This is the Fer de Lance, the most dangerous snake in all of Central and South America. Normally, this snake prefers to eat small animals and birds, but it has enough poison to kill an adult human.
A Fer de Lance can live to be over 20 years old, but is born will all the venom it will need for its entire life.
When a Fer de Lance strikes, it packs a strong punch. A single bite from a Fer de Lance contains three times the amount of venom needed to kill an adult. However, like most snakes, Fer de Lances generally prefer to flee than to fight. Normally, snakes don't strike without cause.
The Fer de Lance is a member of the pit viper family of snakes and prefers to live on the forest floor. Though it has the ability to climb trees and even swim. The Fer de Lance usually hunts at night, and uses its incredible sense of temperature detection to locate its prey.
This Fer de Lance is just a young one, and was only about 1.5 feet in length. We found it in the grass near a home we were staying at.
