Metlapilcoatlus olmec
species of reptile
Common names: Tuxtlan jumping pit viper, Olmecan pit viper
Metlapilcoatlus olmec is a pit viper species found in Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
Extremely stout, females are known to reach a maximum of 77.0 cm in length, males 61.8 cm.
Geographic range
Found at elevations of 800–1,500 m in Mexico on the upper slopes of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas in southern Veracruz. Also found in eastern Oaxaca, and from northwestern Chiapas to Guatemala.
The type locality given is "crest of Cerro Egega, 1100 m, municipality of Catemaco" (Veracruz, Mexico).
Conservation status
This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Metlapilcoatlus olmec” as species of reptile. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of reptile. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Oct 14, 2024. The linked authority identifier is Q134312047. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1100, 2001 and 2007.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Metlapilcoatlus olmec”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Metlapilcoatlus olmec primary sources, Metlapilcoatlus olmec archive and Metlapilcoatlus research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Metlapilcoatlus olmec”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Metlapilcoatlus olmec” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.