I love watching nature TV shows like “The most dangerous animals”or “The deadliest Animal”. Central America and South America always remain higher in that rank…
It is true that Panama is home to several species of poisonous snakes (In Spanish: serpientes) , frogs (In Spanish: ranas), toads (In Spanish: sapos) , spiders(In Spanish:arañas) and such. Panama is also known for its impressive biodiversity which is three times greater than that of the United States.
It is good to educate yourself and children what is safe and what is not. We live in a tropical area so it is very possible you may encounter these creatures. If you love hiking, going to the forest, or the jungle, please be aware and preparation is very important. Respect nature.
Once we rented a house near the beach in Pedasi, we heard a loud noise outside. Something large fell on the roof. It turned out it was a giant Boa Constrictor. He was coiling on our roof, probably digesting his meal. It is a harmless snake but I didn’t know. I was freaking out calling my neighbour for help.lol
Here are some lists of snakes you should NOT touch. If it is pretty, stay away from it.
Fer-de-lance pit viper Other names: Equis Body Size: Slim-bodied, A fully grown fer-de-lance is around five feet long
Color: Black with light yellow and sometimes a light grey shade on their back
The Fer-de-lance pit viper is one of the most venomous reptiles in Central and South America. Antivenom is widely available but one bite from the Fur-de-lance contains more than twice the amount of venom needed to kill a human. If you do get bitten, you should keep the affected limb below heart level, clean the wound, and get to a hospital as soon as possible. There is an antivenom available in Panama.
Coral Snakes
Other Names:salviara, limlim, babaspul, and coral macho Body Size: Adults are 65-115 cm (26-45 in) long
Colour: Their pattern is two or three-colored, with black, yellow, and red banding.
The body exhibits smooth scales, the head is rounded, and the eyes have round pupils.
Although this snake is not considered to be aggressive, if it finds itself threatened or if you accidentally step on one, it will not hesitate to bite.
This species is highly venomous. Its venom has a strong neurotoxin that causes weakness and paralysis in victims. The Central American Coral snake has to chew on their victim to inject the venom to its full potential. Therefore, most bites on humans are mild and don’t result in death, but you should still seek medical treatment immediately.
Yellow-bellied sea snake
Other Names: Serpiente Marina Pelágica Body Size: 90 to 100 cm in length Color: yellow and dark-blue to black pattern.
Yellow-bellied sea snakes live in the open ocean; on land, they move poorly due to their smaller belly scales that form a ventral keel. The venom of this species is highly potent, like that of other sea snakes.
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