Lanceheads are pit vipers from Central and South America. They are responsible for more deaths from snakebite in the Americas than any other snake. Some of the more notorious species are listed below. The default on the main table is the B. asper fer-de-lance.
Species | Typical venom | Size | Range | Habitat | Notes | ||
Potency | Type | Typical | Maximum | ||||
Urutu, B. alternatus | medium | hemo 10 necro 10 algesic 10 | 1 kg | 4 kg | Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina. | Swamps, marshes, river banks, fields, rocks, forest, cultivated areas. Always where wet or humid. | Irritable. |
Fer-de-lance, Barba amarilla, or Terciopelo, B. asper | medium | hemo 10 necro 10 algesic 10 | 4 kg | 10 kg | South Mexico and Central America, north coast of South America. | Moist forests and jungles, drier forests near rivers and streams. | Irritable. |
Fer-de-lance, Barba amarilla, or Terciopelo, B. atrox | medium | hemo 10 necro 10 algesic 10 | 1 kg | 4 kg | Amazon rain forest. | Moist forests, jungles, banana and coffee plantations, often near rivers, lakes, or streams. | Irritable. Not typically distinguished from B. asper except by experts. |
Jararaca, B. jararaca | medium | hemo 10 necro 10 algesic 10 | 1 kg | 4 kg | Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina. | Tropical forest, savanna, upland forest. Open areas near vegetation. | |
Jararacussu, B. jararacussu | medium | hemo 10 necro 10 algesic 10 | 1 kg | 10 kg | Brazil, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, southeastern Bolivia. | Jungle, forest, swamp, river banks. | |
Jararaca pintada, B. neuwiedi | medium | hemo 10 necro 10 algesic 10 | 500 g | 1 kg | Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina. | Dry or semi-arid rocky areas in forest and shrubland. | Most common source of snakebite in Argentina. |