Metlapilcoatlus is a genus of pit vipers endemic to Mexico and Central America. Six species are currently recognized. The common names suggest they are able to leap at an attacker, but this is likely exaggerated. Common names for the species include jumping pitvipers and jumping vipers. The genus name comes from the Nahuatl name metlapilcohuatl, which means of the oblong grindstone held in the hand when grinding corn—alluding to the (edit "shape of its head which looks like the shape and size of the grindstone") (original "snake's short, stocky body.") I live in Costa Rica, and 2 different groups of herpetologist describe it that way online
Description
All of these snakes are extremely thick-bodied, with M. nummifer being the most stout. The head is large, with small eyes and a broadly rounded snout. The tail is short, not prehensile, and accounts for only 15% of the total length.
Behavior
The common name alludes to the supposed ability these snakes have to launch themselves at an attacker during a strike, thereby bridging a distance that is equal to or greater than the length of the body.
!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Taxon author
|Tepos-Ramírez et al., 2021
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|Boreal jumping pit viper
|Mexico on the Sierra Madre Oriental, South of San Luis Potosí to Hidalgo and North of Veracruz.
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|M. indomitus
|Smith & Ferrari-Castro, 2008
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|Botaderos jumping pit viper
|Sierra de Botaderos and La Muralla of Honduras.
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|M. mexicanus
|Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
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|Central American jumping pit viper
|Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama.
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|M. nummifer
|Rüppell, 1845
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|Mexican jumping pit viper
|style="width:40%"|Mexico, South of Veracruz to Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla.
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|M. occiduus
|Hoge, 1966
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|Guatemalan jumping pit viper
|Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador.
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|M. olmec
|Pérez-Higareda, H.M. Smith & Juliá-Zertuche, 1985
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|Tuxtlan jumping pit viper
|Mexico on the upper slopes of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas in southern Veracruz.
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*) Not including the nominate subspecies.<br>
<span style="font-size:100%;"><sup>T</sup></span>) Type species.