Lachesis muta (Linnaeus, 1766)

Camper, Jeffrey D., Torres-Carvajal, Omar, Ron, Santiago R., Nilsson, Jonas, Arteaga, Alejandro, Knowles, Travis W. & Arbogast, Brian S., 2021, Amphibians and reptiles of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Napo Province, Ecuador, Check List 17 (3), pp. 729-751 : 747-748

Lachesis muta (Linnaeus, 1766)

Figure 5D

Material examined. ECUADOR • 1 adult; Napo Prov- ince, WWS; 00.6875°S, 077.6008°W; 1427 m a.s.l.; 1 Jan. 2008; photograph • 1 adult; Napo Province, WWS, F.A.C.E. Trail; 29 July 2014; photograph .

Identification. This large pitviper has a dorsal color pattern of diamond-shaped spots, and the dorsal scales are tuberculate. There are usually 35 rows of dorsal scales,

but they range from 31–38. A lacunolabial scale is pres- ent, and there are 9–12 smooth to slightly keeled inter- supraocular scales. Males have 213–231 ventrals and females have 220–236. The subcaudals are normally pale and number 31–56 in males and 33–50 in females. They are paired proximally but become more finely divided distally into 2–4 rows.

Habitat. This species has been seen in both primary and secondary forest at WWS. Road-killed specimens indi- cate that they cross pastures and roads.

Remarks. In addition to the observations listed above, L. muta has been observed twice at WWS where two roadkilled specimens were found on the road leading to Pacto Sumaco at elevations of 1303 m and 1335 m a.s.l. (J. Nils- son pers. obs.).