The eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) is a small pit viper found in the forests of Central and South America, spending most of its life in trees and shrubs rather than on the ground.
Not actual eyelashes
Its name comes from a set of raised, pointed scales above each eye that resemble eyelashes — though they're not hairs at all, just modified scales. Their exact purpose isn't fully settled, though shielding the eyes from falling debris or aiding in camouflage among leaves are the leading ideas.
A snake of many colors
Eyelash vipers show remarkable variation in color, even within the same location — individuals can be green, yellow, brown, reddish, or various patterned combinations of these. That variety helps them blend into the specific patch of tropical vegetation they happen to be resting in.
An ambush hunter in the branches
As an arboreal species, the eyelash viper typically waits coiled among leaves or flowers, using its coloration to stay hidden while it ambushes small prey that ventures close.
Range: Central and South America · Length: Usually under 1 m · Diet: Small mammals, frogs, lizards, and birds · Venom: Primarily hemotoxic · Habitat: Tropical rainforest, typically in low trees and shrubs