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.
Photographs on this page were taken by Teatske Nieuborg and  José Luis Cartes and are used with their permission.
MATO GROSSO LANCEHEAD Bothrops mattogrossensis
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! A recent review of the species split the former "Bothrops neuwiedii" into several species, of which this form is found in the northern Paraguayan Chaco and Pantanal region.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPREP370PH) Adult dorsal view, Fortín Patria, Departamento Boquerón (José Luis Cartes December 2002).
FIGURE 2 - (FPREP371PH) Juvenile dorsal view, Bahía Negra, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Teatske Nieuborg 2007).
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2