Cerrophidion godmani

Cerrophidion godmani
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Cerrophidion
Species:	C. godmani
Binomial name
Cerrophidion godmani (Günther, 1863)
Synonyms[2]
Bothriechis Godmanni Günther, 1863 Bothrops Brammianus Bocourt, 1868 Bothriopsis godmannii — Cope, 1871 Bothrops (Bothriopsis) Godmanii — F. Müller, 1877 Bothriopsis Godmanii F. Müller, 1877 Bothrops Godmani — F. Müller, 1878 Bothriechis scutigera Fischer, 1880 Bothriechis trianguligera Fischer, 1883 Bothriopsis godmani — Cope, 1887 Bothriopsis scutigera — Cope, 1887 Bothriopsis trianguligera — Cope, 1887 Bothriechis godmani — Günther, 1895 Lachesis godmani — Boulenger, 1896 Trimeresurus godmani — Mocquard, 1909 Bothrops godmani — Barbour & Loveridge, 1929 [Bothrops] godmanni — Amaral, 1944 Bothrops godmanni — Hoge, 1966 Porthidium godmani — Campbell & Lamar, 1989 Cerrophidion godmani — Campbell & Lamar, 1992

Cerrophidion godmani is a venomous pit viper species native to southern Mexico and Guatemala.[3] No subspecies are recognized as being valid.[3][4] It is also known commonly as Godman's montane pit viper[3][5] or Godman's pit viper.[6]

Etymology

The specific name, godmani, is in honor of English zoologist Frederick DuCane Godman.[7]

Description

Terrestrial and moderately stout, adults of C. godmani are usually less than 55 cm (21.5 in) in total length (including tail), but sometimes grow to more than 75 cm (30 in).[5] The tail is non-prehensile and short.[3] The dorsal scales are in 21 rows at midbody.[3]

Geographic range

C. godmani is found in Mexico, in the Mexican states of Chiapas and southeastern Oaxaca, and in Guatemala. Populations from south of Guatemala are assigned to a new species, Cerrophidion sasai.[3] The type locality for C. godmani given by Günther in 1863 is "near Dueñas and on other parts of the tableland of Guatemala".[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of C. godmani are forest and grassland, at altitudes of 1,400–3,491 m (4,593–11,453 ft).[1]

Behavior

C. godmani is terrestrial, and it is both diurnal and nocturnal.[1]

Diet

Adults of C. godmani prey predominately upon small mammals, and will occasionally eat amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Juveniles eat mostly arthropods.[1]

Reproduction

C. godmani is ovoviviparous.[3]

References

1. Chaves G, Lamar W, Porras LW, Solórzano A, Townsend JH, Wilson LD (2022). "Cerrophidion godmani (amended version of 2014 assessment)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T197466A217775108.en. Accessed on 07 August 2023.
2. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
3. Cerrophidion godmani at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 August 2018.
4. "Cerrophidion godmani ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
5. Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp. 1,500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
6. Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
7. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cerrophidion godmani, p. 102).

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Lachesis godmani, pp. 545–546).
• Günther A (1863). "Third Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Third Series 12: 348-365. ("Bothriechis Godmanni", new species, pp. 364-365 + Plate VI, Figure G).
• Heimes P (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. 572 pp. ISBN 978-3899731002.
• Jadin RC, Smith EN, Campbell JA (2011). "Unravelling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic revision of highland pitvipers". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163: 943–958.