Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was preovided by Paul Smith, Teatske Nieuborg, Bert Vandebosch and José Luis Cartes and is used with permission.
PAINTED LANCEHEAD Bothrops diporus
If you see this snake you should treat it with the utmost of respect, if you don´t you could end up paying for it with your life. This is the infamous and deadly Jarará that you hear so much about in Paraguay, but the truth is fatalities are generally rare. If bitten and you are immediately treated with anti-venin your chances of recovery are good, but you will no doubt learn not to mess with this snake, or indeed anything that looks like it again (for many harmless species mimic it as a form of defence). This species can be recognised by the opposing trapezoid shapes on the back. If you come across one let it pass in peace, do not under any circumstances try to kill it, you will only succeed in making it angry! Previously separated into two species "mattogrossenis" with trapezoid shaped markings and "diporus" with triangular markings, however intermediate specimens exist in Paraguay and it seems that these separation criteria are dubious at best.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
Gallery 1 Adult
FIGURE 1a - (FPREP344PH) Adult, Estancia Golondrina, Departamento Presidente Hayes (José Luis Cartes 1996).
FIGURE 1b - (FPREP885PH) Adult, Fortín Toledo, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith September 2014).
FIGURE 1c - (FPREP370PH) Adult dorsal view, Fortín Patria, Departamento Boquerón (José Luis Cartes December 2002).
FIGURE 1d - (FPREP894PH) Adult, Laguna Capitán, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith March 2015).
FIGURE 1e - (FPREP895PH) Same individual as (FPREP894PH) (Paul Smith March 2015).
VIDEO - (FPREP886VI) Adult, Fortín Toledo, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith September 2014).

FIGURE 1a

FIGURE 1a
FIGURE 1b

FIGURE 1b
FIGURE 1c

FIGURE 1c
FIGURE 1d

FIGURE 1d
FIGURE 1e

FIGURE 1e
FIGURE 2a

FIGURE 2a
FIGURE 2b

FIGURE 2b
FIGURE 2c

FIGURE 2c
FIGURE 2d

FIGURE 2d
FIGURE 2e

FIGURE 2e
FIGURE 2f

FIGURE 2f
FIGURE 2g

FIGURE 2g
Gallery 2 Juvenile
FIGURE 2a - (FPREP345PH) Juvenile, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Bert Vandebosch November 2008).
FIGURE 2b - (FPREP346PH) Same individual lateral head (Bert Vandebosch November 2008).
FIGURE 2c - (FPREP347PH) Same individual dorsal head (Bert Vandebosch November 2008).
FIGURE 2d - (FPREP348PH) Same individual dorsal scale detail (Bert Vandebosch November 2008).
FIGURE 2e - (FPREP349PH) Same individual lateral scale detail (Bert Vandebosch November 2008).
FIGURE 2f - (FPREP350PH) Same individual ventral (Bert Vandebosch November 2008).
FIGURE 2g - (FPREP371PH) Juvenile dorsal view, Bahía Negra, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Teatske Nieuborg 2007).