Universidad Latina de Universidad Latina de PanamáPanamá

Translation with the computer Translation with the computer assitenceassitence

Final project

THE SNAKES OF PANAMA

By: Yarisha Allen

Introduction Introduction

This project is based in the translation This project is based in the translation of a document about the snakes that of a document about the snakes that we can find in our country.we can find in our country.

Today I’m going to present some Today I’m going to present some information about the snakes and information about the snakes and some pictures so you can see how some pictures so you can see how are them order than the description are them order than the description of each one.of each one.

THE SNAKES OF PANAMATHE SNAKES OF PANAMA The snakes are the man’s most rejected animals, perhaps The snakes are the man’s most rejected animals, perhaps

due to the wrong belief that all are poisonous and, due to the wrong belief that all are poisonous and, therefore, dangerous. Traditionally the reputation of this therefore, dangerous. Traditionally the reputation of this reptile has been associated with evil, the ugly thing, reptile has been associated with evil, the ugly thing, repulsive, dangerous and despicable.repulsive, dangerous and despicable.

This fame reaches, even, to some stories of religious kind This fame reaches, even, to some stories of religious kind that influence in the conduct of some people toward these that influence in the conduct of some people toward these animals; so we see that the Bible blames to the snake the animals; so we see that the Bible blames to the snake the fact that the man was expelled of the Garden of Eden.fact that the man was expelled of the Garden of Eden.

Nevertheless, for good or for bad, the snakes have always Nevertheless, for good or for bad, the snakes have always called the attention, fascinated the naturalists and they called the attention, fascinated the naturalists and they has been object of many scientific investigations. has been object of many scientific investigations.

They exist more than two thousand six hundred They exist more than two thousand six hundred species of snakes in our planet, of which less than species of snakes in our planet, of which less than the 10% are potentially poisonous for the human the 10% are potentially poisonous for the human being. They inhabit almost all the climates of the being. They inhabit almost all the climates of the planet but the poles and altitudes that are higher planet but the poles and altitudes that are higher than 4,600 meters and they are abundant than 4,600 meters and they are abundant especially in the tropical zones.especially in the tropical zones.

The knowledge that we have in present about the The knowledge that we have in present about the snakes of Panama is the result of a large number of snakes of Panama is the result of a large number of contributions that were initiated in the middle of the contributions that were initiated in the middle of the eighteenth-century with the works of the great eighteenth-century with the works of the great swedish naturalist Linnaeus (1707-1778). swedish naturalist Linnaeus (1707-1778). Nowadays we know for Panama a hundred and Nowadays we know for Panama a hundred and twenty-six species of snakes, grouped in fifty-eight twenty-six species of snakes, grouped in fifty-eight kinds and eight families; twelve species are kinds and eight families; twelve species are endemic.endemic.

Non poisonous snakesNon poisonous snakes

The hundred six species of not poisonous The hundred six species of not poisonous snakes of Panama are grouped in six snakes of Panama are grouped in six families: families:

AnomalepididaeAnomalepididae BoidaeBoidae ColubridaeColubridae LeptotyphlopidaeLeptotyphlopidae TropidophiidaeTropidophiidae UngaliophiidaeUngaliophiidae

AnomalepididaeAnomalepididae with three species, which gather the small snakes known with three species, which gather the small snakes known

as “blind snakes”, which practically live under ground.as “blind snakes”, which practically live under ground.

Liotyphlops albirostrisLiotyphlops albirostris very common in the gardens of Panama City visible after a very common in the gardens of Panama City visible after a

hard rainhard rain

BoidaeBoidae with four species, we find the known and most popular with four species, we find the known and most popular

snake in our country: "The common boa", snake in our country: "The common boa", Boa constrictorBoa constrictor that lives on the ground and on the trees of our forests and that lives on the ground and on the trees of our forests and can measure up to 3 meters.can measure up to 3 meters.

ColubridaeColubridae Ninety-five nocturnal, diurnal, large, and small Ninety-five nocturnal, diurnal, large, and small

species, water snakes, and snakes, tree snakes species, water snakes, and snakes, tree snakes and some that live under the ground (ditches)and some that live under the ground (ditches)..

