Patagonian Lancehead

This short, thick-bodied viper has a broad head, a narrow neck and a distinctly upturned snout. A sequence of dark, pale-edged blotches runs along the back over a sandy or grey-brown ground colour. Its compact proportions differ markedly from those of the long jarillera snake.

Native to Argentina, it occupies dry habitats including the Monte and Patagonian steppe. Lizards and small mammals are among its prey. It gives birth to live young. The cryptic pattern can make a resting animal difficult to distinguish from the surrounding stones and soil.

In our region. Documented in the regional book, but not a predictable tour encounter. This is a venomous snake: observe from a distance and never handle it.