Metlapilcoatlus olmec

Metlapilcoatlus olmec is a pit viper species found in Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[4]

Metlapilcoatlus olmec
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Metlapilcoatlus
Species:	M. olmec
Binomial name
Metlapilcoatlus olmec (Pérez-Higareda, H.M. Smith & Juliá-Zertuche, 1985)
Synonyms[1]
Porthidium olmec - Pérez-Higareda, H.M. Smith & Juliá-Zertuche, 1985 A[tropoides]. olmec - Werman, 1992

Common names: Tuxtlan jumping pit viper,^[2] Olmecan pit viper^[3]

Description

Extremely stout, females are known to reach a maximum of 77.0 cm in length, males 61.8 cm.^[2]

Geographic range

Found at elevations of 800–1,500 m in Mexico on the upper slopes of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas in southern Veracruz. Also found in eastern Oaxaca, and from northwestern Chiapas to Guatemala.^[5] The type locality given is "crest of Cerro Egega, 1100 m, municipality of Catemaco" (Veracruz, Mexico).^[1]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).^[5] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.^[6]