... and this was what was coiled in waiting at the base of the plant! A near 3 meters long Bushmaster pitviper (Lachesis muta) known locally as "Matabuey" (meaning "Bull killer") or "Plato Negro" ("Black Plate" - pressumably in reference to the coloration of the head). This is the only individual of this species that Reinaldo has seen in his 20 some years of field work, and we hope that's how it will stay!
