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FYI: this post discusses and portrays graphic and potentially inhumane content. Please be forewarned!
On the contrary, if snake biology and behavior is of interest to you, I figured you might enjoy.
I am in La Selva, Costa Rica where I enrolled in an intensive neotropical herpetology course. The venomous snakes are one of the least-researched species in the tropics, which little is known and often times information gets misinterpreted. My previous trip ignited my interest in exploring the relationship between venomous snakes and amphibians. Of course, many of us know the vipers are generalists (eat a wide variety of food) and often feed opportunistically.
In March, I searched high and low for the venomous species. As hard as I searched, another classmate accidentally stumbled upon a large adult female fer-de-lance Bothrops asper, found at a hotel near a small frog pond. It became clear to me that these guys were feeding on the Red-eyed tree frogs that inhabited the area, and happened to be out that night due to a much needed rain.
Earlier this week, I located a young eyelash viper Bothriechis schlegelii. I had a burning desire to revisit this specimen, so I went for a long, lonely hike in the forest the other night. I brought two (potentially) tasty frogs with me, a Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis calidryas) and Oophaga pumilio. I've spoken with several folks that assume the eyelash viper eats the RETF and other amphibians in the wild.
I had a number of questions I was interested in exploring.
1. It is assumed the eyelash vipers (venomous arboreal) are a "strike and hold" species, both defensively and for predation. Is this always true?
2. What is the RETF's reaction to envenomation from the viper?
3. What is the pumilio's reaction to the envenomation?
4. Does the viper have a reaction to the pumilio's toxin?
So, here's my little friend. I observed him monday night with a fairly large meal in him. Not present now, so I figured he was on the lookout.
Prey Item 1 - RETF
This guy was obviously not correct prey size. Again, just interested in reaction to envenomation.
This presented an intersting situation with the RETF wrangling the viper with his sticky toe pads!
By this time several initial strikes had occured. Obviously painful to recieve the bite, but no apparent reaction to the venom.
The RETF was struck approximately 10 times. 9 of these were not a "strike and hold". Unfortuantely, I didn't get a shot of this, but there was one substantial chomp where the fangs were sunk into the dorsal area of the frog. The snake quickly retracted the fangs, but struggled to ge them out. The frog clearly suffered from the local pain of the fangs/teeth in the skin. The skin changed color in these areas to a light green. But, after all of this, the frog remained immune to the envenomation. I didn't have a way to measure this, but it clearly was the case- I put the frog back in the bag and the yellow viscous venom drained from the punctures.
Next prey item:
Oophaga pumilio - "blue jeans" poison frog here in Costa Rica
Here, the snake presented an immediate feeding response (potentially due to correct prey size)
I happened to catch this on film and found it quite cool.
The viper lunged at the pumilio from his perch, no solicitation from me.
The snake instantly reacted to the exposure to pumilio toxins. Immediate release-
The snake began a series of convulsions while releasing. I was terrified that I might have killed it! It remained limp hanging from it's perch for nearly 2 minutes.
I decided to approach it with a hook to check it out. It jumped up immediately and regained it's position on the perch. WHEW! Relief!!
I observed the snake for several minutes afterward, looking for any different behaviour or health symptoms. The snake remained alert, never showed any signs of harm (didn't even open its mouth). It was clear the snake was still in search of food.
At this point, subsequent to the first strike, the pumilio was instantly killed. I decided to drop the pumilio on it's perch to see if the snake would decide to consume the prey.
During this time, I waited for nearly two hours. The viper began to tongue flick near the specimen, but never began to consume it as prey.
Meanwhile, the RETF was surprisingly still A-OK. I was afraid to touch the animal, given the circumstances, so I checked it again with the clamp. The frog had been hopping all over the bag. I noticed two observable differences in the frog: 1. the spotty color pattern from where the envenomations had occred. 2. The mucous layer was noticably thicker, especially around the fingers and toe pads. Puncture wounds were not visible, and no longer draining venom. Venom remained in the bottom of the bag.
I released the RETF later that night, and he climbed the tree and went on his way.
So, in conclusion-(in this little non-scientific trial)
1. RETF immune to envenomation.
2. Pumilio died immediately
3. Snake reacted to pumilio toxin
If I were to have the opportunity to revisit the issue, I should obviously first do some literature review and also get similarly sized prey items.
I'm not sure i'll be able to do that, but continuing research might be an important thing to do with this species. From what I hear, this is the leading snakebite for those who work in coffee and agricultural plantations in central america.
So, in closing - I apologize in advance if you found this inappropriate, but rather hope that you enjoyed it and learned something from it, as I did.
