Cerrophidion


Cerrophidion is a genus of pit vipers which are endemic to southern Mexico, Central America, and western Panama. The generic name, Cerrophidion, is derived from the Spanish word cerro, which means "mountain", and the Greek word ophidion, which means "small snake". Five species are recognized as being valid, but no subspecies are.

Description

Species in the genus Cerrophidion grow to a maximum total length of '', but usually do not exceed. The head scalation is highly variable, with some scales being enlarged, especially in the frontal region. The fact that the prelacunal is not fused with any of the supralabial scales is characteristic for this genus. The rest of the scalation is as follows: 1-7 intersupraoculars, 7-11 supralabials, 8-12 sublabials, 120-150 ventral scales, 22-36 subcaudal scales, and 17-21 rows of dorsal scales at midbody.

Geographic range

Cerrophidion species are found in southern Mexico, southward though the highlands of Central America to western Panama.

Species

T) Type species.