Bothrops alternatus

Bothrops alternatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Bothrops
Species:	B. alternatus
Binomial name
	Bothrops alternatus; A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
Synonyms
	Craspedocephalus Brasiliensis (non Lacépède) Gray, 1849; Bothrops alternatus A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854; Trigonocephalus alternatus ; – Jan, 1859; Lachesis alternatus ; – Boulenger, 1896; Lachesis alternata – Boettger, 1898; Lachesis inaequalis Magalhaes, 1925; Bothrops alternata – Amaral, 1925; Lachesis (Bothrops) alternata ; – Gliesch, 1931; Trimeresurus alternatus ; – Pope, 1944; Bothrops alternatus ; – J.A. Peters & Orejas-Miranda, 1970; Rhinocerophis alternatus ; – Fenwick et al., 2009;

Common names: yarará grande,^[3] urutu,^[3] wutu,^[4] crossed pit viper.^[5]

Bothrops alternatus is a highly venomous pit viper species found in South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina).^[1] Within its range, it is an important cause of snakebite. The specific name, alternatus, which is Latin for "alternating", is apparently a reference to the staggered markings along the body.^[3] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[6]

^ ^a ^b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^ ^a ^b ^c Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
^ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
^ "Bothrops alternatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 7 November 2006.