South American Bushmaster - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens (2024)

FAQs

What are some interesting facts about the bushmaster snake? ›

Bushmasters are solitary ambush predators. They position themselves along mammal trails, sometimes for weeks, until prey eventually crosses their path. With a maximum length of about 12 feet, the bushmaster is the largest of all venomous snakes in the western hemisphere.

The inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is considered the most venomous snake in the world with a murine LD ₅₀ value of 0.025 mg/kg SC. Ernst and Zug et al. 1996 list a value of 0.01 mg/kg SC, which makes it the most venomous snake in the world in their study too. They have an average venom yield of 44 mg.

The fer-de-lance's name means 'spearhead' in French. It is the most dangerous snake of Central and South America, and causes more human deaths than any other American reptile. On average, a fer-de-lance injects 105mg of venom in one bite, although a venom yield of up to 310mg has been recorded while milking them.

Bushmasters are venomous snakes of scrublands and tropical and mountain rainforests of Central and South America. They are among the longest venomous snakes of the Americas. Adults average 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length but can grow up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) long.

The bushmaster (Lachesis muta) of Central and South America, the world's longest pit viper, is capable of injecting a large dose of potent venom when it bites. A 28-year-old man, bitten by a 1.82 m long L. m. muta in Brazil, developed pain and oedema at the bite site, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and sweating.

The killer of the most people

The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) may be the deadliest of all snakes, since scientists believe it to be responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined.

This snake, found in sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the most feared of all. Unlike the relatively docile inland taipan, the black mamba is known to be particularly aggressive. Although it does not seek out humans, when cornered or threatened it will rear up and strike repeatedly.

With a record of 18 mph strike speed, the Sidewinder is at the top of the list and is considered the fastest in the world. These snakes move sidewards and are almost unbeatable on the ground.

The bushmaster has a bite so venemous that humans only have a 25% chance of surviving one.

What is the heaviest snake in South America? ›

A member of the boa family, South America's green anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world. Its cousin, the reticulated python, can reach slightly greater lengths, but the enormous girth of the anaconda makes it almost twice as heavy.

Titanoboa, discovered by Museum scientists, was the largest snake that ever lived. Estimated up to 50 feet long and 3 feet wide, this snake was the top predator in the world's first tropical rainforest.

muta, although infrequent,³⁶ can be severe due to the high amount of venom inoculated (up to 552 mg of dry venom per bite). “The Couni Couchi or Bushmaster is the most dreaded of all the South America serpents; and, as his name implies, he roams absolutely master of the forest.

The green anaconda is the largest snake in the world, when both weight and length are considered. It can reach a length of 30 feet (9 meters) and weigh up to 550 pounds (227 kilograms). To picture how big that is, if about five ten-year-olds lie down head to foot, they'd be about the length of this huge snake.

Three species of bushmaster (L. muta, L. stenophrys, and L. melanocephala) are known to exist, and they normally measure about 1.8 metres (6 feet) long but may grow to as long as 3 metres (10 feet).