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In an trying to piece all these bits together. I thought Lachesis was split as species (muta, stenophrys, melanocephala, etc) and was formerly divided as subspecies of muta. Or did I get this backwards? I am going to la selva in mid december and the website for the reserve lists Lachesis muta as occuring there. Are they reffering to stenophrys as a subspecies of muta? They make so specification beyond Lachesis muta and I cannot imagine they would get anything but L. stenophrys. But I am far from knowing even a wee bit about the Lachesis complex and its known ranges. I was under the impression L. stenophrys ranged in their area...L. melanocephala hit a smaller area a bit south...and L. muta was south and not even close to a possible overlap. Please correct me because I feel like an idiot and I know I am way off here and I can't get it all to fit.

Thanks

They species of the Genus Lachesis
Lachesis muta
Lachesis stenophrys
Lachesis melanocephala
Lachesis acrochorda
The sub-species in my opinion in the Lachesis complex, is L.m. rhombeata. Others may differ. The others (mentioned) or their own seperate specie.
At least this the way I understand it.

Randal Berry

That is exactly what I thought. Where I do not get it is why the biological reserve at la selva has L. muta listed on their website and no other species. This doesn't even seem possible and I know L. stenophrys is known to occur all around there. The only thing I can think of is they are reffering to L. stenophrys as a subspecies of muta and they are just not listing that deep into taxon.

It could be a weaker job done on their listings using refferences which may be somewhat outdated as far as accepted current taxonomy work. They also had a few other things I thought were a bit odd like listing corals as Micruridae instead of Elapidae but I attributed this to possibly being because all of their elapids are in the genus Micrurus.

Besides...toxonomy can be opinion and a bit crazy. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy thinking what I know as L. muta does not live there.

I would love to hear more about this because I would deffinitely like to be corrected if I am way off the paved path.

..or someone hasn't gotten the impetus to update the website. Your understanding(and Randal's reply)are the currently accepted species.

MCH

...if I were you, I would strongly recommend picking up Alejandro Solazano's new book on Costa Rican snakes. It's fantastic. You can pick it up in San Jose at 7th St. books in Paperback for a little bittle less than the hard cover version here in the states.

MCH

Or, you can order Alejandro's book through www.Eagle Mountain Publishing, (Louis Porras' company) and have the book in hand BEFORE you visit La Selva. Have a great visit!

Randal

/.

I was hoping I wasn't completely nuts. So I take it you are thinking as well that the site is listing L. muta as stenophrys is a subspecies. I will certainly grab the book. My costa rican library has deffinitely grown since getting this trip booked. Plowing through Jay Savage's book has been a delight.

thanks for the comments on Lachesis and thanks for tip on another good book

I'm insanely jealous of you Gavin! You'll be posting pictures?

Ian

I should be posting some pictures but I am not much of a photographer. I am considering myself extremely lucky to get this experience. I also have a trip planned for Mexico less than a month away from when I get back from Costa Rica. This trip will not be constant looking for snakes like the Costa Rica trip but I am sure I will be able to get the girlfriend out with me a few times for some herping. I am excited for all this but I am not counting chickens before they hatch since I have had a few interesting health problems recently. I am crossing fingers.

Thanks and I will try my best to get some good photos for you

..But I'll be on teh Peninsula de Osa from the 7th-14th of December.

MCH