Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
Common names: Central American jumping pit viper. Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus is a pit viper species endemic to Mexico and Central America. Adults grow to an average of 50–70 cm (about 20–28 inches) in total length. The maximum total length is 86.7 cm (34+1⁄8 in) for males and 97.9 cm (38+1⁄2 in) for females. The body is extremely stout.
Found in the Atlantic drainage from Mexico (in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas) south to the Canal Zone in Panama, both slopes of Costa Rica and Panama. Occurs at elevations of 40–1,600 m (130–5,250 ft). The type locality given is "Coban, capitale de la province de la Véra-Paz, (République de Guatemala, Amérique centrale)" (Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala).
Regarded as a full species, Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus, by Campbell and Lamar (2004). Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 August 2008. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cusuco National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 2 | Pico Bonito National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 3 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoo Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | ABQ BioPark Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Cameron Park Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | La Paz Waterfall Gardens | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Reptile Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Jumping Pit Viper sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, based on 45 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 21st most-seen of the 64 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Jumping Pit Viper in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, against about 10% in January, April, June, August–September and November, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Central American Jumping Pit Viper sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
4th of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Central American Jumping Pit Viper sightings, Arenal Volcano National Park ranks 4th at about 20%. The best odds are in Cusuco National Park (Honduras, about 30%), Pico Bonito National Park (Honduras, about 30%) and Tenorio Volcano National Park (Costa Rica, about 20%).
Same family: Viperidae
The closest relatives of the Central American Jumping Pit Viper that you can see in Arenal Volcano National Park (family Viperidae, Vipers) are Fer-de-lance (about 40%), Rainforest Hog-nosed Viper (about 20%) and Side-striped palm pit viper (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Central American Jumping Pit Viper is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Arenal Volcano National Park (45 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
