Bothrops alcatraz is a venomous pitviper species found only on the Alcatrazes Islands off the coast of southeastern Brazil. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
Venom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
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starts withGrows to a maximum size of 46.2/50.5 cm for males/females. Its small size and relatively large eyes are considered paedomorphic (juvenile) characteristics. Until 15,000 thousand years ago, only common Bothrops lived by the island, which was at that time still connected to the continent due to the receded sea waters. When the sea rose back again (with the end of the last glacial period) and the mountain returned to its archipelago status, the Bothrops that became isolated there quickly fed on all available rodents, which are its main food. They ended up resorting to cockroaches and scolopendra and, due to their much smaller nutritional value, the snakes slowly shrunk their size until they couldn't grow beyond 50 cm - a process known as allopatric speciation.
Found only on Ilha Alcatrazes, 35 km off the coast of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. This island, which has a total area of only 1.35 km², is one of four islands than make up the Alcatrazes Archipelago. The type locality given is therefore the same: "Alcatrazes Island, (24°06'S, 45°42'W), São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil."
Described as "low Atlantic Forest vegetation." The highest point on island is 266 m.
Alcatrazes Island is currently used as a Naval target practice area. Such activities are threatening the habitat of the island, which in turn poses a threat to the species present on the island. Since this snake is known only from this area, habitat disturbance is a particular threat to the population.
This species is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List for the following criteria: CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) (v3.1 (2001). This means that the geographic range is estimated to be less than 100 km², that this area is severely fragmented or known to exist at only a single location, and that a continuing decline has been observed, inferred or projected for the area, extent and/or quality of the habitat. Furthermore, the area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10 km², that this area is severely fragmented or known to exist at only a single location, and that a continuing decline, observed, inferred or projected in the area, extent and/or quality of habitat. Year assessed: 2004.
