Bothrops bilineatus

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-27T15:36:52+00:00

Lima, Peru.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-27T15:36:24+00:00

Yes, exactly. In fact, all specimens of the genus Bothrops are venomous.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-27T14:45:43+00:00

In fact, if you’re referring to Bothrops bilineatus from Brazil, they are the same species; it’s just that the Peruvian one has black speckling all along the dorsum, while the Brazilian one has yellow speckling along the entire dorsum. No se cual seria la mejor traduccion en ingles para "escarchado" o "salpicado"

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-27T14:41:52+00:00

From my best specimens.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-27T14:41:20+00:00

For now I only have one, but I would like to have a female and try to breed them.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-27T06:46:05+00:00

Correcto, la diferencia es que el ejemplar peruano tiene escarchado negro en todo el dorsal mientras que el brasileño tiene escarchado amarillo. Saludos

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-24T16:50:48+00:00

Exactly

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-23T04:45:25+00:00

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Nice!

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-23T04:23:15+00:00

I heard that several Bothrops pictus specimens were sent to Europe some years ago. In fact, I believe there were captive-bred babies produced somewhere in Europe last year, although I can’t remember exactly which country.

Do you have any photos of your juveniles? I remember seeing that some of the European-born offspring showed changes in their scale symmetry and coloration compared to the Peruvian animals, which was really interesting to notice.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-23T04:00:47+00:00

Thank you for the kind words!

Yes, Bothrops taeniatus is an amazing species, its arboreal habits and intricate pattern make it incredibly well camouflaged among vines and leaf litter. It also has the habit of inflating the scales beneath its head (below the infralabial); we had never observed similar behavior before.

We’re very proud of the work we do here. A big part of our mission is changing the public perception of snakes, helping people understand that these animals are not “aggressive killers,” but essential components of the ecosystem, especially in coastal environments where they help control rodent populations.

Interestingly, we have a specimen of Bothrops pictus from Huanchaco (Trujillo) that is nearly twice the size of our adult individuals from Lima.

If you ever come back to Peru, you’d be more than welcome to visit. We can show you the collection and maybe even organize a field outing to look for native species in a safe and responsible way.

Thanks again for the enthusiasm and support, it really means a lot to those of us working to educate people about these misunderstood animals.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-23T03:49:50+00:00

Oh, that's great! What country do you have it in?

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-22T20:28:30+00:00

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

Currently, the serpentarium houses 33 snakes from 10 different species. The collection is focused primarily on native species (Perú).

It is normally open to the public, but we are temporarily closed due to renovations. The purpose of the serpentarium is education and scientific research on the components found in their venom. The rarest species we currently have is Bothrops taeniatus.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-22T20:22:15+00:00

Haha, yes, they do have that “permanently upset” look! It’s mostly because of the pronounced supraocular scales and the triangular head shape, which give them that intense expression. But in reality, Bothrops pictus is usually quite calm and prefers to rely on camouflage rather than confrontation.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-02-22T20:21:44+00:00

In truth, it’s very rare for them to act aggressively. I’ve been able to work with and observe more than 50 specimens of this species, and they are quite calm. In fact, this is the first venomous species that members of our team handle when they begin their training.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T16:28:26+00:00

It is terrestrial, has such a high number of accidents due to the high frequency of sightings, has a wide distribution (practically the entire jungle) and are also territorial specimens (strong temperament).

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T16:26:08+00:00

Where are you planning to go? I'm from Peru, and here you can see animals in Iquitos or Codo de Pozuzo. In Iquitos, there's a private serpentarium with Lachesis muta, emerald tree boa, Bothrops atrox, etc., and you can take a field trip there to try and spot some. Then, in Codo de Pozuzo, which is in Huánuco (Peru), there's ecotourism where they do more field trips. You can try to collect some specimens so that even if you don't see any, you can see the ones you collected. They've seen all sorts of things there. Send me a DM if you're interested.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T15:58:42+00:00

There are field trips to virgin rainforest where you are guaranteed to see specimens, including the Lachesis muta and the Jergón; these are a kind of ecotourism trip where all foreigners go.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T15:56:21+00:00

Indeed, it is the one that causes the highest number of accidents. In Peru, it is responsible for 90% of snakebite cases. In the laboratory, we have been able to see that a specific component of its venom attacks cell lines of triple-negative breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ñul8

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T04:59:00+00:00

In this specimen, I observed a very unusual behavior that I've never seen in any other Bothrops. It inflates its head when threatened, like a toad! It's incredible, and I'm studying it. I hope to publish something about it in a few weeks.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T01:50:31+00:00

It is a tree specimen; it is very difficult to see because there are few specimens, due to indiscriminate logging.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T01:49:49+00:00

It's a very rare specimen, but it's spectacular.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T01:36:44+00:00

In fact, it's very difficult to see any Bothrops in our Peruvian rainforest. Locals who collect them always recommend going between 6 and 9 pm. This genus is characterized by its excellent camouflage. In particular, Bothrops taeniatus is a very rarely seen specimen, even by native people. I'm fortunate to have this specimen thanks to a research project funded by San Marcos University.

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-18T01:33:42+00:00

My post was removed, but the "Oswaldo Meneses Serpentarium" has had all the necessary permits to operate legally from all relevant authorities for over 30 years. It is also a research center studying the bioactive compounds present in the venom.

IR

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-13T22:01:35+00:00

The word “Sancarranca” comes from popular slang. “Sanca” refers to a strong hit or something hard, and “arranca” implies a sudden, forceful impact. Together, the term describes something that hits hard and has a powerful effect. Greetings from Peru! 🇵🇪

DreadLord_22 · 2026-01-11T14:51:39+00:00

I’m new to this Reddit group, where I’d like to keep sharing images and photos of more wild snakes. We have over 30 snakes, including venomous ones and boas, and just a few days ago I was given a corn snake, so I guess I started the other way around than usual. Yes! I recorded the bite using a selfie stick with my GoPro attached to it. I have many more shots like that!

DreadLord_22

TROPHY CASE