Porthidium lansbergii (Schlegel, 1841)

Adult Size

Adults of Porthidium lansbergii average 30 to 50 cm (11+3⁄4–19+5⁄8 inches) in total length including the tail, with a maximum recorded total length of 90 cm (35+1⁄2 inches). This is a moderately slender, terrestrial snake.

Central American Distribution

Porthidium lansbergii is distributed in extreme eastern Central America, specifically the xeric coastal lowlands of central and eastern Panama.

South American Distribution

In northern South America, it occurs in the Atlantic lowlands of Colombia and northern Venezuela, and also in the Pacific lowlands of Ecuador.

Type Locality

The originally given type locality for this species is the area surrounding Turbaco, Department of Bolívar, Colombia. Amaral (1929) stated that the holotype is most likely from Tumaco.

Subspecies Intergrade Zone

A range map published by Campbell & Lamar (2004) shows that the two subspecies P. l. rozei and P. l. lansbergii intergrade in the northern portion of the Guajira Peninsula.

Habitat and Elevation

The preferred natural habitat of Porthidium lansbergii is forest, at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,270 m (4,170 ft).

Reproduction

Porthidium lansbergii reproduces via viviparity.