If you know which species you are looking for, click on the name below. Otherwise, just scroll down until you find it! Recall that the color pattens and shades of these snakes are usually highly variable. Below is the complete list of species of snakes known to occur near Las Cruces. If there is no link, that means that I do not have a photo for that species.

WARNING: There are several species of venomous snakes around the station, both pit-vipers and coral snakes. These snakes will not bite if unprovoked. I recommend that one calmly observe all snakes from a safe distance. Trying to provoke or harass them is not only unethical, but also potentially dangerous. (Non venomous snakes can bite too).

Colubridae
    Amastridium veliferum
    Chironius exoletus (2 species)
    Clelia clelia
    Dendrophidion (2 species)
    Drymobius melnotropis
    Enulius sclateri
    Erythrolampus mimus
    Geophis (2 species)
    Imantodes cenchoa
    Lampropeltis triangulatum
    Liophis epinephalus
    Leptodeira septentrionalis
    Mastigodryas melanolomus
    Nina maculata
    Scaphiodontophis venustissimus
    Stenorrhina fremenvilli
    Tantilla (3 species)
    Xenodon rhabdocephalus

Elapidae
    Micrurus alleni

Viperidae
    Atropoides nummifera
    Bothriechis lateralis
    Bothriechis schlegelii
    Bothrops asper

Colubridae
	Chironeus exoletus Sleeps up in vegetation at night.   Larger image
	Dendrophidion percarinatum (juvenile). Slide 1 of 2. We found this beautiful snake just above the forest reserve of the research station, at ca. 1400m. Note unusual tongue color in next slide. Larger image
	Dendrophidion percarinatum (juvenile). Slide 2 of 2. Note the blue tongue.  Larger image
	Enulius sclateri. The scales on the venter are white, with a rainbow sheen.  Larger image
	Geophis sp.. I am uncertain which Geophis species this is.   Larger image
	Imantodes cenchoa. The chunk headed snake. One of the most easily visible snakes at night near Las Cruces. The very elongated snake travels from branch to branch in search of small frogs and lizards for prey. Notice cat-like pupils.   Larger image
	Ninia maculata? So-called coffee snake, because it is often found near coffee plantations (like this individual was).  Larger image
	Pseustes poecilonotus (juvenile). As adults, theses snakes specialize on bird eggs. (Yum.) When frightened, this individual widened the back of its head, thereby mimicking the appearance of the triangular heads of pitvipers. Adults of this species are duller in coloration. Larger image
	Stenorrhina fremenvilli. The scorpion-eating snake. Notice the very point extremity of tail. I found this individual dead on the road near Las Alturas de Coton, ca. 1300m.  Larger image
Elapidae: Coral snakes
	Micrurus alleni. Coral snake. If the color pattern spells frog in spanish (RANA = rojo, amarillo, negro, amarillo), then beware. Coral snakes have a very potent neuro-toxin in their venom, but will generally bite only if provoked or tred upon.  Larger image
Viperidae: Pit-vipers
	Bothriechis lateralis. The side-striped viper. Notice the white band along the lower side of body. This snake is found at higher elevations (we found this individual at ca. 1400m).  Larger image
	Bothriechis schlegelii. The eye-lash viper (see enlarged scales above eye). This common viper is found perched in the vegetation, and can be quick to bite (most snake bites in Costa Rica are by this snake). Several morphs can be observed, including all grey-brown, mossy green, and golden (oropel). Larger image
	Atropoides nummifera. Slide 1 or 2. The jumping viper. Perhaps the most common encountered viper in the Las Cruces area. Usually very mellow and non-agressive, this short, stout snake gets its Spanish name (mano de peidra) because it resembles indigenous rolling pins, and its English name from its surprisingly high vertical strike. Larger image
	Atropoides nummifera. Slide 2 of 2. This is how this snake is often encountered: on the ground, well camoflaged amongst the leaf-litter. Larger image
	Bothrops asper. The Fer-de-lance. Highly venomous, this snake is common in the pasture areas, and probably less so within the forested areas. When asked what it resembles, Mahmoud, a fellow herpetologist replied: leaf-litter. This snake was so well hidden that I placed a sponge (see arrow) as part of an experiment right next to it, and only later realized that the snake was sitting there... Larger image

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