The Eyelash Viper is a small pit viper that lives in trees and palms. It is one of the smallest poisonous snakes in Central America, reaching a maximum length of about 20 inches (50 cm). This one was a typical adult of about 14" (35 cm) long.

Eyelash Vipers get their name from enlarged scales over their eyes that resemble eyelashes. Eyelash vipers come in different colors and spotting patterns. The bright yellow color form is much rarer than the typical gray and rust mottling.

Eyelash Vipers are poisonous, with two fangs in the front of their mouths that fold back when the mouth is closed. It eats lizards and small birds. Although the eyelash viper is small, it is one of the most dangerous of the poisonous snakes in Central America. Its poison is strong, and most people disregard a bite by a small snake as non-threatening. Luckily, they are not very aggressive and bites are not common.

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大多數的蛇體色具有保護色的功能，使牠易於偽裝於周遭的自然環境中，而減低被敵人發現的風險，或使其欲捕捉的獵物失去戒心，以增加捕食成功的機會。例如，加彭奎蛇（Gaboon viper）就是其中的偽裝高手。牠以身上原有的棕色體色，搭配複雜的幾何斑塊圖形，潛混於一堆落葉之中，簡直令人難以分辨出來；另外，體型纖細、體色呈綠色與棕色之塊斑交錯的扁斑奎蛇（eyelash palm pit viper），一旦在樹幹或枝條上靜止不動，則看似樹葉上散布些許的青苔，若非移動，根本就看不出有蛇的存在。而屬於樹棲型的遊蛇類，有著既細且長的身體，看起來宛如蔓藤，而且這一類的蛇移動起來彎曲搖晃且無規則，就像細小的蔓藤被微風吹拂搖晃的模樣，輕易地就能夠逃過敵人的視線。