Bothrops alternatus, known by the common names crossed pit viper', yarará grande, among others, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina).

Description

Size

Large and stout, Bothrops alternatus reportedly exceeds in total length, although the verified maximum is . Most specimens are in total length, with females being significantly longer and heavier than males. and yarará grande. In Brazil, the most usual name is urutu-cruzeiro, but it is also called boicoatiara, boicotiara (Tupi dialect), coatiara, cotiara (southern Brazil), cruzeira, cruzeiro, jararaca de agosto (Rio Grande do Sul, Lagoa dos Patos region), jararaca rabo-de-porco (Rio Grande do Sul), urutu The common names urutu and wutu refer to the crescent markings on the body. In Paraguay it is called mbói-cuatiá, mbói-kwatiara (Gí dialect), and yarará acácusú (Guaraní dialect). In Uruguay it is referred to as crucera, víbora de la cruz and yarará.

In a study by Baub et al. (1994) of the case histories of 32 patients bitten by this species and admitted to the hospital in Catanduva, São Paulo, Brazil, all developed local pain and swelling. Furthermore, in 97% of all cases the blood clotting time was prolonged (more than 12 minutes), 41% had bleeding (usually from the gums), 32% had local blistering and 9% had necrosis. In all cases, specific antivenin was used and there were no deaths. These findings contrast with other reports involving much more tissue damage. Silva Jr. (1956) includes a description of a Brazilian patient with gangrene on the hand and forearm that required amputation, as well as another bitten four years previously who had scarring over the anterior tibial compartment. Abalos and Pirosky (1963) considered this species to be responsible for many of the total number of snakebite cases in Argentina and included a picture of a young boy, bitten below the knee, with the bare fibula and tibia exposed.

Through genome sequencing of the species, 59 toxin genes were annotated from 16 toxin families. Among the expressed toxins, phospholipase A2, snake venom metalloproteinases, snake venom serine proteases, and C-type lectins composed the major components of the venom gland transcriptome.

References

Further reading

  • Duméril AMC, Bibron G, Dumèril A[HA] (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième [7th]. Duexième [2nd] partie. Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. pp. 781–1536. (Bothrops alternatus, new species, p. 1512). (in French).
  • . Accessed 9 April 2019. The repeated "cross" motif on its sides gives rise to its Spanish common name víbora de la cruz.