Until next time.
On the contrary, if snake biology and behavior is of interest to you, I figured you might enjoy.
I am in La Selva, Costa Rica where I enrolled in an intensive neotropical herpetology course. The venomous snakes are one of the least-researched species in the tropics, which little is known and often times information gets misinterpreted. My previous trip ignited my interest in exploring the relationship between venomous snakes and amphibians. Of course, many of us know the vipers are generalists (eat a wide variety of food) and often feed opportunistically.
In March, I searched high and low for the venomous species. As hard as I searched, another classmate accidentally stumbled upon a large adult female fer-de-lance Bothrops asper, found at a hotel near a small frog pond. It became clear to me that these guys were feeding on the Red-eyed tree frogs that inhabited the area, and happened to be out that night due to a much needed rain.
Earlier this week, I located a young eyelash viper Bothriechis schlegelii. I had a burning desire to revisit this specimen, so I went for a long, lonely hike in the forest the other night. I brought two (potentially) tasty frogs with me, a Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis calidryas) and Oophaga pumilio. I've spoken with several folks that assume the eyelash viper eats the RETF and other amphibians in the wild.
I had a number of questions I was interested in exploring.
1. It is assumed the eyelash vipers (venomous arboreal) are a "strike and hold" species, both defensively and for predation. Is this always true?
2. What is the RETF's reaction to envenomation from the viper?
3. What is the pumilio's reaction to the envenomation?
4. Does the viper have a reaction to the pumilio's toxin?
So, here's my little friend. I observed him monday night with a fairly large meal in him. Not present now, so I figured he was on the lookout.
Prey Item 1 - RETF
This guy was obviously not correct prey size. Again, just interested in reaction to envenomation.
This presented an intersting situation with the RETF wrangling the viper with his sticky toe pads!
By this time several initial strikes had occured. Obviously painful to recieve the bite, but no apparent reaction to the venom.
The RETF was struck approximately 10 times. 9 of these were not a "strike and hold". Unfortuantely, I didn't get a shot of this, but there was one substantial chomp where the fangs were sunk into the dorsal area of the frog. The snake quickly retracted the fangs, but struggled to ge them out. The frog clearly suffered from the local pain of the fangs/teeth in the skin. The skin changed color in these areas to a light green. But, after all of this, the frog remained immune to the envenomation. I didn't have a way to measure this, but it clearly was the case- I put the frog back in the bag and the yellow viscous venom drained from the punctures.
Next prey item:
Oophaga pumilio - "blue jeans" poison frog here in Costa Rica
Here, the snake presented an immediate feeding response (potentially due to correct prey size)
I happened to catch this on film and found it quite cool.
The viper lunged at the pumilio from his perch, no solicitation from me.
The snake instantly reacted to the exposure to pumilio toxins. Immediate release-
The snake began a series of convulsions while releasing. I was terrified that I might have killed it! It remained limp hanging from it's perch for nearly 2 minutes.
I decided to approach it with a hook to check it out. It jumped up immediately and regained it's position on the perch. WHEW! Relief!!
I observed the snake for several minutes afterward, looking for any different behaviour or health symptoms. The snake remained alert, never showed any signs of harm (didn't even open its mouth). It was clear the snake was still in search of food.
At this point, subsequent to the first strike, the pumilio was instantly killed. I decided to drop the pumilio on it's perch to see if the snake would decide to consume the prey.
During this time, I waited for nearly two hours. The viper began to tongue flick near the specimen, but never began to consume it as prey.
Meanwhile, the RETF was surprisingly still A-OK. I was afraid to touch the animal, given the circumstances, so I checked it again with the clamp. The frog had been hopping all over the bag. I noticed two observable differences in the frog: 1. the spotty color pattern from where the envenomations had occred. 2. The mucous layer was noticably thicker, especially around the fingers and toe pads. Puncture wounds were not visible, and no longer draining venom. Venom remained in the bottom of the bag.
I released the RETF later that night, and he climbed the tree and went on his way.
So, in conclusion-(in this little non-scientific trial)
1. RETF immune to envenomation.
2. Pumilio died immediately
3. Snake reacted to pumilio toxin
If I were to have the opportunity to revisit the issue, I should obviously first do some literature review and also get similarly sized prey items.
I'm not sure i'll be able to do that, but continuing research might be an important thing to do with this species. From what I hear, this is the leading snakebite for those who work in coffee and agricultural plantations in central america.
So, in closing - I apologize in advance if you found this inappropriate, but rather hope that you enjoyed it and learned something from it, as I did.
Until next time.
