Eyelash Pit Vipers are mostly New World vipers found in North, Central and South America. Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Domains Eukaryota - Eukaryotes Archaea Bacteria The superdomain Phylogenetica is a tree showing all the lifeforms and irrelationships among various species or other entities that are believed to have a common ancestor. ... Kingdoms Animalia - Animals Fungi Plantae - Plants Protista A eukaryote (also spelled eucaryote) is an organism with complex cells, in which the genetic material is organized into membrane-bound nuclei. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anenomes) Placozoa (trichoplax) Subregnum Bilateria (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Phyla Radiata Cnidaria Ctenophora - Comb jellies Bilateria Protostomia Acoelomorpha Platyhelminthes - Flatworms Nemertina - Ribbon worms Gastrotricha Gnathostomulida - Jawed worms Micrognathozoa Rotifera - Rotifers Acanthocephala Priapulida Kinorhyncha Loricifera Entoprocta Nematoda - Roundworms Nematomorpha - Horsehair worms Cycliophora Mollusca - Mollusks Sipuncula - Peanut worms Annelida - Segmented worms Tardigrada - Water bears Onychophora - Velvet worms Arthropoda - Insects, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Groups Conodonta Hyperoartia Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Pteraspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Thelodonti Anaspida Cephalaspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Galeaspida Pituriaspida Osteostraci Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) Placodermi Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii Osteichthyes (bony fish) Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) Tetrapoda Amphibia Amniota Sauropsida/(Reptiles) Aves (Birds) Synapsida Mammalia... Groups Elginerpetontidae Acanthostegidae Ichthyostegidae Whatcheeriidae Crassigyrinidae Baphetidae Colosteidae Batrachomorpha/Amphibia Lepospondyli Reptiliomorpha Amniota Sauropsida/Reptilia Aves (Birds) Synapsida Mammalia A tetrapod (Greek tetrapoda, four-legged) is a vertebrate animal having four feet, legs or leglike appendages. ... Orders  Crocodilia - Crocodilians  Rhynchocephalia - Tuataras  Squamata   Suborder Sauria- Lizards   Suborder Serpentes - Snakes   Suborder Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards Testudines - Turtles Superorder Dinosauria  Saurischia  Ornithischia Reptiles are tetrapods, and also are amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane. ... Orders Sphenodontia Squamata Eosuchia Conservation status: Fossil The Lepidosauria are a subclass of reptiles comprising the orders : Squamata Sphenodontia or Rhynchocephalia Eosuchia Conservation status: Fossil Lepidosaurians are the most successful of modern reptiles. ... Suborders Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards Sauria- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Squamata (scaled reptiles) is the largest recent order of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... Subfamilies Crotalinae (Pit Vipers) Viperinae (Vipers) The Viperidae family is made up of two subfamilies: Crotalinae (Pit Vipers) Viperinae (Vipers) Categories: Stub | Snakes ... Genera Many, see text *May be treated as a separate family, Crotalidae Pit Vipers (sometimes called crotalines) are mostly New World vipers found in North, Central and South America; a few species are recorded from isolated areas of Southeast Asia, the Caspian region of Europe, China and Japan. ... Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, c. ... Genera Adenorhinos Atheris Azemiops Bitis Cerastes Daboia Echis Eristicophis Macrovipera Montatheris Proatheris Pseudocerastes Vipera This page is about Viper snakes. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the... Commonly, Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

These snakes are named after their specialized thermoreceptors, heat-sensitive organs located on the head which take the form of small pits and a secret 'eyelash' on top of the eyes. A thermoreceptor is a sensory receptor that responds to heat and cold. ... A red-hot iron rod cooling after being worked by a blacksmith. ... In biology, an organ (Latin: organum, instrument, tool) is a group of tissues, which perform a specific function or group of functions. ...

