Venomous Reptiles of Costa Rica Outline

This topic submitted by Madeleine Burnett ( burnetmc@muohio.edu) at 3:09 PM on 4/1/07.

The Environmental Science Graduate Students at Watlings Castle, San Salvador, Bahamas.(TME 98)

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

Venomous Snakes of Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a diverse amount of venomous snakes. There are many myths and fallacies about snakes, especially venomous snakes. These snakes can be very dangerous, but they need to be respected rather than feared. I want to research venomous snakes because they are an important part of the ecosystem in Costa Rica and in all other parts of the world.

1. Types of venomous snakes
a. Coral Snakes
b. Sea snakes
c. Vipers
i. Crotalinae
ii. Atropoides
iii. Bothriechis
iv. Lachesis
v. Porthidium
2. General Morphology
a. Head, body, color
b. Fangs
i. Rear-fanged
ii. Front-fanged
c. Sensory systems
d. Internal organ systems
e. Toxins
3. Habitat
a. Arboreal, terrestrial, aquatic
b. Temperature
c. Moisture
d. Prey and predators
4. Behavior
a. Reproduction
i. Sexual selection
ii. Mating
iii. Birth
b. Defense
c. Habitat selection
d. Ecosystem Interactions
5. Conclusion

Savage, J. 2002. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Collins, J. and Seigel, R. 1993. Snakes: Ecology and Behavior. New York: McGraw -Hill, Inc.
Greene, H.W. 1997. Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Phelps, T. 1981. Poisonous Snakes. Poole: Blandford Press.
Kricher, J. 1999. A Neotropical Companion. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

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