| Bushmaster | ||||||||||||||
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| Lachesis muta |
The bushmaster (Lachesis muta) is a venomous snake of the viper family. The bushmaster inhabits forested areas and adjacent clearings of South America. Adults range in length from seven to eight feet and some individuals may reach 10 feet. The largest known adult was just under 12 feet, making the bushmaster the longest venomous snake in the western hemisphere.
The bushmaster is the only neo-tropical pit viper that lays eggs, about a dozen in the average clutch. The female is reported to remain with the eggs during incubation and may aggressively defend the nest if approached. The hatchings average 30 cm in length and are more colorful than the adults.
Subspecies of the bushmaster include:
Reference