Bothrops jararacussu (Lacerda, 1884) (Snake: Viperidae). Analysis of the evolution ontogenetic of the apparatus venom inoculador. 

^{1Melgarejo, A.R.; 1Correa-}Netto,C.; ¹Lamonica, R.C.

1 Divisão de Animais Peçonhentos, Instituto Vital Brazil.

The “jararacuçu” (Bothropsjararacussu) is one of the largest venomous snake of Brazil and maybe it is the most imponent species of the genus, since it can cross 1,8 m of size. Adult females present the head big disproportionate, with inoculation fangs of until 25 mm and venomous glands very developed. It is the Brazilian snake that more venom produces and it can inoculate. The literature registers average of 400 mg of dry venom (about 2 ml) for extraction, with maximum of 800 mg. However in our laboratory we obtained of a females 1,76 m size from Niterói-RJ, 1.670 mg of lyophilized venom (about 6,5 ml) in a single extraction. It inhabits from the south of Bahia state to the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul state, extending to Paraguay and north of Argentina. As the other species, it feeds on small mammals, but it is also can eat amphibians like anura. It can be find frequently growing in densely populated areas of the Metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. Present in the hillsides of forest, in rainforest and degraded place. Deliver to 59 young animals (average of 40). Its one of the most important species for Public Health, causing serious accidents. We studied 142 specimens (91 females and 51 males of B. jararacussu) and they were compared with 30 females of B. jararaca. Th B. jararacussu new born (200 mm) to great adults (up to 1.700 mm), with the objective of supplying subsidies for the identification of the accidents caused by this species by the marks of the bite. We measured the size of the fangs, the venom volume obtained by to extraction and the distance between of the fangs. The fangs measure in born 2,5 mm, and to 21 mm in the largest specimens. The distance between the fangs in the bite can be useful to differentiate the accidents for B. jararacussu of those caused by B jararaca (responsible for the most of accidents). The largests specimens of B. jararaca up to 1.500 mm and the distance between their fangs up to 23 mm while that in the B. jararacussu it is 37 mm. These data provide an practical instrument for emergency service to identify the marks of the accidents caused by B. jararacussu with great venom injection.

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Correspondence to: anibalmg@globo.com