Cerrophidion godmani (GÜNTHER, 1863)
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Cerrophidion godmani
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Godman's Montane Pit Viper G: Godman-Berggrubenotter S: Nauyaca del Frio |
| Synonym | Bothriechis godmanni GÜNTHER 1863 Lachesis godmani BOULENGER 1896 Bothrops godmani GÜNTHER 1863 Bothriechis scutigera FISCHER 1880 Bothriechis trianguligera FISCHER 1883: 13 Trimeresurus godmani — SMITH 1941: 61 Trimeresurus godmani — POPE 1955 Porthidium godmani — CAMPBELL & LAMAR 1989: 315 Cerrophidion godmani — CAMPBELL & LAMAR 1992 Cerrophidion godmani — LINER 1994 Porthidium godmani — WELCH 1994: 101 Cerrophidion godmani — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 274 Porthidium godmani — PORRAS & SOLORZANO 2006 Cerrophidion godmani — JADIN et al. 2011 Cerrophidion godmani — WALLACH et al. 2014: 156 |
| Distribution | SE Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca), Guatemala Type locality: Totonicapam, Totonicapam, Guatemala (fide SMITH & TAYLOR 1950). |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Holotype: BMNH 1864.1.26.112-115 and BMNH 1946.1.18.80 (status unclear) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus): see Campbell & Lamar 1992: 24. Definition and diagnosis: Rostral wider than high, front surface flat; three preoculars, upper largest, entire, and squarish, lower forming posterior border of pit and excluded from orbit; single, large, flat, plate-like supraocular above eye; seven to 11 supralabials; eight to 12 infralabials; canthals and internasals relatively large and flat; two to seven intersupraoculars; crown of head covered with variably sized, flat or keeled scales; keeling prominent in parietal area; second supralabial discrete from prelacunal; supralabial and subocular series in contact or separated by single row of scales; 19–23 (mode 21) middorsal dorsal scale rows; mid-dorsal scales at midbody moderately slender and pointed; 120–150 ventrals; 22–36 undivided subcaudals; tail spine straight, moderately long. Lateral edge of nasal broadly expanded, bone roughly quadrangular; frontal bones mostly flat, dorsal surface with slightly elevated margins, longer than wide; postfrontal large, not reaching frontal; transverse distance of postfrontal greater than its distance along parietal bone; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming low to moderately distinct raised ridge continuing posteriorly on parietal as low ridge; junction between parietal and prootic rounded to almost flat; squamosal extending to level posterior to posterior edge of exoccipital; ectopterygoid about same length as expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to the articulation with ectopterygoid) with flat shaft gradually tapering posteriorly; dorsal surface of parietal roughly triangular to sometimes rounded; three to five palatine teeth; seven to 18 pterygoid teeth; eight to 16 dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth extending just posterior to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid in C. godmani, but not reaching this far back in congeners; maxillary fang relatively short, being about equal in length to height of maxilla; fang at rest extending to level of about middle of supralabial 5 or suture between supralabials 5–6 (after Campbell & Lamar, 2004 and JADIN et al. 2011). Diagnosis. Similar to other Cerrophidion species, C. godmani s.s. is a medium-sized, blotched, terrestrial pitviper. The head is relatively long, the canthal ridge is distinct and raised and two canthals are usually present. There are 3–7 scales (two in one specimen) across the top of the head between the supraoculars. The scales in the frontal region between supraoculars vary from being a single median scale to small, keeled scales approximately of the same size. The population in southeastern Oaxaca is characterized by having a large median frontal scale occupying more than two-thirds of the distance between the supraoculars; in all other populations individuals have median frontals that are undifferentiated from adjacent scales or that occupy less than half the distance between supraoculars. The supraoculars are broad and the nasal is divided. There are 2–5 prefoveals, a single prelacunal, no lacunolabials, a single loreal, 0–2 subfoveals, 3 preoculars, 8–11 supralabials (usually 9), 9–13 infralabials (usually 10 or 11), 132–150 ventrals (x = 140.57), 22–36 (x = 28.69) undivided subcaudals with no significant sexual dimorphism, and usually 21 middorsal scale rows. The cloacal scute is undivided. The tail is relatively short and non-prehensile [JADIN et al. 2012]. |
| Comment | Venomous! Habitat: terrestrial Distribution: populations from south of Guatemala have been described as a new species, C. sasai by JADIN et al. 2012. Map in JADIN et al. 2012 (e.g. reported from Costa Rica by Solorzano 2004.) Type species: Bothriechis godmanni GÜNTHER 1863 is the type species of the genus Cerrophidion CAMPBELL & LAMAR, 1992. |
| Etymology | Named after Dr. Frederick du Cane Godman (1834-1919), a British naturalist and lawyer who was wealthy enough that he had no need to work, so he studied natural history. The generic name comes from the Spanish cerro, meaning mountain, an allusion to the habitat, and the Greek ophidion, meaning small snake (Campbell & Lamar, 1992). |
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