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The Fer de Lance snake

The Fer de Lance, a snake like no other

The snake Spearhead is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Costa Rica. It belongs to the Viperidae family and the Bothrops genus. In Costa Rica, it is responsible for the most frequent snake bites. Even if its reputation precedes it, the Fer de Lance snake remains a marvel of nature, perfectly adapted to its environment, and very rare to encounter on a walk or hike. That's why we're going to find out a little more about this superb viper. We find 140 species of snakes in Costa Rica, including 23 are poisonous. There are two main families of venomous snakes: the Elapidae (e.g. Coral Snake) and the Viperidae. The Spearhead belongs to the Viperidae and can be found almost anywhere in Costa Rica. It can grow up to 2.50 m long, but its average length is around 1.80 m. Females are much larger than males. Two characteristics identify the spearhead:
  • Sa triangular head in the shape of a spear, giving it its name
  • Visit scale pattern along its body, resembling a volcano or a triangle when viewed from the side, and X-shaped when viewed from above.
The Spearhead is well distributed throughout the country, adapting to almost any environment (up to 1500m altitude), and the female can give birth to a hundred individuals at a time. spearhead

A well-deserved reputation: Fer de Lance is dangerous

Why is the spearhead responsible for over 50% of bites in Costa Rica? First of all, we need to clarify the context of the bites. This is an essential piece of information for travellers wishing to visit Costa Rica who may have doubts about the danger posed by snakes in the country. Well, rest assured, the vast majority of accidents occur among people working on the land, in the countryside and in isolated rural areas. That's why it's so rare to see the spearhead on a trip to Costa Rica. Our travel agency, our guides, our acquaintances and the information filtering in from the tourist industry have never reported a bite to a tourist. Of course, any thrill-seeker wanting to touch the snake (if they can find it) is more likely to be bitten. But in the normal context of a tourist trip, the risk of being bitten is close to zero (zero risk does not exist). spearhead snake

By the way, should we say venomous or poisonous? Bitten or stung?

The term poisonous is used to refer to toxic species of origin. Vegetal. While we use poisonous for a toxic species of origin Animal. When a serpen attackt we're talking about bite and not a sting, because the snake bites with hooks and does not sting with a sting.  

Snake teeth

There are 4 groups of dentition

Aglyphe

No venom channelThis group includes boasthe pythons and certain snakes.

Opistoglyph

Venom ducts are located at the back of the snake's mouth, so the probability of venom injection is very low. Accidents are therefore rare. These include snakes and the famous Boomslang (very poisonous)

Proteroglyph

Venom hooks are small and fixed. The snakes in this group are extremely dangerous. They include cobrasthe mambas (can move their hooks slightly forward) and coral snakes for example.

Solenoglyph

The snakes in this group have long, folding venom hooks which are housed in a protective sheath once the mouth is closed. When the mouth is opened, the venom hooks are projected forward like epidermal syringes. This group includes vipers and therefore the Fer de Lance.
snake dentition
Venomous apparatus of snakes
When a snake bites, not all the venom is injected. In fact, sometimes no dose of venom is injected at all during a bite, because the adult individual is capable of dosing the quantity of venom injected. This is why a young, inexperienced individual is often considered more dangerous than an adult. The youngster will tend to release his full dose of venom in one bite.

What to do if bitten by Fer de Lance and other snakes?

Whether bitten by a spearhead or another snake, the priority is to calm down. Indeed, venoms circulate more rapidly through the body if the victim is panicked and distraught. Under no circumstances should a tourniquet be used, as it will not prevent all the venom from spreading to the rest of the body, but will concentrate the venom in a restricted area, which could lead to severe necrosis. You should also avoid inhaling venom, approaching a hot area or applying herbs.

What to do:

Call for help. If you are in possession of an anti-venom or anti-ophid serum, do not inject it yourself. In some people, anti-ophidian serum causes a disease (serum sickness) which must be controlled in hospital. This is why, whenever possible, anti-ophidian serum is always administered in hospital. What type of venom does the spearhead snake have? There are two types of snake venom in Costa Rica:
  • Hemotoxic
  • Neurotoxic
Hemotoxic venom
As its name suggests, it will have an influence on the blood. The enzymes contained in the venom affect blood circulation. Spearheads have a hemotoxic venom.
Neurotoxic venom
This venom affects the transfer of nerve impulses, which can lead to asphyxia. Coral snakes and sea snakes have a neurotoxic venom.

To sum up:

What to do if bitten by Fer de Lance and other snakes
  • Tranquilize the victim and lay him/her down in a safe position
  • Clean the bite with soap and water to disinfect it
  • Remove belts, socks and other accessories that could impede blood circulation
  • Keep the victim hydrated
  • Immobilize the affected extremity
  • Transport to the nearest hospital
 
What not to do
  • DO NOT make an incision on the bite
  • DO NOT apply a tourniquet
  • DO NOT put a cold or icy compress on the bite, as this may aggravate the effect of the venom
  • DO NOT administer chemical substances, plant or animal extracts, as there is no evidence of their efficacy.
  • DO NOT give alcohol to drink
  • DO NOT aspirate the wound
 

Anti-ophid serums

In Costa Rica, in the San José, l'Clodomiro Picado Institute has been manufacturing anti-venom since 1970. As a result, only one or two snakebite deaths occur each year. These deaths are due to the isolation and geographical remoteness of the bitten person, who was unable to get to hospital in time. Serums are made from the plasma of animals (horse, goat, sheep, cow, etc.) previously hyperimmunized against the venom of a specific snake species. These antivenoms are available from all Costa Rican rescue centers, dispensaries, hospitals and private clinics.  

A balanced ecosystem

While the reputation of the Fer de Lance snake is well-established, the real danger of a bite is very low, given several factors:
  • It is very difficult to find
  • He loves camouflage
  • It avoids humans
Encountering a spearhead while hiking in a national park is a matter of luck (or misfortune, depending on the vantage point), as it is forbidden to venture off the marked trails. Since snakes like the spearhead need to be camouflaged, they can't be seen. will not be venturing down these paths. That's why it's so rare to see one. Nevertheless, the spearhead remains a formidable animal, at the top of the food chain, whose camouflage, ability to adapt to varied geographical environments and venomous apparatus make it an essential component of Costa Rican ecosystems.    
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