All valid questions.
Actually it was a girl, that was ill prepared. Inexperienced and didn't take enough water is what I was told. Oddly, another fellow we met, who is a guide/tour operator almost got bit by a yellow schlegelii that was lying on a rock on the Rio Carate.
Anyway, Imports could very well have problems adjusting to temps/humidity levels. E.g., most of the Bothrops asper I have imported are from the vicinity of Siquirres, Limon Province, Costa Rica yet because they are kept in a different area they have adapted a breeding cycle that corresponds to the Pacific season and are born in April/May/June at the onset of the rainy season. The Carribean side gets rain essentially year round, thus Carribean animals tend to be born in Nov/Dec. To screw things up....my captive snakes are due anytime from now through September....makes no sense, as the female is Carribean, the male is too, but was kept in a Pacific climate.
Without getting off track, the schlegelii I have imported are all Carribean, but I have seen very little effect due to temp/humidity. I've kept them room temp...and it's gotten down in the low 60's at night, low 80's in the day....and they all ate within 5 days of arrival from Costa Rica.
Now the Bothriechis nigroviridis....that's a different story. They aren't adjusting as quickly--much more nervous. Also, a more slender animal....so not as frequent a feeder I've found.
From what I've been told re: C. d. durissus mtDNA(and I can't go into specifics), but I doubt the mtDNA of schlegelii within Costa Rica is very different, and thus wouldn't tell you much re:differences in localities. I don't know that it's ever been done though.
