---
title: "Terciopelo"
description: "Bothrops asper — Rettili. The terciopelo (Bothrops asper), is a species of pit vipers, found from north-east Mexico to northern South America."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/terciopelo
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Terciopelo

> Bothrops asper — Rettili. The terciopelo (Bothrops asper), is a species of pit vipers, found from north-east Mexico to northern South America.

- Scientific name: *Bothrops asper*
- Category: `reptiles` (Rettili)
- Habitats: `forest` (Foresta), `jungle` (Giungla)
- iNaturalist observations: 8643
- Wikidata: [Q384987](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q384987)
- iNaturalist taxon: [30798](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/30798)

## Names

- en: Terciopelo
- de: Rauschuppige Lanzenotter
- es: Terciopelo
- fr: Fer de lance centro-américain

## Countries with the most observations

CR (4180), CO (1115), MX (749), EC (708), PA (660), HN (195), BZ (194), GT (139), NI (72), PE (9), VE (3)

## Summary

The terciopelo (Bothrops asper), is a species of pit vipers, found from north-east Mexico to northern South America. At low to moderate elevations, its habitat ranges from northeastern Mexico to Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, as well as Venezuela. With a mass of up to 6 kilograms (13 lb), and a maximal length of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft), the terciopelo is among the largest vipers. It is light to dark brown in color, often with yellowish, zig-zag patterning on either side of its body. Dubbed "the ultimate pit-viper" for its defensiveness, large size, fangs and potent venom yield, it has a fearsome reputation, responsible…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothrops_asper

## Photo

![Terciopelo](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/terciopelo/medium.jpg)

Photo: Philipp Hoenle · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100494476

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/terciopelo?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).