Which snake is endemic to Brazil’s Ilha da Queimada Grande, known as Snake Island?

The golden lancehead is endemic to Brazil’s Ilha da Queimada Grande, known internationally as Snake Island.

Its scientific name is Bothrops insularis, and it is a pit viper found naturally only on this small island off the coast of São Paulo state. Geographic isolation allowed the island population to evolve separately from mainland relatives, producing distinctive ecological and physical adaptations.

The golden lancehead is an ambush predator. Researchers have linked its island environment and diet, which includes migratory birds, to differences from mainland lanceheads. Its venom is medically significant, and access to the island is restricted because of conservation and safety concerns.

The name is sometimes confused with “fer-de-lance,” a broad common label used for several Bothrops species. The golden lancehead is a particular island species, not simply another name for every lancehead in Brazil.