Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%
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 30% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Jumping Pit Viper sighting in Cusuco National Park on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 18 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April and June–July
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Jumping Pit Viper in Cusuco National Park on a given day, against about 10% in February, May and August–October, the lowest months. March and November–January have too few records to rate.
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.
Yes
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Central American Jumping Pit Viper sightings, Cusuco National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come 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 Cusuco National Park (family Viperidae, Vipers) are Wilson's Montane Pitviper (about 40%) and March's Palm Pit Viper (about 20%), 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 Cusuco National Park (7 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.
