Metlapilcoatus borealis is a species of jumping pit viper endemic to Mexico, named after the northernmost section of its distribution.Alfaro-Chinchilla, A., Lomonte, B., Zúniga, L., Acevedo, M., Neri-Castro, E., Alagón, A., Bonilla, F., Diaz, C. and Sasa, M., 2025. Venom composition, toxicity and cross-neutralization by PoliVal-ICP antivenom, of Mesoamerican jumping pitvipers genus Metlapilcoatlus (Viperidae: Crotalinae). Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, p.trae120.Tepos-Ramírez, M., Garduño-Fonseca, F.S., Peralta-Robles, C.A., García-Rubio, O.R. and Jiménez, R.C., 2023. Annotated checklist of amphibians and reptiles from Querétaro, Mexico, including new records, and comments on controversial species. Check List, 19(2), pp.269-292.Cruz-Elizalde, R., Ramirez-Bautista, A., Pineda-Lopez, R., Mata-Silva, V., DeSantis, D.L., Garcia-Padilla, E., Johnson, J.D., Rocha, A., Fucsko, L.A. and Wilson, L.D., 2022. The herpetofauna of Querétaro, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation status. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 16(1), pp.148-192. Like all pit vipers, it is venomous.
Description M. borealis is a medium-sized snake, measuring up to 66cm in males and 60cm in females. Its specific scale count can also help identification, with 22-25 rows of scales over its middle, 4-6 nasorostral scales, 130-132 ventral scales, 26-35 subcaudals, 8-10 supraoculars and 2-3 interoculabials. Genetically it can also be distinguished by three unique nucleotide sequences.
References