The third species of Porthidium I’ve encounter, P. porrasi is found on the Osa Peninsula. I discovered P. nasutum in La Selva a few years ago, and P. ophryomegas in Palo Verde last June. I’ve yet to see P. volcanicum though…
The third species of Porthidium I’ve encounter, P. porrasi is found on the Osa Peninsula. I discovered P. nasutum in La Selva a few years ago, and P. ophryomegas in Palo Verde last June. I’ve yet to see P. volcanicum though…
I would love to know why some of them have such bright warning coloration, while species like this one, don’t. Any thoughts? Are they all equally poisonous? Do they live in different environments? Different mating strategies?
I’m not really sure about some of the coloration patterns. Most species are not equally poisonous, at least with respect to humans. Further, there is regional variation in venom composition and potency to humans. I’d have to look up some info on the ecological or evolutionary reasons for it, but i’d bet mahmood, my mentor in palo verde, would know somethign about it. my best guess is predator-prey interactions are driving color variation, not mating strategries (i dont think snakes arent very visually oriented creatures).