Fer-de-lance
Fer-de-lanceFer-de-lanceFer-de-lanceFer-de-lance

Fer-de-lance

Bothrops asper

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
12 Verified records at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's active Active throughout day and night

The terciopelo (Bothrops asper), is a species of pit vipers, found from north-east Mexico to northern South America. At low to moderate elevations, its habitat ranges from northeastern Mexico to Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, as well as Venezuela. With a mass of up to 6 kilograms (13 lb), and a maximal length of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft), the terciopelo is among the largest vipers. It is light to dark brown in color, often with yellowish, zig-zag patterning on either side of its body. Dubbed "the ultimate pit-viper" for its defensiveness, large size, fangs and potent venom yield, it has a fearsome reputation, responsible for the most envenomated snakebites within its range, largely due to its proximity to humans, livestock and pets. Nonetheless, like all venomous snakes, the terciopelo actively avoids contact with humans and other larger animals, with bites generally only occurring when the snake is cornered, pursued, or threatened. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Fer-de-lance sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Side-striped palm pit viper
LC

Side-striped palm pit viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Bothriechis lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bothriechis nigroviridis

5–10% · Rare
Slender Hognose Viper
LC

Slender Hognose Viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Porthidium ophryomegas

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
10–20
Sep
5–10
Oct
5–10
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️🌙 When They're Spotted

Active throughout day and night · across all parks (global)

☀️🌙Day & Night
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
50–60%
2 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
50–60%
3 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
4 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
5 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
6 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
30–40%
7 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
20–30%
8 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
20–30%
9 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
20–30%
10 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
11 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
20–30%
12 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
20–30%
13 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
14 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
15 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
16 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
10–20%
17 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
18 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
19 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
20 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
21 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
22 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
23 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
24 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
25 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
27 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
28 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
29 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
30 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
31 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
32 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
33 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
34 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
35 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
36 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
37 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Fer-de-lance in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?

About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Fer-de-lance sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Fer-de-lance in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?

September has the highest sighting rate for Fer-de-lance in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in our monthly data.

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