Some snakes of this family have rings of bright Some snakes of this family have rings of bright colors, so they are confuses by the man with the colors, so they are confuses by the man with the poisonous snakes known as "corals"; due to this poisonous snakes known as "corals"; due to this they are called "false corals“ the most common they are called "false corals“ the most common the Oxyrophus petolariusthe Oxyrophus petolarius

The The Clelia cleliaClelia clelia, which is characterized because it , which is characterized because it eats other snakes, including in their diet to the eats other snakes, including in their diet to the poisonous snakes poisonous snakes

The youthful of this species have black head and The youthful of this species have black head and the rest of the body is redthe rest of the body is red

The adults are completely black and they can The adults are completely black and they can measure more than two meters.measure more than two meters.

false Xfalse X ( (Xenodon rabdocephalus)Xenodon rabdocephalus) coloring pattern: similar to the poisonous snake coloring pattern: similar to the poisonous snake

known as "X“known as "X“

it imitates even in its aggressive behavior.it imitates even in its aggressive behavior.

Sipholophis cervinus,Sipholophis cervinus, Specie that inhabits in the forests like the Specie that inhabits in the forests like the

Metropolitan natural reserve, in Panama City . Metropolitan natural reserve, in Panama City .

The rest of the not poisonous snakes of the The rest of the not poisonous snakes of the country are grouped in the families:country are grouped in the families:

Leptotyphlopidae (with two species)Leptotyphlopidae (with two species)

Tropidophiidae (with a specie) Tropidophiidae (with a specie)

Ungaliophiidae (with a specie). Ungaliophiidae (with a specie).

The species of these three families are not The species of these three families are not very common in our nation; even they are very common in our nation; even they are

almost strangers for the snake’s scholarsalmost strangers for the snake’s scholars..

Poisonous snakesPoisonous snakes

In Panama we have twenty species of In Panama we have twenty species of poisonous snakes, grouped in two poisonous snakes, grouped in two families: families:

Elapidae (the true corals) Elapidae (the true corals) Viperidae (vipers).Viperidae (vipers).

ElapidaeElapidae have a pair of small eyeteeth in the previous part have a pair of small eyeteeth in the previous part

of the upper jaw, so when they bite they inject of the upper jaw, so when they bite they inject the poison highly neurotoxic that affects mainly the poison highly neurotoxic that affects mainly the nervous system.the nervous system.

commonly known as "coral"commonly known as "coral" belong to the kind named Micrurus that counts belong to the kind named Micrurus that counts

with eight species in Panama.with eight species in Panama.

The "coral" are characterized for having The "coral" are characterized for having contrasting colors (black, red, or orange and contrasting colors (black, red, or orange and yellow or white) set like rings that surround all yellow or white) set like rings that surround all their body; the head does not differentiate from their body; the head does not differentiate from the rest of the body and its eyes are tiny.the rest of the body and its eyes are tiny.

Besides they are snakes of discreet customs and Besides they are snakes of discreet customs and generally nocturnal, that lives under the leafage, generally nocturnal, that lives under the leafage, inside fallen trunks or in pastures of the forest inside fallen trunks or in pastures of the forest ground.ground.

When they are bothered they rolled up and then When they are bothered they rolled up and then

show the tip of the tail moving it in such a way show the tip of the tail moving it in such a way that seems to be the head; in this way they are that seems to be the head; in this way they are able to distract the assailant while the true head able to distract the assailant while the true head is hidden and ready to bite.is hidden and ready to bite.

The most common "coral" in Panama The most common "coral" in Panama is the Micrurus nigrucinctus, with is the Micrurus nigrucinctus, with rings of three arranged colors in the rings of three arranged colors in the sequence red-yellow-black-yellow-sequence red-yellow-black-yellow-red.red.

Another common "coral" is the Another common "coral" is the Micrurus multifasciatus, with rings of Micrurus multifasciatus, with rings of two colors, black and red.two colors, black and red.

The water snake, Pelamis platurus The water snake, Pelamis platurus that is find in the Pacific waters, also that is find in the Pacific waters, also belong to the family of the "corals".belong to the family of the "corals".

ViperidaeViperidae

They are vipers gathered in eleven They are vipers gathered in eleven species.species.

Snakes with triangular and large head that Snakes with triangular and large head that possesses a cavity between the eye and possesses a cavity between the eye and the nasal orifice, which serves them to the nasal orifice, which serves them to detect the heat that emits the body of its detect the heat that emits the body of its prey (loreal foset).prey (loreal foset).

