty metres up the hill, when my colleague stopped for a rest, and sat down, and spotted them about 4 feet away. She asked him to come and look and tell her if they were dangerous. He came down, took one look, and started sharpening that stake. One of my colleagues wanted them left alone (there were 3 of us, plus the guide), but the guide wanted to bring them back for the rest of the group to see. Keep in mind that we were about a fourty minute hike away from the road, and a further 25 minute drive to the hospital. They felt we should see them to know what to look out for, as you can see they blend in quite well. Now, all I asked was for help identifying them.. I'm not on an "anti-snake" crusade not am I in the habit of killing creatures.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by bush_viper17 on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
What made me upset is the fact that you HAD to tell us(people who love and risk our lives everyday to save these beautiful animals) that you stabbed them in the head while they were doing the most important part of there entire lives. And dont stop at that. YOu post a picture of them with a stick shoved through there head. If you in fact just wanted the ID of these snakes, you would have just posted the picture of them mating and left the other crap out. THats like me going to a dog lovers site and asking them what kind of dog I had and then I said "You guys arent going to like the fact that I shot it in the head while it was mating" and "Oh yeah, I know you all love dogs, so heres a picture of it and its mate with its head blown off." THats just my opinion, There was no need to kill the snake. It wasnt like they were going to kill you. You spotted them and that gave you every security you needed to know to leave it alone and not bother it. You said it was a long hike so It must be remote.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Belryan on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Oh FFS. I only posted the other picture to give a better idea of the markings. And I HAD to tell you because I KNEW that if I didn't acknowledge the fact that people would be upset that our guide killed them, every post would have been "OMG you killed them WTF?!?!." Instead, I just have you ragging my ass.

RE: Need help identifying a snake	Reply
by Wollers on December 14, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
The snake in question appears to be Porthidium arcosae, venomous but not a Lancehead. -MIKE

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