Panama has many hiking trails, outdoor parks, and outdoor activities, making it a suitable tourist destination. The Panamanian jungles are also home to more than 21 species of deadly snakes. Below is a list of some of the most common ones.
The Fer-De-Lance
The fer-de-lance is believed to be the most dangerous snake species in Panamanian waters. These snakes belong to the Viperidae family. They can be found in any part of the jungle. They travel to an altitude as high as two thousand feet, but you can also find them in lowland plantations where they go looking for rodents. In the plantations, they are recognized for reducing the population of rodents.
These snakes are not just common in Panama; they can be found throughout Central and South America. They are generally slim-bodied; most are black with light yellow and sometimes a light grey shade on their back. A fully grown fer-de-lance is around five feet long. Their heads resemble a lance, hence the name “fer-de-lance.”
A mature female fer-de-lance gives birth to between 45 and 60 snakelets at once. The youngsters are born dangerous and aggressive, and due to their large number, they have to compete for food. They mostly feed on insects and moths, and since they have to be competitive, you can even spot some after sunrise when most other snakes have gone into hiding.
The young ones are more lightly colored than the mature snakes, so they can easily be mistaken for a harmless species.
The Bushmaster
The bushmaster has an oval-shaped head, and mature ones can be up to seven feet in length, making them one of the longest snake species in the world. Their bodies are bigger than those of the fer-de-lance, and typically, a bushmaster weighs twice as much as at the same length, so they are more powerful.
However, their weight makes them slower and easier to capture. The bushmaster has a delicate back that can break easily if not handled carefully. These snakes don’t live as long in captivity as they do when they are free, so they aren’t often found in zoos.
The bushmaster is the world’s second-largest venomous snake; the first is the cobra, which is found in rocky, forested areas.
The female bushmaster lays 10 to 14 eggs, which are then vulnerable to predators such as rodents, coatis, and hawks. The eggs that survive hatch into snakelets that live underground and feed on rodents. It is difficult to see and even more difficult to capture a bushmaster before it starts laying eggs.
Hog-Nosed Vipers
The little Panamanian hog-nosed vipers are real pit vipers that are very poisonous and unrelated to their non-poisonous American counterpart. The hog-nosed viper comes in two species: the Trimeresurus lansbergi, found on the Pacific side, and the Trimeresurus nasutus, mostly found on the Atlantic side. They are commonly known as Patoca or Tamaga, and their length ranges between 12 and 18 inches. The Atlantic species has a more prominent nose than its Pacific relative.
Hog-Nosed Vipers are either black or brown, and their backs display a slight rhomboid pattern in brick red.
These snakes live in the ground and can hardly be found in the forest. This makes them less likely to attack than the fer-de-lance, and there are few reported bites.
Tree Vipers (Eyelash Viper)
The Trimeresurus schlegelii is the most common tree viper of the three species. These snakes are small, between 10 and 14 inches, a length that includes their prehensile tails. This tail helps them live in bushes and trees and mainly feed on birds. The tree viper’s colorful head makes it easy to spot and can sometimes cause this snake to lose its prey. Some are butter yellow, and others olive green; all have black specks with a pinkish pattern on their backs, including the young ones.
Tree vipers have scales that look like eyes lashes above their eyes, which, together with their prehensile tails, makes it easy for people to these snakes. They are commonly found in cacao plantations and can be seen when cutting down trees and clearing bushes.
These snakes are so poisonous that their venom will kill a bird immediately.
The other two species of tree viper do not have “eyelashes,” and they mostly live at an altitude of between four thousand and six thousand feet.
The Coral Snake
The coral snake is a friendly snake that allows people to touch and hold it. However, it can strike if stepped on. Since it lives underground, few bites have been reported.
Its scientific name is Micrurus. In Panama, around 11 species exist, some of which are quite small and have less than three colors. Typically, coral snakes are tricolor – white, black, and red – and are between 10 and 20 inches in length. Some of them may be yellow instead of white.
A poisonous tricolor coral is quite small. In Mexico, this snake is referred to as the “20-minute snake” because, if action is not taken within the first 20 minutes after a bite, the victim is not likely to survive.
Unlike other venomous snakes, coral snakes have small, grooved fangs that are found very far in back of their upper jaw, meaning they must attack their target quickly and viciously before they can obtain a grip. However, its bites, when they land, are severe and can lead to death if not handled with urgency.
The “Jumping Snake”
The scientific name for the jumping snake is Trimeresurus nummifer. These snakes are dart-headed with hefty bodies between 10 and 20 inches in length. Their pattern is similar to that of a bushmaster, only that they have a double saddle and stirrup pattern closely spaced in pairs.
The jumping snake attacks powerfully, pulling its body from the ground, hence their name. They are mainly found in raised, rocky areas.
Godman’s Viper
Godman’s Viper is a thick, round snake measuring between 18 and 22 inches in length. According to locals, these vipers hardly strike, and no bites have been recorded, so no information is found on them. These vipers live in raised areas of up to four thousand feet.
Sea Snake Varieties
From the coasts of Panama to the Indian Ocean, there are about 50 species of sea snake in the Pacific, ranging in length from one to three feet. They hardly attack humans unless they are caught during fishing, or they themselves feel attacked. Some of these snakes include cobras and kraits, which possess very potent neurotoxic venom.
The Pelamydrus platurus is the most common sea snake found along the Panamanian coast. These snakes are black with orange patterns on their belly and side. They have a vertically flattened tail and measure between 12 and 24 inches in length.
If you have plans to visit Panama, these are some of the dangerous snake species you should watch out for. Hiking or exploring with a companion is advisable when visiting Panama in case of a snake bite. Most importantly, avoid provoking or touching any snake, especially if you are not sure if it is the dangerous type.
