Bushmaster
Lachesis muta
The longest venomous snake in the Americas and the largest pit viper in the world, an elusive forest dweller of Central and South America.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 2-3 m (6.5-10 ft), exceptionally up to 3.7 m (12 ft)
- Range
- Central and South America
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Overview
The bushmaster is the longest venomous snake found anywhere in the Western Hemisphere and the largest pit viper species on Earth. Despite its impressive size and potent venom, it is a reclusive, rarely encountered snake of dense tropical forest, and bites to humans are uncommon.
Unusually among vipers, the bushmaster is egg-laying rather than live-bearing, a trait it shares with very few other pit vipers.
How to identify it
- Large, heavy body with a distinctly triangular head and vertical pupils
- Tan, pinkish, or reddish-brown background with bold dark diamond or hexagonal blotches
- Rough, strongly keeled scales giving a coarse, almost spiny texture
- Ends in a spine-tipped tail used to produce a rustling warning sound
- Distinguished from other large vipers by its exceptional length and keeled, granular head scales
Habitat & range
Inhabits primary and mature secondary tropical rainforest across Central America and the northern half of South America, generally avoiding heavily disturbed or cleared land.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Strictly nocturnal and largely sedentary, often remaining in one ambush position for extended periods along rodent trails. Feeds mainly on small mammals. Egg-laying, unlike most pit vipers, with females guarding the clutch until hatching.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bushmaster the largest venomous snake in the Americas?
Yes, it is both the longest venomous snake in the Americas and the largest pit viper species in the world.
Does the bushmaster lay eggs?
Yes, unusually for a pit viper, it lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young.
Where does the bushmaster live?
In dense tropical rainforest across Central America and northern South America.
Is the bushmaster commonly encountered?
No, it is a reclusive species rarely seen due to its remote forest habitat and nocturnal habits.
Bushmaster guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Bushmaster.
