Bothrops jararaca

Bothrops jararaca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bothrops
Species:
B. jararaca
Binomial name
Bothrops jararaca
(Wied-Neuwied, 1824)
Synonyms
  • Cophias jajaraca [sic]
    Wied-Neuwied, 1824
  • Bothrops leucostigma Wagler, 1824
  • Cophias jararaca
    Wied-Neuwied, 1824
  • [Cophias] jararaca
    – Wied-Neuwied, 1825
  • C[ophias]. Jararakka [sic]
    – Wied-Neuwied, 1825
  • Cophias jararaca – Wagler, 1830
  • T[rigonocephalus]. jararaca
    Schlegel, 1837
  • Craspedocephalus brasiliensis Günther, 1858
  • Crotalus craspedocephalus brasiliensis – Higgins, 1873
  • Bothrops jararaca
    – Golay et al., 1993
  • Bothropoides jararaca
    – Fenwick et al., 2009

Bothrops jararaca—known as the jararaca or yarara—is a highly venomous pit viper species endemic to South America in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The specific name, jararaca, is derived from Old Tupi îararaka. Within its geographic range, it is often abundant and is an important cause of snakebite. No subspecies are currently recognized.

The drugs known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used for the treatment of hypertension and some types of congestive heart failure, were developed from a peptide found in the venom of this species.