---
title: "Urutu"
description: "Bothrops alternatus — Répteis. Bothrops alternatus, known by the common names crossed pit viper, yarará grande, and urutu, among others, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina)."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/pt/animal/urutu-lancehead
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Urutu

> Bothrops alternatus — Répteis. Bothrops alternatus, known by the common names crossed pit viper,  yarará grande, and urutu, among others, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina).

- Scientific name: *Bothrops alternatus*
- Category: `reptiles` (Répteis)
- Habitats: unknown
- iNaturalist observations: 1681
- Wikidata: [Q1840955](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1840955)
- iNaturalist taxon: [539037](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/539037)

## Names

- en: Urutu Lancehead
- de: Halbmondlanzenotter
- es: Yarará grande
- nl: Hoefijzerlanspuntslang
- pt: Urutu
- pl: Żararaka urutu

## Countries with the most observations

AR (1242), BR (197), UY (128), PY (40)

## Summary

Bothrops alternatus, known by the common names crossed pit viper,  yarará grande, and urutu, among others, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina). Within its range, it is an important cause of a snakebite. The specific name, alternatus, which is Latin for "alternating", is apparently a reference to the staggered markings along its body. No subspecies are currently recognized.

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

## Photo

![Urutu](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/urutu-lancehead/medium.jpg)

Photo: Diego Carús · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17410625

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/urutu-lancehead?lang=pt` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).