The vipers are the most dangerous The vipers are the most dangerous

poisonous snakes of our forests.poisonous snakes of our forests.

When they bite they inject their When they bite they inject their poison as a hypodermic needle, since poison as a hypodermic needle, since they have a pair of large hollow and they have a pair of large hollow and mobile eyeteeth, located in the mobile eyeteeth, located in the subsequent part of the upper jawsubsequent part of the upper jaw..

The poison of the vipers produces The poison of the vipers produces damage or degradation of the damage or degradation of the weavings affected (necrosis) and weavings affected (necrosis) and intense pains in the area of the bite.intense pains in the area of the bite.

Bothrops asper, generally known as Bothrops asper, generally known as X" or "velvet“.X" or "velvet“.

The most common, aggressive and The most common, aggressive and dangerous of the Panamanian vipers dangerous of the Panamanian vipers and can reach a size of two meters.and can reach a size of two meters.

This is the viper that causes the This is the viper that causes the largest number of bites in Central largest number of bites in Central America.America.

The largest viper of America, also The largest viper of America, also belongs the viperidae family. belongs the viperidae family.

It measure more than two and a half It measure more than two and a half meters.meters.

it is known as the "verrugosa", "mute it is known as the "verrugosa", "mute bell", or "bushmaster".bell", or "bushmaster".

In Panama we find the verrugosa In Panama we find the verrugosa Lachesis StenophrusLachesis Stenophrus

It inhabits the humid forest of the low It inhabits the humid forest of the low lands of the Atlantic side, although it lands of the Atlantic side, although it is also found in the pacific side of the is also found in the pacific side of the isthmus, to Darien.isthmus, to Darien.

Also we have poisonous snakes that live Also we have poisonous snakes that live on the trees and the most common one in on the trees and the most common one in our forests is the Botriechis schlegelii.our forests is the Botriechis schlegelii.

Known as "viper of eyelashes" because it Known as "viper of eyelashes" because it has on its eyes some scales extended that has on its eyes some scales extended that give the impression to be eyelashesgive the impression to be eyelashes

Very dangerous because it generally bites Very dangerous because it generally bites in the upper part of the body, face, arms in the upper part of the body, face, arms and hands causing serious accidents.and hands causing serious accidents.

Ecological and economic Ecological and economic importance of the snakesimportance of the snakes

large snakes like the boas are large snakes like the boas are occasionally consume by settlers of occasionally consume by settlers of the country.the country.

It’s meat is considered as a delicious It’s meat is considered as a delicious special dishspecial dish

Its skin can be use to make straps or Its skin can be use to make straps or belts, purses, shoes or souvenirs for belts, purses, shoes or souvenirs for tourist.tourist.

Main importance and benefits Main importance and benefits of the Snakes.of the Snakes.

All the species are predators and All the species are predators and therefore all of them eat other therefore all of them eat other animals, performing a very important animals, performing a very important role inside the eating chain.role inside the eating chain.

regulate the populations of rodents regulate the populations of rodents that in another way would become that in another way would become plagues for the crops or in bearers of plagues for the crops or in bearers of diseases as the hanta.diseases as the hanta.

The poison of the potentially poisonous The poison of the potentially poisonous snakes as corals and vipers, have great snakes as corals and vipers, have great importance in the toxicological, biological, importance in the toxicological, biological, and medical point of view.and medical point of view.

The poisons are a rich source of bioactive The poisons are a rich source of bioactive substances used to study various substances used to study various physiological mechanisms in the human physiological mechanisms in the human being.being.

From them they obtained antidotes and From them they obtained antidotes and serum for counteract the bite of snakes serum for counteract the bite of snakes and also anticoagulants agents are and also anticoagulants agents are obtained. obtained.

VocabularyVocabulary EndemicEndemic EndemicoEndemico PredatorPredator DepredadorDepredador InhabitsInhabits HabitadHabitad NeurotoxicNeurotoxic NeurotóxicoNeurotóxico Humid ForestHumid ForestBosque humedoBosque humedo

Conclusion Conclusion As we could see As we could see snakes not only snakes not only

contribute to maintain the ecological contribute to maintain the ecological balance, but the scientific study of its balance, but the scientific study of its poisons has given place to the poisons has given place to the discovery of substances with discovery of substances with pharmacological and medical utilities pharmacological and medical utilities that can save lives.that can save lives.

Thank YouThank You