Golden lancehead

Golden lancehead
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bothrops
Species:
B. insularis
Binomial name
Bothrops insularis
(Amaral, 1922)
Synonyms
  • Lachesis insularis Amaral, 1922
  • Bothrops insularis Amaral, 1930
  • Bothrops insularis Golay et al., 1993

The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) is an extremely venomous pit viper species in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is found exclusively on the island of Ilha da Queimada Grande, off the coast of São Paulo state, in Brazil. The common name of the species refers to the light yellowish-brown color of its underside and for its lance-like head shape that is characteristic of the genus Bothrops. No subspecies of B. insularis are recognized as being valid. It is one of the most venomous snakes in Latin America.