Physiology

Like some other pit vipers, the Eyelash Pit Viper are extremly aggresive and have fatal venom. It is sometimes responsible for a number of snakebite deaths in North America. Like the Usambara Mountain Bush Viper, eyelash pit vipers have the same colours as Usambara Mountain Bush Viper and are solenoglyphous, i.e. their fangs are hollow and hinged, folding back against the roof of the mouth when not in use. Eyelash Pit Vipers also closely resemble other aggresive pit vipers, having broad triangular heads and heavy builds with short, stubby tails which may or may not include a rattle and heat sensors on each side of the head called pits. It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ...

The titular pits are between the nostril and the eye on either side of the Eyelash Pit Viper's head. They contain membranes sensitive to infrared radiation; this allows the snake to detect prey whose body temperatures are higher or lower than the surrounding environment, namely small rodents, birds and lizards. The temperature difference need not be great; fractions of a degree are enough. This adaptation serves the vipers well, as they are nocturnal animals and rely heavily on this "sixth sense". This adaptation is observed in only one other group of snakes, the boas. Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation. ... Families See Classification Section The order Rodentia is the most numerous of all the branches on the mammal family tree. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Many, see text. ... A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... BoA (born November 5, 1986 in Guri, South Korea) is a South Korean pop singer. ...

In terms of length, Eyelash Pit Vipers are just over 50 centimetres (20 inches) long.

Habitat and behavior

Eyelash Pit Vipers are a versatile group, with members found in habitats ranging from parched desert (e.g., rattlesnakes) to rainforests (e.g., fer-de-lance) and even aquatic settings (e.g., the water moccasin).The eyelash pit viper may be either arboreal or terrestrial. Some eyelash pit vipers may be found at elevations exceeding 1,000 metres. Habitat (from the Latin for it inhabits) is the place where a particular species lives and grows. ... A dune in the Egyptian desert In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation - less than 250 mm per year. ... The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. ... Binomial name Bothrops atrox , The common lancehead (Bothrops atrox), often mistakenly referred to as the fer-de-lance, is a small pit viper of the Bothrops genre, native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. ... Binomial name Agkistrodon piscivorous (Lacépède, 1789) The Cottonmouth, or water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorous), is a venomous snake closely related to the copperhead. ... This article is about the biological organisms known as trees. ...

Although mostly nocturnal, sometimes they are highly active by day. The majority are active by night to avoid scorching daytime temperatures and to hunt when their preferred prey are also active. The snakes' heat-sensitive pits are also thought to aid in the location of cooler areas in which to rest.

Eyelash pit vipers are characteristically ambush predators, lying in patient wait for unsuspecting prey to wander by. Sometimes, it is known to select a specific ambush site and return to it every year in time for the spring migration of birds. Studies have indicated that these snakes learn to improve their strike accuracy over time[1].

Many temperate eyelash pit vipers will congregate in sheltered areas or dens to overwinter (see hibernation), the snakes benefitting from the combined heat. In cool temperatures and while pregnant eyelash pit vipers also bask on sunny ledges. Hibernation is a state of regulated hypothermia, lasting several days or weeks, that allows animals to conserve energy during the winter. ...

Like most snakes, an eyelash pit viper will keep to themselves and will strike only if cornered or threatened. Smaller versions of this pit viper are less likely to stand their ground than their larger specimens.

Pollution and the destruction of rainforests has caused many eyelash pit viper populations to decline. Humans also threaten eyelash pit vipers, as many eyelash pit vipers are hunted for their skins or killed by cars when they wander onto roads.

Reproduction

With few exceptions, some Eyelash Pit Vipers are ovoviviparous; that is, females give birth to live young. The young are well-developed and are capable of delivering a fatal bite right from the time of birth. The young snakes stay with their mother for about two weeks, or until their first molt. Some Eyelash Pit Vipers are have something called oviparity. Ovoviviparous animals develop within eggs that remain within the mother up until they hatch or are about to. ... In birds, moulting or molting is the routine shedding of old feathers. ...

Brood sizes range from two individuals in very small species to as many as 86. Many young eyelash pit vipers have brightly coloured tails which contrast dramatically with the rest of their bodies; using worm-like movements, the young snakes may use their tails as a lure. A worm is an elongated soft-bodied invertebrate animal. ...